K-9 Units take their Police cars home?

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by Abner, Jun 1, 2016.

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  1. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member

    I went to visit my mother today. The neighbor across the street from her is a Sheriff. Apparently, he takes his police car home with him every day. My mom sees him at home with his canine partner as well. I had no idea some cops took their work vehicles home. I have never seen that. I always assumed cops followed certain security protocols for their own protection, like changing out of their police uniforms at the station before going home. Hmmm, that's a new one on me.

    I find this Sheriff "Jerry" to be very interesting. As I was pulling up in front of my mom's house, he was buzzing his hair off in the front driveway. No fuss, no muss. Talk about easy maintenance. He was shirtless, and I noticed he has a VERY large Celtic tattoo on his back. From what I could see, this piece must have been done by a very gifted tattoo artist, as it was very ornate. It had a multitude of intricate designs and colors. This was a custom job, not flash. Absolutely beautiful. I have tattoos myself, and I got to admit, I like to walk around the yard shirtless. I just like the feel of the breeze on my back. :smile:

    This neighbor is absolutely great to my parents. You would think they were his own parents. He brings in their trash cans, and if he see them bringing something home that looks heavy (like the new lazy boy they bought), he drops what he is doing, unloads it, and brings in it to the house for them. He is a stern, imposing figure, but at the same time hugs my mom with a warmth and kindness that makes me happy. Just a great man and a great neighbor.
     
  2. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    It isn't just K-9 units. A state trooper lives down the street from me and he takes his vehicle home every night as well. I have no idea if there is seniority or rank involved or if they all do it. But a friend of mine from high school, whose father was a PA state trooper, parked his vehicle in the family driveway each night as well.

    When my father and I moved to Wilkes-Barre after his NYPD retirement he took a job at a small police department. They let him take his unmarked vehicle home as well though that privilege was reserved for those ranking sergeant or higher (three people including dad).

    I'm sure it is something that varies from department to department.
     
  3. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Pretty common thing, IIRC.
     
  4. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    Take home cruisers for everyday patrol officers is somewhat common, but not nearly universal. It's usually state police or highway patrol agencies, although it's done quite a bit for sheriff's departments and local police departments in the South, especially Florida.

    For K-9 officers, it's pretty much a standard thing for handlers to bring their vehicles and their dogs home. Because of the cost of training & equipping K-9 teams (officer and dog), their numbers are relatively low, even in big agencies, so they're subject to callout at any time of the day or night, so having the dog & vehicle right there at home saves time.

    Also, I'm told that sharing a K-9 vehicle is not a good thing, because the dogs get furious when there's another dog's scent in the car. :biggrin:
     
  5. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member

    Yeah, dogs can get pretty territorial. I noticed he had a German Shepard. It seems that German dogs are good for police/military purposes. When I was in High School, I had a Doberman. Their tails and ears are cropped, this made it more difficult for a suspect/criminal to grab them, and were used in Germany by the police. The Doberman has an elegant gait, similar to Andalucian horses I have seen. They run at an incredible amount of speed!

    The elementary school that I attended was about a 3 minute walk from the house where I grew up in. After school, my little sister and I (ten years younger than me) would walk my Dobbie (Graham) in the school yard after school let out and nobody was around. One day, we were all walking along together. I was playing around with my dog as we walked. I had walked almost the entire distance of the grassy field (probably the distance of a football field) when I realized my little sister had straggled behind. She was wandering around some of the school rooms on the opposite end of the field where I was. Then, from out of nowhere, a strange looking guy appeared and started walking towards her. I did not like the looks of it. So I told my dog "Graham, Go!" and I pointed him in the direction of where my sister was. He took off with the spirit and determination of a vengeful ghost! He sort of glided through the air like a gazelle. He was clearing the distance in no time. When this guy looked and realized a Doberman was hurling toward him at a very rapid rate of speed, he decided to run! He ran and climbed up a chain link, jumped over the other side and took off!

    To this day, I have no idea if his intentions where good or bad. But I had to make a decision to make in very short period of time. I decided to err on the side of caution. Damn good dogs.
     
  6. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Besides, sometimes you need the car to take Aunt Bee to the grocery store, or Helen up to Myer's Lake for a picnic, stuff like that.
     
  7. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    Whoa now, you'll recall that Sheriff Taylor got in quite a bit of trouble with the investigator from Raleigh for doing that sort of thing!

    Yeah, I watch a lot of TV Land.
     
  8. perrymk

    perrymk Member

    I'm pretty sure it's the humans that drive the cars home. The K9s usually ride in the back and bark orders at their chauffeurs/handlers.
     
