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| Diary of a Copper - K; Fanfic in diary form | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Sep 17 2017, 10:22 PM (128 Views) | |
| Trystan | Oct 2 2017, 05:56 AM Post #16 |
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PC
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2nd January. For a while there was confusion. Radio communications went unheard, orders were given, but not received, the wrong orders went to the wrong sectors…I saw colleagues stand tall against the angry mob, I saw others fall. The noise, the smoke, the blood and the tears…mostly ours. At least the powers that be learnt their lesson after the last riot and there were no probationers on this one. Probationers, on the whole, are a good bunch, but to be dumped in a situation like this without experience in the job is enough to make sure we lose them as quickly as they join up. I heard only one of the probationers who were on duty for the last riot we were at has kept on with the job. The other five left. Well, good for her, but I can understand the others not wanting to continue as well. You know…normally…New Year’s fireworks don’t include Molotov Cocktails…and they aren’t usually accompanied by a shower of bricks. Well…so much for that. Christmas was, for me for once, brilliant. Now it’s back to reality. And it was back to reality with a resounding crash this time. I was, as always, in the thick of it for this one. Why am I always out in the front line? Ok, it was the third line, but you know what I mean. Why am I thought of as so solid? Someone who can watch your back and always there when needed? Oh…right…my fault then. The two guys on either side of me were taller…I’m six foot or there about…so that was comforting at least. Those in front were pretty solid too, I didn’t see who was behind. In any case, even though I didn’t know anyone around me, I wasn’t too worried as it was a sound group of people…right in the middle of the line, where you really need to hold it together. If you let the mob through and they get behind you, you’re done for effectively. They put the smaller people towards the back. Sure, they may be able to take care of themselves in a scrap, but when a mad bastard comes straight at you screaming and weapon (of any sort) in hand…well…even I have to force myself not to run. The only ones who have ever run have been probationers. I can’t say I blame them, I don’t think any less of them for doing so, but at the same time, right now I was happy we didn’t have to worry about them on this one. This was a bad one. It was about to get a lot worse. Somewhere, the line in front of us broke, so I gather the line in front of them had broken somewhere as well. It wasn’t in the middle where I was, but it was still the end for us. The bloke to my right went down after his helmet was knocked off by a glancing blow with a lump of wood. Unfortunately, the kid with the wood had the presence of mind to take a second swing and the copper was caught in the side of the head. I managed to duck and get a punch in to the gut, but it hardly slowed the kid down. Then I saw his eyes. I don’t know what drug he was on, but it was one of the ones where they just keep going and don’t feel pain. This kid was going to be relentless. I managed to duck again, but had to hold my arm up to ward off a blow heading for my face. The wood connected with the bone in my wrist. This was not going to be pretty for me, so I tried to let myself relax so the damage wouldn’t be as bad. My helmet was knocked off with the third blow and I managed a kick to the kid’s soft bits. It still didn’t slow him down any. I came to in St Hugh’s hospital in the dead of night. Sergeant Cryer and Cathy were sitting by the bed. They looked exhausted, but worse still, they looked haunted. Someone has been hurt badly…maybe a few of us. It’s hardly surprising in this situation. Cathy saw me wake first and she smiled a sad sort of smile. She took my hand and squeezed it. Sergeant Cryer turned when he noticed her move. “I’m glad you’re ok,” I told her. She had a few bruises here and there, but nothing major. “I’m fine, kiddo.” “Am I?” I asked. It was hard to tell and the painkillers were muddying the waters a bit. “You are one very lucky lady,” the Sarge threw in. “How come?” I was confused. From what I could piece together in my fuzzy brain, I was beaten up by a kid with a lump of wood. Embarrassing or what? “According to some of our colleagues, you put up quite a fight, more than some of the men,” the Sarge explained. “You’ve escaped with a broken wrist and a broken head…though judging by the fact that you’re awake and talking means it’s not too badly broken.” “Were there many hurt?” I asked. Where was Barry? He wasn’t near me in the line, I didn’t see him at all. “Yes, but only a few serious injuries…one from Sun Hill.” “Barry?” it wasn’t hard to guess. He would be sitting in here, otherwise. Cathy and Sergeant Cryer exchanged a worried glance. “Sarge…do you mind if…” “It’s all right, Cath’, I have to check in at the nick. I’ll leave you two to it,” the Sarge stood. “Sophie…well done out