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Good Bye my Partner...my Friend
The first time I pulled up as your backup, I saw that
little girl holding your hand looking so glad that a bear like you is bringing
her to safety. That was the first time I saw your hidden gentle side, being a
brute of a man who always commanded respect on his beat.
Good Bye my Partner...my Friend
I can still see your eyes sparkle. And your voice
ever so soft, as you lifted that little girl up into your arms comforting her
and saying youre safe now.
We parted after the code 4 (all clear was given). Your next
call was a domestic violence call. Your closest back up was minutes away, I knew
you were alone, and my heart skips a beat on the other side of the parish. I was
working an (accident with injuries) when my eyes darkened. I was dying inside;
when I felt your arms lift me to safety. You told me everything would be all
right. I saw a tear in your eye. I keep dreaming of that sunset on that final
call.
As I kept fighting to feel your arms around me. I awoke
from a deep sleep and saw all those somber faces of our brothers and sisters
with black bands over their hearts. You were my special angel; your Domestic
Violence call was your last.
A gun, five (5) shots rang out, and my huge bear fell
fatally wounded. I can never see the sunset again without remembering my gentle
partner, my friend. As I tell everyone that leaves the trauma room, I put on my
uniform jacket. I try to gather all the pieces of my life you have touched, and
walk out of that hospital room, down the hospital halls to the outside. I turn
at the end of the hall to face the room where you lay silent and say goodbye to
you one last time.
At the memorial service, I could sense your presence in the
church, my eyes filled with tears. News Crews and people close by realize police
officers have human emotions and grieve for their fellow officers killed in the
line of duty. For my bear that dedication to serve has now ended.
My police unit stands in front of your final ride, a long
procession of law enforcement vehicles from many communities around the state
who came to pay their final respects to your supreme sacrifice. Sirens wail,
blue lights flashing, I can still see you holding that little girl. Like it was
yesterday. Sadly, I was not there to hold your hand. I picked up my microphone,
and made the final broadcast saying tearfully DB110 (10-7) your shift has ended,
goodbye my partner, and my wonderful friend.
Youre my special angel now. My heart bruised but still
beats strong. I know Ive got to get through the pain and wipe away the tears of
your loss. Now when I need to talk to you, all I do is bring a white rose to
your gravesite and talk to you like youre standing next to me just like before
when ever we had the chance on shift duty.
Taken by the most violent call a Domestic
Disturbance, the devils demon. A beast of a call, that leaves us behind to
grieve the most unholy call of them all.
I lay down to sleep at night and dream about your face, and
know I cannot freeze on my next domestic violence call. Thats the sticky part,
keeping my emotions in check. My comfort is remembering your gentleness has
touched my heart and I know you will be close by if I ever get in trouble.
And one-day, I will be coming home to meet you and walk our
beats in heaven. Till that day, I will always remember your kindness in my
heart. Every time I look at your photo, I get that inner strength to carry on
where you left off. With St. Michael, St Peter at your side -- may you continue
to watch over me. You touched my soul and forever made it glow.
Goodbye my Partner, My Friend.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dee Dee Serpas is a retired police officer from
Kenner Police Department (Louisiana).
Currently, she is the President of the TAPS Memorial Web site.
Following in the footsteps of her great-grandfather, Sheriff Paul Berthelot,
Sheriff of St. John the Baptist Parish, and that of her father, who was
president of FOP Lodge 2 in the late 1950s, Dee Dee became a Police Officer.
First with the East Jefferson Levee Board Police, she also joined the Kenner
Police Department and was the only female to graduate from the academy that
year. Later, she joined the Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office as a street cop.
This makes her the only known female in Louisiana to have held three commissions
at the age of 21.
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