i want to extend my gratitude to the police officers, EMTs, and firemen that respond to the average civil emergency. i want to express my relief upon seeing those flashing lights shortly after calling the non-emergency line at 11:30 pm for the one very drunk man beating his one very drunk friend on the sidewalk. we watched as his small red car rocked back and forth from the force of his punches and kicks. we watched him slam his friend into our iron fence and kick him repeatedly until his friend lay in the street. i want to share my palpable emotion when the cop whose bald head shone in the street lights climbed out of his car and examined the drunk friend and called an ambulance, whose EMTs then examined the hands of the drunk man, which were bruised and lacerated from the force with which he beat his friend.
it was with no small amount of horror that we watched three police cars, two fire engines, and an ambulance arrive on a scene caused by a careless amount of beers and likely some tequila shots. the thousands of dollars in trained guardians of the public spent on two men who got dressed in button-down shirts and jeans with sneakers to drive downtown, watch the NFL ticket, and drink themselves delusional. we watched the quiet friend take every blow, incredulous that he kept refusing to hand over the car keys and refusing even to walk away from a friend who kicked him, punched him in the stomach and the head, and threw him onto the pavement.
i am grateful for the hours spent interviewing, arresting, and booking these two men. i am humbled and disgusted realizing that entire careers are spent rescuing people from themselves. there is plenty said about the police, but i say thank you for existing.
