JAFR
The Girl Behind The Badge
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One night, my Field Training Officer (FTO) and I were on patrol and I was actually driving for a change and working the radio (which is part of the training). It was a very quiet night and we were just driving around doing “routine patrol” when suddenly something caught my eye at a gas station we were passing. Two men were in the middle of the gas station parking lot fighting over a SHOTGUN! I couldn’t get the words out fast enough and just pointed towards them and said “LOOK”!!! I immediately pulled across the street into another gas station and I called it in over the radio.”armed robbery in progress”.!!! Just as I was saying those words, the suspect's shotgun went off; hitting a trash can near them. I added “shots fired” and my training officer and I started running across the street towards the gas station being sure to stay behind cover. The responding officers weren’t sure if we were in a gun battle or what, so we clarified it as we waited behind a wall watching these two men fight over the shotgun. We had our guns drawn aiming them toward the men, not knowing who was the “good guy” and who was the “bad guy”. Your adrenaline is racing so fast, you don’t even think about the danger you are in at that moment. Suddenly, police cars were coming from every direction surrounding the gas station. When this happened, one of the men (the gas station owner) grabbed the shotgun out of the other guy’s hands and his co-worker jumped the suspect from behind and was holding him on the ground. Everyone was yelling at once for him to put the gun down and put his hands up! My partner and I ran up and handcuffed the suspect. That's when I realized the very real danger I was in!
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About the Book
“Can you believe this? The suspect is a DEA agent? He went ballistic and murdered his ex girlfriend in front of her family? Want to hear the best part? The victim’s boyfriend was hiding in the closet and saw the whole thing.” My hands grew clammy and I thought I was going to throw up the dinner I had just eaten prior to getting this call. That was the night I was assigned to work a special detail with the homicide detectives to help search for a murder suspect. I had to stay in cop mode, even though all I wanted to do was go home. Would I ever see my daughters again? Why hadn’t I listened to my father? I was just a single, divorced, young mom with two daughters at home who needed me. This wasn’t even my full time job! What was I doing? But I knew I had an obligation to my family to dig deep and stay strong and focused in order to go home alive!
About the Author
Cheryl Choate was a Reserve Police Officer for almost 20 years in Southern California. She was the only female to graduate from her Police Academy during a time when women were just starting to be welcomed into law enforcement. It was her biggest challenge to graduate from the academy and then work alongside full time officers for all those years. Being a Reserve Officer, Cheryl had the distinct advantage of viewing police work from both sides; as a civilian and a police officer. Cheryl, her older brother and her younger sister were raised by their single father in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in the late 60's and 70's when it was unheard of to not have a mom in the household. She learned to be independent and gained confidence and strength from her Dad. She is now retired from the Police Department and resides in Southern California. She has two daughters and two granddaughters. She loves animals and now owns her own Mobile Pet Grooming Business!