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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…
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On Easter Sunday 1973, Pastor Kefa Sampangi was targeted for assassination by Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. Kefa had just preached in his town’s soccer stadium to over 7,000 people. After the service, three of Amin’s Secret Police followed him back to his small church. Kefa had just finished praying when the soldiers entered the room…
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I referred to the man in the photo as “The guy with the thousand-yard stare.” The old black-and-white photo depicted a protest march on the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse in April 1964. The man with the “stare” stood out as the only white guy in a large group of protesters. The look of fear on his…
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People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. (Orwell) One morning in 2018, I walked into the patrol office and saw a deputy’s ballistic vest lying in a chair. The outer carrier was covered in mud. The vest told the story of the…