  9. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    It sounds like your parents have a great neighbor. Though I don't have any tattoos myself I also appreciate when people get high quality ink and represent it well in the community. I have considered getting a tattoo but my entire childhood was filled with the idea that anything beyond a tasteful (and usually poorly done) military tattoo was the domain of drug addicts and weirdos.

    I know that not to be the case, mind you. But tattoos didn't exactly have the best spokespersons in New York City in the 80's and 90's.
     
  10. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Yeah, but Barney got him into it and then got him out. Barney? That's him in the back seat with Thelma Lou....uh....never mind. Look away, Opie!
     
  11. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    When I was a kid, I had a mad crush on Helen Crump!
     
  12. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    A friend of mine is on LAPD, and he has visible tattoos on his forearms. Per regulations, he has to wear long sleeves year-round, even on 100+ degree days. He got the ink after he was on the job, I can't imagine wanting tattoos that bad, but it's his choice.

    I have one tattoo, the combat patch of the 1st Infantry Division on my right shoulder. It's completely invisible unless I'm shirtless (only at the beach) or wearing a sleeveless shirt (which I NEVER wear), but it has a lot of personal meaning, and I've never for a second regretted getting it done.

    AND, I was completely sober when I got it! :biglaugh:
     
  13. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

  14. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    That's dedicated. Hopefully it's worth it!

    The tough thing for sailors is that we don't have a unit identity as seems common in the Army. Sailors change commands every 2-3 years. And, while commands often have some pretty cool patches, they aren't worn on uniforms and many are a bit more cartoonish than Army unit patches. During my four years I served at two commands. My uniforms (aside from my baseball cap) only ever depicted the black rocker with the command name on it in white letters, hardly inspiration for a tattoo.

    I didn't really want to go the anchor route. I've seen some guys get miscellaneous nautical themed tattoos with their service dates but you'd have to be really committed to the goldfish smoking a cigar and wearing a dixie cup to want it for the rest of your life. Maybe I should just get the official Navy seal or something.
     
  15. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

  16. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member

    I remember when you got that tattoo. A discussion took place around my "tattoo" thread. I am glad you are happy with it. That was a LONG time ago.
     
  17. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    Hahaha, I think I've seen that tattoo on someone!

    The Army is unique in that you wear the unit you're currently assigned to on your left shoulder, and if you were in combat, you wear that unit insignia on your right, known as "the combat patch". This is mine;

    [​IMG]

    However, that hasn't stopped Army people from going out and getting ridiculous ink that they'll regret later, like a skull with flames shooting out the eyes and mouth, with something like "3rd Brigade Death Dealers and Heart Stealers" around it (actual tattoo I saw with my own eyes).
     
  18. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member

    After that, I spent a lot time in search of certain tattoo artist. I studied and reviewed many, many portfolios. I also asked around a lot. I finally found the artist I was looking for her. Her name is Linda. Her artistic talents are amazing, and are expressed in various forms. She listened very closely, and she took note of each and every detail of what I described. I was in search of a dragon. But not just any dragon. For the sake of brevity, I will "cut to the chase" so to speak. She custom designed me a dragon that is a cross between a Chinese dragon, and a Japanese dragon. This dragon is placed on the right side of my chest (pec area), and sort of spans around my right shoulder and on to my back. It is very large. She drew it and took measurements of my body. This tat was made to fit the specifics of my body type. She made a pattern, sort of similar to when one has fine custom made suit and a good tailor is involved. Like I said, a true artisan in every sense. She laid out her instruments with great care and deliberation. Then, there are colors. Many, many colors and shades of color. I believe I completed a total of nine or ten session on the "table". These sessions ranged anywhere between 4-6 hours each.

    Linda has also custom designed me a tiger and pattern, that would be placed on the opposite side of my upper body. But then, due to a unfortunate series events, Linda had to move away. Life happens, I understand.

    I like to shop for a good bargain at places like the 99 cent store. But certain things of fine quality, are worth paying for.

    I thank you all for taking the time to read my post, and I thank you for your comments.
     
  19. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    I've always felt that tattoos, eye surgery, daycare and colonoscopies were areas where one is better off not hunting around for a bargain.
     
  20. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    I've seen some pretty creative Navy ink. And the fact that our unit patches aren't worn on the uniform (or, at least weren't, I left before the major uniform changes in the Navy) sparks some serious creativity.

    That's a solid patch and I can see it being a tattoo you're proud of for life. This was the patch for my last command:

    [​IMG]

    As you can see, it could potentially be a decent tattoo but it is a very different style than an Army unit patch.

    My personal favorites were the idiots who got SEAL tattoos before they even arrived at recruit training. One guy showed up to Great Lakes with a trident tattoo prominently featured on his calf. It was still fresh. They ripped him a new one right then and there. Even funnier, he pissed hot on the urinalysis and was gone by the third day.
     

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