Whisper by Ray Shay

Whisper   
By Ray Shay   

  

Recently, after finishing Chelsea's Run in Balboa Park our family walked over to Jimmy Carter's Mexican Restaurant at Fifth and Palm Ave.  As we approached the restaurant, I saw a mentally disturbed man wandering in the middle of the parking lot of the 7-11 store across the street.  

He abruptly pulled off his jacket and threw it to the ground before yelling obscenities at his invisible demons.  It was not long before SDPD arrived and placed the man into custody. While the man sat handcuffed in the rear seat of the police car, I talked with one of the young officers. 

The officer said one of their biggest issues lately, are people ingesting methamphetamine from Mexico which is laced with some unknown chemicals.  It results in persons exhibiting symptoms similar to PCP abuse.    

As he spoke, I recalled the dangers of PCP.  I then thought of SDPD Officer Mike Anaya who was only on the force for about nine months, when a PCP suspect overpowered him and killed him with his own duty weapon. 

Officer Michael Anaya (Click here to read his story)

PCP (phencyclidine) or "Angel Dust" as they call it, is a powerful sedative which was originally used to tranquilize elephants.  When I was on patrol in the cheaper areas of this city, the drug was frequently referred to as, "poor man's cocaine."  

I sometimes testified in San Diego Municipal Court as an expert on PCP abuse.  It only meant I knew slightly more than an average citizen and I had documented experience and specialized training in this hallucinogenic drug.  

Before gathering our family to head home, I cautioned the police officers to be safe. A common departing comment between cops, even a retired one and the next generation of law enforcement officers.  A friendly reminder that each moment they are wearing a badge, they are a target.

As I drove down I-163 to Mission Valley, I thought back to my countless encounters of people under the influence of PCP.  I then found myself squeezing the steering wheel as I thought to myself, I should have told those young officers to whisper.  It could save their lives. 

 

With most police critical incidents, you learn that either you or the violent suspect is in charge. That is why when guns are drawn or tempers flair, officers take command by saying, "San Diego Police," in a loud, authoritative voice.  New officers are reminded to practice this skill so they can take command of situations quickly.  

We also learned through experience, it was often best to slide to the other end of the spectrum and coax suspects into custody if they were under the influence of PCP.  You want to step into their often hallucinogenic episode softly and quietly. Every officer in the early 1980's learned to roll up to 11550 (b) scenes with no siren or emergency lights flashing and definitely never to screech their tires when stopping.

A sudden loud noise, quick move or lack of patience could result in the person suddenly turning violent. Since they feel no pain, seem to have super human strength and are likely hallucinating, the only thing that could stop them was sheer body weight. It would result in the proverbial "dog pile" while you try to gain control and apply handcuffs.  The entire time you keep one arm across your holster, securing your duty weapon to prevent the situation from turning deadly.  

Our sons still ask me to tell the story of the man on the roof.  It was just after shift change, about four in the afternoon when the radio call came out at 2800 Logan Avenue.  The reporting party said a large man who was likely high on PCP, was standing on his roof. If I didn't mention it, he was standing on the roof his car and the man was completely naked.  

I think I was the third unit to arrive on the scene.  The man was a giant.  The roof of the car was partially caved in and he stood broadly with both arms high in the air with his fists tightly clenched.  He looked at me and proclaimed, "I am God."

PCP can come in solid, powder or liquid form. It is most frequently found in liquid form and tobacco or marijuana cigarettes are "dipped" in the substance and then it is ingested by smoking.

Looking into his eyes you could see the "blank stare" appearance which is common with the drug. The drug also makes a person run hot and that is why they are frequently found naked.

The other symptoms of being under the influence of PCP is muscle rigidity, a strong chemical odor on their breath, hallucinations and finally PCP is one of the few things that can actually cause their eyes to display vertical nystagmus.  It simple terms, their eyes will bounce up and down similar to the old video "Pong" or "Breakout." Now, I am really dating myself.

As I looked at the man, I realized even if I had half the Department here, we could not likely physically restrain him.  I knew we had to talk him into handcuffs. That is where the whisper came in.  I recall engaging him in my softest voice, "God, everything is OK.  Why don't you just come down and talk to me?"

He glanced slowly around at the gathering neighbors, the owner of the car who kept repeating, "he is on my car!' and the additional police cars who kept quietly rolling up.  I think I mustered a smile as I waved him towards me and repeated that everything was OK. He stared at me for about thirty seconds and then to everyone's relief he slowly lowered his arms and stepped off the roof and walked across the hood of the car as it dented below his heavy weight. He reminded me of the incredible Hulk as he stepped on to the black asphalt with his huge bare feet. 

I whispered again, "Everything is OK." I could feel the heat radiating off of his body. Several officers quietly eased his hands behind his back and applied the standard double sets of handcuffs. One to hold him and the second to make sure the first set did not break.

As I continued our drive back home with my family, I wondered if I should even this story.  I know the eWeekly has wide readership including many police officers, but most of my readers sit in gate guarded communities or in expensive homes with HOA's and neatly manicured front yards. I know it will likely ruffle some feathers, but I hope the second group sees this article as educational.

