Back in 2004, the City of Wichita Falls was in the process of getting rid of some top administrative types ie: Mayor, City Manager & Personnel Director. I got into the spirit of things, donned a sombrero, called myself Juan & began the "FUBA" campaign.
My son, Matt, now wears the badge with the same badge number that I wore for 27 years.
Here are a couple of Matt's academy partners at graduation, John & Adam. Adam is Kelly's son. John, unfortunately is on his way to another career endeavor...
Me & Matt the day he graduated from the Police Academy. The air conditioner was broke in the police training room and I was sweating like a bad boy in church..
Capt. Manual. Manuel & I go way back..In our Army Reserve days, he was on my fire support team and the driver of our teams APC.. He is now a Sgt. Major in the USAR..Great guy in my opinion & a good friend.
Another shot of Manuel. He can be hilarious, especially when we are sliding down the mountain in our APC and he forgets he is in the Army & reverts back to his USMC days. We think we are gonna die & he keys up, not on intercom, but on the battalion freq and starts doing that Marine Corps bark..you know, the "oorah" thing..
Janice, my wife & Cindy, Norman's wife..She is a Sgt at the WFPD and she and Janice are friends..
Here is Glenn, Matt & Rachel, Matt's girlfriend. At one point, when Matt & Glenn's son, Brad, were a lot younger, they were on opposite teams in soccer & played against one another for a season or two...
Kelly & his son Adam. Matt, Adam & John are second generation officers, along with several others that have been there longer. Police blood runs thick in some family's. Everyone in my mom's family in St. Louis Mo, are cops & my brother's son, Shawn, is in college & wants to join a PD when he graduates up North in Michigan.
Kelly & Adam. Kelly is as proud of Adam as I am of Matt
Matt, working over by the house, stops by at 1:00 am to get a bottle of water..
Things remain the same...Report calls are what it is all about...
Matt in his car..
When Matt was in the academy, I met him, my two former partners, Paul & Michelle, at The Branding Iron (BBQ Place) for lunch. I was retired & here is Matt leaning up against my former patrol car, 5865, that Paul now drives.
My other car, before 5865..This is my beloved 5801. Some kid t-boned me while eyeballing some blond in a Firebird.
The left side of 5801
The inside of 5801. For a month or two after the accident, these little blisters would pop up on my left arm & neck, and little slivers of glass would emerge..
Last view of the car..Adios 5801....
Me & Michelle, my former partner. She injured her back on duty & is now looking at medical retirement from the PD
I think this was taken in 2004. Me & 5865 at the Street department fixin' to pick up Janice for lunch
Matt & his car, taken last week..He came by for water..I keep a lot of water for him here and any of the guys who might stop by..
Put that seat belt on Matt!!
Saddled up, belted in & ready to resume patrol.
A view inside Matt's car. It was in the 90's still (at around 10 pm) so in addition to the bottled water, I gave him some cold, Frost Gatorade..It doesn't take long to get overheated in those dark uniforms, even at night, when it's warm and some dirtball runs from ya on foot...
And he's off..
Me & by my car....2003, I think.
Another shot of me & my car, 5801, when it was still healthy
Last view of me & 5801. I retired in 2004. I miss the PD & the camaraderie that we all shared.That is it for this post..Scroll down for more posts of different police stuff. If you come to an "older posts" link at the bottom of the page, click on it for more of John's Cop Stuff..Until next post, ya'll be careful out there and keep aware of your surroundings.............................John
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