I have thought about being a police officer for about all my teenage years growing up here in Milwaukee. My friend Chris and I talked all the time about going to the academy and then patrolling the streets together to help keep our city safe. I just wanted to help people and make sure the law was equally applied to everyone. I will discuss my experiences in a later article on what really made me decide to become an officer. As an officer we have all had experiences that makes us say that is why I decided to do this job. In this article today I would like to tell you about a story that really touched retired officer P. Thomas Thadison III when he was still on the street working.
On this night officer Thadison was working a one-man squad, which means he was working alone. He said the sergeant told him before leaving the station to watch out for curfew violations while on patrol. On the street Officer Thadison observed three juveniles between 11:30pm and midnight walking in the area. He called for the juveniles to come over to the squad so he could talk with them. Two of them continued and decided to walk away. The third youth paused for a minute looking back and finally decided to come over to the squad. Officer Thadison asked what are you doing out here you know it is past curfew. The youth stated he was not doing anything. Officer Thadison then asked,” “where is your mother?’ The answer “she is at home.”
Officer Thadison took the youth into the station and thought to himself I will be babysitting him all night depending on when his mother could get him. Thadison engaged him in conversation while at the station. What school are you in? What do you want to do when you grow up? You have choices on what you decide to do. Be the best person you can be. You do not want to be behind bars like this. Education is important and you are getting an education here. Do not do what your friends say peer pressure can have you make bad choices. You will not get any citations tonight we are just talking. His mother came and he told her to be responsible and the curfew is to protect your children.
Seven years later Officer Thadison was in the Pick and Save shopping when someone yelled Officer Thad. He looked around and eventually a male came up to him and said you do not remember me, do you? The youth said you stopped me over seven years ago when I was out after curfew with my friends. I want to thank you because you saved my life. Officer Thadison said yes, I remember you now, how did I save your life? The youth said me and my friends were on the way to rob a man who had won a large amount of money at the casino. We went back again going to the man’s house and I thought about what you said to me about life and choices. I told my friends I must use the bathroom bad and cannot go with you all. They said you know you will not get any money if you do not come with us? I said that is okay, and they went. The man was waiting for them going through the window. He shot and killed both. I was the smallest and was going to be the first in the window.
He added I graduated from high school and college. He said I am also engaged to get married. Officer Thadison said this confirmed the question, “why am I doing this?” He said he has always wanted to help people.
Leave a Reply