If PCP or methamphetamine laced with chemicals is making a come back, I think you should know about it. Talking to experts in the field of narcotic prevention, they emphasize the importance of parents paying attention to their children, interacting with them frequently and be their parent and not necessarily only their best friend. Finally, don't wait too long to ask for professional help if you discover there is a problem. 

Enjoy your week, as we are all so fortunate to have peacekeepers like Officer Mike Anaya and so many others on the job to protect us and help safeguard our children.

 

Copyright Shay Realtors 2015 All Rights Reserved

Blue & Gold - Jackie Never Ran by Ray Shay

 

Editors note: Gold and Blue is a series of police stories which may be inappropriate for younger readers. This is a small peek behind the badge of America's Finest. 

Last Thursday morning as the sun began rising over San Diego, California, I found myself reflecting on the upcoming holiday season. I stepped off the treadmill and asked myself what I was thankful for?  I recall thinking, "I'm glad Jackie never ran."

My response surprised me.  Maybe it was my short and labored breathing as I recalled chasing criminals on foot or maybe, just maybe, I was thinking about rookie Police Officer Jerry Hartless.  I always think of him during this time of year. Jerry was killed in the line of duty in 1988, shortly after Chrstmas.    

Jerry, a former Marine who I had the honor of training was murdered while chasing an armed drug dealer who was a member of  a notoriously violent street gang in Southeast San Diego.

Officer Jerry Hartless is on the left.

Jerry at the young age of twenty-four years old was the  elventh SDPD officer killed in the line of duty in just eleven years, (click here). At the time our officer mortality rate ranked us the most dangerous city in America to be a cop.

As for Jackie, he was one of our regular customers.  I cannot really say he was my friend since we only interacted while I was on the job. 

Jackie had a slight problem.  He was a code three heroin addict and we were on opposite teams.  His job was to feed his addiction while we tried to stop him.   

Jackie was easy to recognize.  When we saw each other in the busy downtown streets of San Diego he never ran from me. I think part of it was the derivative of opium regularly flowing through his blood stream which slows everything down.  In a strange way we both enjoyed talking with each other.

I usually only arrested Jackie early in my shift before darkness fell and brought with it the increase in violent crime which pushed non violent criminal arrests to the back burner.  It would be tough to explain to my fellow officers I was with Jackie when the drive by shootings and stabbings started coming in and there was no one available to cover them.

So many young people think drugs can be romantic or are not dangerous. I wish I could somehow bring every high school student in San Diego into the cramped quarters in Police Headquarters where we conducted our evaluations of persons under the influence of narcotics.

Jerry's Police Academy Classmates. Jerry is in lower left corner.

It was where police officer trainees would often begin to learn what it is like to see a heroin junkie up close and personal.  I won't even attempt to describe the smell that filled the dark room as we examined Jackie's pinpoint pupils.  

They say a person's eyes are a mirror to their soul, but they are also the truest indicator of what is coursing through a persons blood stream.

Jackie if nothing else was consistent.  He almost always displayed the classic symptoms of opiate abuse by repeatedly licking his dry lips, lightly scratching his face and when he spoke you could see the white film on his tongue and lips.

I would always look at my trainees face when Jackie rolled up his sleeves or his pants legs as the lab technician faced the challenge of trying to find a useable vein to draw blood.  The countless puncture wounds, scabs and abscesses provided a strange roadmap of where all of Jackie's veins were within reach of a hypodermic needle.  Silent testimony to his relentless addiction.
 
On the rare instances when Jackie was not high, I could tell he was in pain. I suggested he go to the methadone clinic or get help, but he would just shake his head from side to side much like the tremors he experienced due to his bodies hunger for heroin. 

Monty Hall

When we had enough arrests on  Jackie we would meet in San Diego Municipal Court.  Jackie's Public Defender always had a strange look on his or her face when Jackie and I exchanged pleasantries. 

Much like Monty Hall on Let's Make A Deal, Jackie would plead guilty to a few counts of under the influence of narcotics while the City Attorney would throw out a few.  The ultimate result is Jackie would finally get help for his addiction while in custody.

When Jackie got out of jail he always looked so much healthier.  I'm sure it was the "Duffy Burgers."  The name inmates and deputies called the hamburgers served in County Jail.  A jab or compliment to Sheriff Duffy.

When Jackie returned to the streets he would always quickly climb back on the drug train where food is no longer important.  It took control of him and ultimately carried Jackie and countless people like him to their graves.

In a strange and tragic way both Jackie's slow death and Officer Jerry Hartless' violent death are connected through drugs. As our society continues our path towards decriminalization of not only marijuana but narcotics, people should reconsider how it will impact our children.

Officer Jerry Hartless carried to his final resting place.

I think if the people who voted for passage of Proposition 47 (which made narcotic possession a misdemeanor in California) had met Jackie, or saw Officer Jerry Hartless' young widow holding the above flag in her small and trembling hands, they would have been better educated voters.

After twenty four years in law enforcement, I prefer to focus on the roses, but it is likely the hidden scars which reminds me to take a moment when sitting down with family and friends this holiday season and give thanks to both law enforcement and our military heroes for their sacrifices.

Without them and their families, our people and certainly our country would be lost to violence.

Copyrighted - All Rights Reserved - Shay Realtors 2014