The Badge Part Two - More Thoughts From a Retired State Trooper - Softcover

Geeting, Jim

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1411646185 ISBN 13: 9781411646186

Publisher: Lulu.com, 2005

Synopsis

In his new book, Jim Geeting gives us a second helping of the most popular shorts from his very popular column of the same name. Read the thoughts and observations of a retired and decorated Wyoming state trooper, as he speaks not as a cop, but as a neighbor, husband, father, outdoorsman, reverent soul and friend.

About this title

About the Author

During his years as a trooper, Jim was a Field Training Officer, Range Officer, W.H.P. Academy Instructor for traffic stops and officer survival and, was a member of the W.H.P. Special Services Squad reactionary team.

He was involved in several hair-raising cases over that time, for which he received two Colonel's Commendations, the Distinguished Service Medal for Bravery and the Purple Heart for serious injuries in the line of duty. One incident, a tense, two-hour negotiation with a deranged and armed felon, resulted in the shotgun-brandishing suspect's peaceful surrender. The case was so astounding it was depicted in an episode of "Real Stories of the Highway Patrol" television series, where Jim portrayed himself!

From the Back Cover

For over six years, Jim has written "The Badge," the award-winning column, from which these works were taken.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

A child named Robbie once asked me, "Trooper Jim, how many bad guys have you shot?" His innocent face looked over at me from the passenger seat with genuine curiosity about something he thought must happen with regularity in the world of cops and robbers.

"I never have shot anybody, Robbie" I answered. His face was almost blank-as if that answer was not among the possible answers.

"How's come?" He continued.

"Because no bad guys ever tried to shoot me."

"Can I push you siren?" His mind shifted instantly to what looked like a gazillion buttons in my patrol car where the siren control switches were. He reached down and gently pushed the siren button, letting loose a short "WOOOP" of the electronic noisemaker. Robbie's smile was instant and huge-ear-to-ear, as the other kids in the second grade class jumped. Their start became dozens of laughing faces.

"How fast can you go? Can you go a hundred?"

"Yep. Even faster."

"A thousand?" his eyes wide in amazement.

"Well, maybe not a thousand."

"Is that real gold?" he reached over and touched my badge.

"Naw. Just regular metal with gold on top."

"Hey...my dad has this!" He reached up and tried to take my dash mounted camcorder off of its bracket. We have movies of Disneyland! Did you ever go to Disneyland?"

"I sure have. Did you have fun there?

His face nodded but he said nothing as he continued to reach out and touch every gadget and gismo he could see in my patrol car, seemingly forgetting he had asked me.

What's this?" he said as he reached and grabbed my public address microphone.

"Push that button and say something into here," I said, pointing to the voice screen on the mic. He looked up at his classmates.

"HEY, CASEY! CASEY! CAASEEEY!!!" Apparently his buddy, "Casey," heard him, as I saw another little boy come running over from the fire truck, also on display at the event. The other kids giggled and held their ears, like before.

Casey got there and stuck his head in the door with my passenger and together, he and Robbie took turns giving 100 watt "shout-outs" to there friends and even some teachers. After a few minutes I had to reach over and forcefully remove the PA mic from the pair for fear of a "disturbing the peace" complaint being called in to the local police!

Several minutes later Robbie and Casey became more interested in the ambulance parked next to my black and white and moved on. High fives were exchanged between us all and away they went, but not before Robbie said, "Be careful, okay?"

"I will, pal. Thanks!" Then they ran off, to the world of the EMT and soon they apparently discovered that an ambulance has twice as many buttons, horns and flashing lights than a police car. Sirens were blasted, air horns honked and strobe lights to rival any disco were flashing all over the place!

As the event tapered down, I saw one, very shy little boy walking back into the doors of the school. He stopped short and looked over at me. I waived him over and here he came-running full speed "Can I do your siren, too?"

And he did. He smiled as his friends laughed and, his day was complete.

Mine was too. Just because.

Edition details

• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Publication date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1411646185
• ISBN 13: 9781411646186
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 184