So at my job, you learn best when you get ridiculed. That way you don't make the same mistake twice.
The newer Dominican officer, seen earlier in the dove/pigeon picture, is doing really, really well. He gets it and I enjoy working with him. He's very solid, he's not afraid of making mistakes, and learns from them. That's all I can ask.
Officer DR got dispatched to a barefoot guy running around Rick's development talking crazy at 2am. I decided to respond with him in case he needed help and to see if it might actually be
@rick81721 running around. Spoiler alert: it wasn't Rick. This time.
Officer DR and I arrived and determined the guy, nicknamed here as Shoeless Joe, is bonkers. He's hallucinating and hearing voices. DR didn't get far with him. I've dealt with him before and treated him fairly. I found out Shoeless Joe is using coke, snorting his anti-depressant medication, and using suboxone to treat his heroin addiction. Fine, so far that's pretty normal for us. Shoeless Joe says he was walking around the development to find the karate teacher that lives close by (yes, there is one and Officer DR is surprised I know that) so the karate teacher and Shoeless Joe can check his house for intruders (because he heard voices in the house).
Officer DR and I searched the house. Nothing.
I convinced Shoeless Joe that he should go for a behavioral health screening at the hospital.
Officer DR took Shoeless Joe upstairs to get some shoes and a jacket so we can transport him to the hospital. Shoeless Joe collected his medication, thinking he may be held for a few days. Officer DR watched him diligently. He saw Shoeless Joe open an Ibuprofen bottle and observed a small container that he thought to be a plastic vial of cocaine. I was downstairs listening to this transpire upstairs. Some words are exchanged and Officer DR handcuffed Shoeless Joe and brought him downstairs.
I read Shoeless Joe his Miranda rights and ask him why he wanted to bring cocaine to the hospital. Shoeless Joe is so impressionable that he said, "Man, I have no idea. I guess I was going to get rid of it. I'm not really sure. I thought I used all that I had."
Officer DR went in the kitchen to sort out the Ibuprofen from the "cocaine" and get it ready to place in an evidence bag when I hear him sigh heavily.
"Hey Sarge you can uncuff him."
I looked at Shoeless Joe confusedly. Shoeless Joe looked back at me even more confusedly.
"Why?"
"Um, just come here a second."
I sat Shoeless Joe down at his dining room table, still handcuffed, and walked into the kitchen. Officer DR looks like he's seen a ghost. He hands me a desiccant canister from the Ibuprofen bottle.
"This isn't cocaine."
"I know."
"You said it was cocaine."
"I know. I thought it was."
"It's not."
"No I know that."
"See, I'm not sure you do. Shoeless Joe isn't sure either. So can we unarrest him?"
Officer DR uncuffed Shoeless Joe.
"What do we say?"
With a smirk. "I'm sorry."
I assure Shoeless Joe that I will make fun of Officer DR in his honor. Shoeless Joe seemed satisfied and headed to the hospital with Officer DR. I covertly take a picture of the desiccant canister on my way out of the house. I went straight into the station to bang out some memes.