Beyond the Badge - by Richard Hannibal
2011, 2010 and 2009 Columns
December, 2011 Grandma Fraud
Not too long ago I was dispatched to a call where an 86-
November, 2011 Homeless in Morro Bay
As the MBPD Homeless Liaison, I monitor and interact closely with the "homeless" in Morro Bay. In addition, I advocate for them, and yes, on occasion, I must make an arrest. The word "homeless" is kind of a misnomer. They think of themselves as "people without walls." What we would call a "campsite," they call "home." I am always touched in the late afternoon when I see them on the street and they tell me they are on their way "home." Following is some wisdom I acquired from the homeless in recent months.
October, 2011 Police Pay and Benefits
Police officer salaries have been the focus and criticism of recent media attention.
I don't get it. Our society is upside-
September, 2011 Anatomy of a Police Officer's Assasination
It was Saturday, August 6, 2011, about 5:30 p.m., when these chilling words came over the San Diego Police radio. These words did not come from the trained voice of a professional police officer, but from the panicked voice of a female passerby pleading for help. This was the first indication that San Diego Police Officer Jeremy Henwood had been shot and gravely wounded.
August, 2011 The Police Range-
Law Enforcement is the only profession outside the military that, when appropriate, is authorized to use deadly force against another human being. Cops begin their careers with a battery of mental, physical, and psychological tests to make sure their mindset is consistent with that sacred trust. An officer is then monitored throughout his or her career to assure they will ethically, morally, and tactically meet that fateful challenge if and when it ever occurs.
July, 2011 The Wheel of Life
It was a chance meeting as I drove my patrol car through Albertson's parking lot. First there was suspicious eye contact followed by faint smiles. I stopped, rolled down my window, and said, "How ya doing?" Here I was, an aging police officer looking into the soft brown eyes of an aging dark skinned black man with white beard and dreadlocks. We exchanged tentative but pleasant words and went on our way. Thus began a brief friendship and a long evolution of thought.
June, 2011 The Evolution of a Cop
Talk to most cops in the first year or two of their career and you will perceive a certain air of confidence, a naïve innocence of youth. Fresh from the police academy, they have all the answers and have yet to experience life's injustices. Talk to these same cops in their 5th year and beyond and there will be a quiet reluctance to share; a certain loss of innocence and a kind of impotency that comes with experiencing failure. It is accumulative.
May, 2011 Oh My Gosh, What's Going On?
Our recent Emergency Vehicle Show began the prior evening with a slow moving parade
down the Embarcadero and through the downtown area. Like most parades—especially
ones involving emergency vehicles—it is accompanied by occasional toots of sirens
and air horns. This brief activity caused our police business and 9-
April, 2011 It's the Law -
Morro Bay has seen an increase in pedestrian related traffic violations. This is
obviously a serious matter when 150 pounds of soft flesh meets three thousand pounds
of glass, rubber and steel. There are good aspects and bad aspects to living in a
small town. Yes, the kicked-
May, 2010 A Tribute to LAPD Chief Daryl F. Gates
Every child and young adult has their heroes who carry them through life; I certainly
have mine. There was my fellow officer and friend, who while standing beside me,
took a bullet meant for me. There was my friend, Arleigh McCree, an LAPD explosives
and firearms expert who was killed in the line of duty while disarming a bomb. Of
course, there is Clint Eastwood, even at his age, every cop's hero. Then there was
LAPD Chief Daryl F. Gates, who I and most street-
March, 2010 Nothing But the Moment
I just finished reading Janice Peters' Morro Musings column in the February 2010 issue of the SLO Coast Journal. The piece was about the passing of her beloved dog, Kissy. I had tears in my eyes after the first couple of sentences, because I knew where the article was heading. I too am an animal lover; "Damn . . . those critters just leave us way too soon."
February, 2010 Why Are There So Many Morro Bay Police Cars at the Scene of Someone Getting a Ticket?
Well, first of all, when you say "many," you must not be referring to Morro Bay. The Morro Bay Police Department simply does not have the personnel to constitute "many" on any given shift. But, you may see two or three cars at a traffic stop or incident, depending on the severity and potential of risk to the officers. If you see more than three police cars I suggest a cautious, wide path around the cars, because there is something unusual or critical happening or about to happen.
December, 2009 The Police Dispatcher
The dispatcher is the unsung hero in any police department. He or she sits in a lonely, dimly lit room, surrounded by video monitors, flashing lights, and ringing telephones. However, make no mistake; the dispatcher is the hub of the police agency.
November, 2009 It's The Law -
Police Officers continue to see violations of laws dealing with people talking and/or texting on a cellular telephone while driving. These laws have been in effect for quite a while, yet cell phone involved traffic collisions continue to occur. Since the laws went into effect, there has been extensive research which shows that talking or texting on a cell phone while driving is as dangerous as driving while intoxicated.
October, 2009 It's The Law -
Police officers are shot at, kicked, hit, and spit upon. They respond to many emergencies and perform tasks that are often life threatening. That is the nature of the job. However, in my opinion there is nothing more hazardous then stopping a car, investigating a traffic collision, or working traffic control on a freeway or high speed roadway. My hat is certainly off to members of the California Highway Patrol who do it all the time. Police officer injury and fatality statistics back up my paranoid thoughts regarding the vulnerability of being on foot among vehicles traveling 60 and 70 miles per hour.
September, 2009 It’s The Law! Drivers, Keep ‘Fido Off Your Lap
We've all seen them, the man or woman driving down the street with the German Shepherd
on their lap with its head hanging out the driver's window. The driver is reaching
over the dog, grasping the steering wheel with one hand while the other hand holds
the dog's collar. Seriously folks, we are still dealing with driving while on the
cell-
August, 2009 A Day in the Life of a Morro Bay Police Officer
Municipalities everywhere are trying to deal with their financial woes. Morro Bay
is no different. Of great concern to those of us in the law enforcement profession
is the fear that there will be compromises in public safety. As you read the following,
think what would have happened if, while this incident was occurring, you or a loved
one dialed 9-
July, 2009 Reflections of a 30-
Morro Bay is a relatively safe community. That’s why we live here. However, it is
not the sleepy little village many people perceive. This relative safety is not an
accident and comes at a cost. We must maintain a well-
Back to Beyond the Badge 2013 and 2012