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I once attended a mega-church in another state. The worship service was a television-worthy production. Sound amplifiers, stage lights, and a live band, all created a flawless performance. Staff members were dressed in expensive suits with skinny-fit pants and designer shoes. Every haircut was trendy and pomaded to a high spike. Nothing was out of…
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Willie was already old when I began my career. After he spent years in prison, our paths crossed at the County Jail where I worked as a guard. Other inmates called him Pop, as they did any convict over age 40. Pop had an eye that pointed off to one side. I didn’t know which…
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In September 2019, our swat team volunteered to participate in Tuscaloosa’s 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. The event honored the FDNY, NYPD, Port Authority Police, and EMS who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. It sounded like a good cause, so I joined them. I thought I understood the assignment… At Coleman Coliseum, the organizers…
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Electricity filled the air as the court waited on the jury. A long murder trial had resulted in a guilty verdict. Now the jury decided the young man’s sentence. The options were simple; “Life without parole” or death. The defendant’s life hung in the balance. As the jurors filed in, some were weeping. The mood…
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“I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see.” (Amazing Grace) Ironically, one of the worst scares of my life occurred at a National Night Out Against Crime. I brought my 4-year-old daughter to the event that showcases all the technology law enforcement uses to fight crime. I had no…
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“A wise man sees evil and hides himself.” (Proverb 22:3) Frustrated that an armed suspect got away, I needed answers. A large manhunt the previous night proved unsuccessful, even though a perimeter should have prevented his escape. But the search ended with no arrest. Everyone figured he was long gone. The following morning, I returned…
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In the 80s, Holiday Beach Raceway was a popular hangout. The drag races drew large crowds of enthusiastic fans. But anywhere people gather, there’s always that one drunk guy. He shows up at events and ruins it for everyone else. He came to the races one night and got himself arrested. The two deputies who…
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As a patrol deputy, I learned that domestic violence calls are frequent occurrences. Many cohabiting people cannot peacefully exist together. They often call law enforcement to settle their disputes. One night we responded to an interesting case at a trailer in Coaling. A 30-year-old woman and her 50-something-year-old mother got into a fight. The altercation…
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The man screamed and fell to the floor in agony. Two others tried to catch him but he was too heavy. He hit the floor and writhed in pain. His body and face contorted. My friends and I stood in the corner, laughing hysterically. We shouted, “We’re not laughing at you, we’re laughing with you!…
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They say dogs possess super-sensory skills that surpass human capabilities. My dog Otis can’t find a Milk-Bone two inches from his nose. It’s frustrating to watch him search the room for a treat I dropped right in front of him. Otis would not survive in the wild. He does, however, have a sixth sense regarding…