Posted on 12/26/2007 6:11:49 PM PST by Brian_Baldwin
This year I received a police scanner for my Christmas present. I wasn’t sure if my wife would “ok” this, or consider it a “waste of money”, but nevertheless I kept mentioning that I wanted one since I had a police scanner about twenty years ago and enjoyed it very much. Recently, a movie in which a police scanner was featured in several of the scenes reminded me of my interest in scanners, and so I decided that is what I wanted for Christmas this year.
Well, I got the police scanner. And I couldn’t wait to try it out.
I was up until 3AM Christmas eve, programming in the frequencies of the various dispatchers and police departments for the area I live in, and then listening in and seeing if I could remember some of the “police call codes” I had know twenty years back.
“What’s your 20?” asks one voice … as I recall this is a request for location of the officer. And, there is someone banging on someone’s apartment door, and then trying to kick the door open, the police are on their way. And there’s some lady that a squad car has found on the public street in the early morning hours – she can’t breath, and medical attention is required. A stopped car here, a prowler there, what looks like gang members downtown. And then one voice wishes a dispatcher a Merry Christmas.
And that’s when I remember. It’s Christmas morning, and our men and women on the thin blue line are out there, doing their job, for us and our community. Risking their lives on Christmas morning.
And I really appreciate them for this. I thank them, and I respect them and what they do for all of us. I eat the “Christmas cookies” and drink the milk left out for Santa, and go to bed thinking about them – the men and women who are our police officers. What wonderful people they are. They choose to do this in their life. They choose to take the risk for all of us.
You know, I don’t know or care what the statistics say, it seems to me there has been an increase in crime. If the Republicans were smart, they will make crime a campaign issue in 2008, one of among several issues. I would really appreciate a candidate who will discuss the crime issue in 2008, because it is a concern of mine, many communities are seeing crime become an issue – it was one of the reasons I asked for the scanner.
Glad I got it.
glad you did too....you respect it and the law.
ham radios are also as addicting.....Merry Xmas to you
incidentally, i'm an nypd officer. i catch a lot of flack for defending the police.
it really sucked when cincinnati cops went digital. my scanner is now useful for very few things. :(
I drove home Christmas evening and they all seemed to get behind me. Mighty nice of them to make me a nervous wreck!
From someone who did the job for over twenty eight years, your appreciation and thanks are gratefully accepted!
I listen to the scanner while Freeping. It is scarey what those brave people go thru.
You won’t catch any flak from me! We appreciate you guys.
We saw a woman pulled over Christmas Day. My husband said, oh, poor lady - I said, hey, maybe she was driving drunk. I appreciate the cops being on the job.
My brother left our house early on Christmas Eve because he had to be at the PD by 6AM Xmas Day. His four kids got up at 4:30AM with him to see what Santa brought! Ilove him all the more for his sacrifice and service.
My girls, when they entered their teenage years, made some disparaging comments about the police which they had undoubtedly had picked up from their less intelligent and informed peers because it didn't come from me. So I said to them, who runs to the sound of the guns and who runs to the scene of the danger when everyone else is running away? I never heard one disrespectful thing about law enforcement again, I think because it is so obviously true and they were smart enough to realize it.
My dad was a motorcycle policeman for a while.
My son’s a dispatcher. I hear a lot of what goes on after the fact.
You guys deserve every bit of praise you receive, and none of the flak.
For the last twelve years I have listened every night to the police scanner, since son became a cop. When he was on patrol both hubby and I listened, now he is under cover and not on the regular channels so I listen with an earplug, got used to it I guess.
Keeps me praying for their safety all night long.
If people only realized how brave these men and women are.
God bless each and every one of them.
As a wife of a military man, I make sure that those on duty on Christmas Eve/Day have snacks to let them know that someone has noticed that they were on duty.
This year on Sunday, our church delivered snacks to every fire station and police station in our area.
Thank you so much for posting in support of the police. As I have stated in previous posts, a few rogues should NOT taint the others who become sitting ducks the minute they put on their uniforms.
My dad was a cop when we were growing up, I remember many a Christmas Eve waiting until late for Dad to get home, many a time he couldn’t.
Sure , we need police , but there are too bloody many . How many you need ? City , town , state , county , etc...We’re heading in the same direction as Britain : a socialistic police state .
You are quite welcome. Our police are amazing people. They want to serve and protect and they so often get little respect and thanks for what they do and what they risk. I wanted my children to understand this and I believe that they do.
When all LE goes digital, you won't hear a thing on your scanner. Many of the larger departments have already made the switch, with many more in the process.
the last positive post about police i saw got a mere 12 replies. this one has 19.
every negative thread about cops easily gets 100's of posts. this is the one gripe i have developed about FR.
many complain about the media and the people who blindly follow the media's marching orders. but it seems that when there is a negative police story, freepers jump right on the media bandwagon and bash right along with them.
i'm sorry for smearing your lovely thread. but i feel things like this need to be said. if i might ask, what kind of store sells scanners? i'm interested in grabbing one. thanks!
Some crazy guy got onto the busiest west coast freeway, I-5 just south of Seattle, here on Christmas Day. He started attacking cars going by. The cops showed up, and he attacked a cop, and got shot dead. That cop gets to remember Christmas in a very unpleasant manner.
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