Twas the (police officer’s) Night Before Christmas…

First responders; police officers, EMTs and paramedics, firefighters, campus safety officers, emergency managers and security professionals, hold a unique place in society. Like emergency and inpatient nurses and doctors, military service members and select others, they are called to serve regardless of the day, the time of day, or the holiday. But first responders are not only on duty, but also walking the balance of peace and health, and violence and disaster in unstable and unknown environments, often for a public that doesn’t understand or appreciate the service they provide or the way they provide it.  This is the sentiment I was grappling with when I wrote this poem, an homage to “T’was The Night Before Christmas”, nearly a decade ago.

To my brothers, sisters and siblings in service, public safety, military and dedicated to humanity of all kids, stay safe. I wish you peace this holiday season.  Know that you are seen and appreciated. This poem is for you.

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the station

Not a creature was stirring, ‘cause the chief’s on vacation

The dispatcher is hung on hulu , Sarge doesn’t care,

And there’s somewhere the shift would rather be than here.

My kids tucked in without me, nestled safe in their beds;

While visions of a normal family Christmas Eve dance in my head;

My partner in his duty belt and I in my vest

Had just settled our brains for the night that should be the best,

When the 911 phone rang such a clatter,

I sprang from my desk to see what was the matter.

Away to dispatch I flew like a flash,

To have the dispatcher tell me some guy was an ass.

The booze had been flowing for hours by now,

And he’d decided it was time for a fight somehow,

My blue lights gave a luster to the objects outside,

As we barreled through town, my partner and I.

I survey the scene and to my scanning eyes did appear

A drunk jackass screaming with his family standing near.

The children all crying as because of the noise they did fear

Santa would skip their house, along with his tiny rein-deer.

In hopes that my partner and I could wrap this up quick

We started with a soft approach and tried to de-conflict;

Negotiate and try to not place any blame

Was the name of tonight’s peacemakers’ game.

More rapid than eagles liquor coursed through his veins

Keeping the oxygen from getting to his brains:

“I know my rights! You should leave now!

This is a family matter and doesn’t concern you somehow!”

His voice echoed down the street and off of the wall,

“Now go away, go away, go away all!”

As leaves from the tree he fell to the ground

When because of his swinging my partner took him down.

Then to the other side of town I must fly;

Because through front yards of houses there is a DUI

Who smashed an inflatable Frosty, and glowing St. Nicholas too-

I walk through the scene trying to avoid puke on my shoe,

And there with glass tinkling and the car on its roof

Is a guy complaining about his chipped tooth.

As I drew out my cuffs and had him turn around,

My dispatcher aired there’s a robber abound.

Dressed in all black from his head to his foot,

Held up a gas station and made off with the loot.

The two on shift are tied up, there’s no one around

Call for a cop from some other town.

They’ve got a dog and go run a track

But the thief kept running and never looked back.

His eyes full of fear as he ran like the dickens

The register’s cash in his hand all for presents for his children.

Back at the station with two stowed in the cell,

My partner and I typing, bitching like hell.

As he types his report my partner asks, “Is it an anomaly,

That I don’t need alcohol to get along with my family?”

I shudder then laugh and make a joke about in-laws,

As we type our reports to lodge our out-laws.

Later in the evening, as we drink gas station coffee

Nothing fancy, suave, minty or frothy,

We keep the lights turned down with the hope

That people don’t see us, and call us to deal with their dope.

My cruiser is outside running ‘cause it’s too freakin’ cold

Fighting with people on Christmas is getting so freakin’ old,

But at the end of the shift, safe and over-tired

I’ll head home to my kids who by now will be wired.

They’ll laugh and have chocolate, giggle and whistle,

My spouse leans against me with a sigh that is wistful.

I hope that I show I’m excited, content and everything’s alright

Despite wondering if all had a Happy Christmas and all had a good night.