there tonight. You did us proud.” With that, he left. I turned back to Cathy, who moved and sat on the edge of the bed. She took my hand again. I was already going cold, knowing what I was about to hear wasn’t pleasant. “Sophie…” “Please, just tell me, Cath’.” “He was shot, Sophie.” “What? I heard nothing about a gun…or-or…” “How could you have in all that mess?” Cathy was angry, but not at me. Like the rest of us, angry at the way we on the ground seem to be let down in riot situations. They happened so often in the eighties, less so now, but still there. Riots in estates seem to be getting more common. They are usually fuelled by drink, drugs and big ideas. “But…shot?” With all the problems London has over the year, shootings are surprisingly rare in Sun Hill, an area regarded as one of the worst in the city. To be honest, I wonder how they came up with the idea that Sun Hill was a hotspot for crime, as our day-to-day duties are normally pretty uneventful. Things like this come along once in a blue moon, things like shootings and stabbings once in a while with the general run of the mill stuff like robbery and assault following on. Nothing vicious, generally, and those who commit the serious crimes usually have someone targeted…they don’t usually attack randomly. Of course, a shooting in a riot should not be unusual and we police are major targets at any time of the day, but it’s usually just kids hitting out at authority, but the fact is, this was a first for us. “No one heard the gun go off or saw who fired it. It was only when the line behind tripped over him that…” Cathy stopped, awkward. “It’s ok, Cath’, I know how it is. Is-is he…” “He’s still with us, Soph’. They can’t tell us much until his parents get down here, but he was shot in the chest. Luckily, it missed his heart and anything else vital, but he’s not in a good way.” “Will-will he live?” “They don’t think we’ll lose him, but they have to keep a close eye on him for the next few days. There’s a chance he could develop a blood clot after the operation, but he’s a strong lad, Sophie, that’s all in his favour.” I let the news sink in. Damn it, I didn’t want to have to feel like this! It’s this sort of thing I didn’t want a relationship with a colleague for. We all know that we can die on the job, it’s a fact drummed in to us at training and it’s a fact we learn to live with as we go about our day. No one talks about it and no one voices their concern in fear of being labelled ‘soft.’ Daily knocks and bumps are glanced over and of course you worry about your mates out there on any day, but the total emptiness of shock is the hardest. My mind was reeling so I didn’t even notice I was crying. Cathy, as she did when I was a kid, gathered me close and rocked me as I cried. I clung to her, ignoring the pain in my head, wrist and ribs, my back and…my god, that kid must have given me a good going over when I was down! “Can-can I see him?” I finally asked. “They’re letting you go home tomorrow, there’s nothing serious, just bruising apart from your wrist and your head. His parents will be here by then. I’m sure they’ll let you see him.” I nodded, still numb, I think. This is why they frown on relationships in the Met. I think. I can understand it from a management point of view, but really, you can’t help whom you fall for…and I bet that more than half the wives of the senior ranks were once serving police officers. I guess it’s kind of a bonus that, with my injuries, I am going to be off work for a week or two before returning for light duties until my wrist heals. I can spend some time at the hospital…I want to see him on the way to recovery. “Um…the Sarge knows about you and Barry, Sophie. I promise I didn’t say anything, he guessed.” “No matter…we weren’t keeping it a secret intentionally, Cath’. We just didn’t say anything about it…thinking everyone would pick up on it soon enough. I guess they will now.” “I’d say so. You’re ok with that?” “I have no problem and I’m sure Barry will be fine with it if…” “He’s a strong bloke, Sophie, he’ll get through this…with you there to hurry him along.” I gave her a faint smile, suddenly exhausted. I was too tired to argue about having to stay in hospital overnight, even. How did we as a city, so-called civilisation, come to this? When did the bobby on the beat become the enemy? We’re all there to ‘protect and serve’ as the oath goes. We aren’t out to control the population, though there are some in our number who want it that way, it’s not what the police are about. We are just there to keep the peace when needed and make sure that those who go about their lives lawfully don’t have to live in fear. I don’t mind being stopped in the street to tell the time or give directions, I don’t mind helping children and old ladies cross the street…I do mind being targeted just because of the uniform and most of all, I do mind when my mates are targeted for the same. |
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| Sazzy | Oct 2 2017, 09:26 AM Post #17 |
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Administrator
