“JUMP START”
It’s something to think that a college town is not busy or thinking that things don’t happen. Well, let me inform you that the college town I work in things happen basically on the regular. I have been working in this college town for over seven years now and have seen my fair share of things on the street. Tonight was not any different from what I have seen or been a part of.
My squad came into work for the midnight shift around 2200hrs (10pm) and getting ready for our briefing. When suddenly we hear over our radio, as the officers are transmitting, police sirens. We all got our radios from the radio room and turned it on and heard that there was a group of people fighting with baseball bats. As the officers working evening shift responded we started looking at each other and wondering should we respond as well. I then grabbed the FN303, which is a less-than lethal projectile weapon that shoots out hard plastic projectile with pepper inside at 400 feet per second, and began to get it ready. This weapon is used to subdue crowds at riots, group gatherings of an unlawful nature, and can be used for deadly situations if you want to reduce the deadly force that could be used.
As soon as we heard that three hispanic males were severely cut and to keep sending units we all rushed out the door. We left the station and jumped into our assigned vehicles and responded. I threw the FN303 into the trunk and responded with my lights and siren and once I got there I pulled out the FN303. I started walking around with it strapped around my shoulders and like I always do start getting looks from citizens and bystanders. It never fails that I get at least one question of what it is that I am carrying around with me. I’ve had people say to me is that a paintball gun? I respond in a way that lets them know that this is not something you can go running into the woods with. Once the projectiles of the FN303 hits you it stings, the plastic pellet explodes and not only marks you with a stain, but also contaminates you like you was sprayed.
This was the many times that I pulled this thing out and just the show of it can get people second guessing. However, I begin to wonder how come I’m the only one pulling it out? I guess because my comrades know that I am not afraid to use it. Well, by the end of the huge confrontation it was all over as quickly as it started. I just walked around with it strapped around me for about 45 minutes after my arrival and then could see that it was no need for it anymore. One sergeant even saw me with it and was like “nice” with a smile as she was happy to see someone with it. As things started to wind down I was saying to myself that this is only the beginning of our shift. I was also thinking that this could be the beginning for a wild night or just something that happened at the time of another shift coming on. Well only time will tell as the night is just beginning.
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