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what a great read, thank you for continuing to share with us even though I have been a bit slow at putting up comments. I am really enjoying reading your work, you are covering some very difficult issues very sensitively well done! I am looking forward to the next instalment. |
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| Trystan | Oct 3 2017, 07:31 AM Post #18 |
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Thank you. Would have been interesting to see how they might have handled someone in Sophie's situation in The Bill. I bet a lot of it went on in the early days. These next bits are only recent add ons. The last thing I put up was as far as I got with the other, but will continue it on at some point. Undated: This job is not all doom and gloom. We do get our fair share of interesting characters. Oh yes, they are still out there and it is a little scary at how easy it is to find them. You know when you are in for one of those days when your call back to the nick goes something like this: “Sierra Oscar from four seven seven, receiving? “Go ahead, Sophie.” “Sarge, re last transmission… I am right in saying the suspect is armed and dangerous and to approach with caution, aren’t I?” “Yes, that was how the nine nine nine call came through, Sophie. What’s the situation?” I looked across at Tony before replying. He was trying, largely unsuccessfully, not to crack a smile and I swear he was shaking with the effort not to laugh out loud. I was in two minds whether to answer the Sarge for fear of Tony cracking up completely in front of the suspect. Still, the ‘armed’ man was hardly in a competent state to register that he was being laughed at. Sighing, I knew I had to answer. “Yeah, Sarge… About that, ah… Just how dangerous is a live chicken?” “Say again?” Tony had to turn away at this point as he was on the verge of losing it completely. Biting my tongue hard to stop myself from laughing, I continued. “The suspect is still on scene all right, but he is armed with a live chicken and the only danger he poses is giving Tony apoplexy from the effort not to laugh out loud.” |
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| Sazzy | Oct 3 2017, 04:52 PM Post #19 |
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Administrator
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LOL as someone who kept chickens many years ago I can confirm they can be classed as a dangerous animal at times!! All in a days work I guess.... |
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| Trystan | Oct 4 2017, 10:10 PM Post #20 |
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PC
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Hahaha, yes. I've had my fair share of run ins with them. Ok, here is the last one. Will start the Sun Hill Moments soon... Undated: The one thing they drum in to us from day one is never, ever, ever date a colleague. Ever. Especially if it is someone from the same nick. It is just considered the biggest no, no out there. The funny thing is, it’s not really heavily enforced. It’s become one of those unwritten rules of the Met. To be honest, no one really looks for someone else in the job. After a few years, the majority become too cynical, too out of touch with themselves. When you go through training, they talk about your public face as opposed to your private face. That is to say, the image you project while you are on the job. Unfortunately, due to the constant stressful nature of our work, for the majority, this public face overshadows the private face. Too many officers lose themselves within a couple of years of starting the job. But occasionally, just occasionally, one comes along who is completely unaffected by the public face. He can take it off at the end of the shift and you don’t see it again until the next shift. This is a rare case amongst fellow police officers, I must say. Even I sometimes find it hard to separate myself from the police officer I am for 12 hours. I was the strongest advocate for the no relationships at work ideal. I think, sometimes, I still am. There are the added stresses that come with being close to someone else in the job. Them getting injured, occasionally seriously so… That sort of thing, but you just can’t help who you fall for. |
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| Sazzy | Oct 5 2017, 12:45 PM Post #21 |
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An excellent piece of writing. I really enjoyed reading it all, thank you very much for sharing it with us.
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| Trystan | Oct 6 2017, 11:42 PM Post #22 |
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Thank you very much. Glad you enjoyed it. When I add more to it, I'll put it up Great thing about The Bill, there is so much you can write and you can do anything you like with it in writing, i think. |
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An excellent piece of writing. I really enjoyed reading it all, thank you very much for sharing it with us.
Great thing about The Bill, there is so much you can write and you can do anything you like with it in writing, i think.
12:39 AM Jul 11