As you know, Gary Jones & Trevor Clenney have worked the 410s for many years.
Over a year ago, I happened to work a Sunday patrol shift. Gary Jones introduced me to“ Mike”, an elderly man living in the beat. Mike is from Mexico but has been a citizen longer than I have. Gary explained that he & Trevor worked a death investigation at Mike’ s home years ago. Mike’ s wife of decades passed a way in her sleep, and the officers noted that Mike was understandably distraught and somewhat lost as they worked the routine call. Gary & Trevor took it upon themselves to“ adopt” Mike & the three men became fast friends. They bring food and eat meals with Mike, purchased him a large print bible when his eyesight became too poor to read his own, and generally nag him to see after his health.
Geographic policing invests into people with a huge focus on relationships. Sgt. Greg Waldron captured the department’ s geographic policing philosophy at its finest with the following story. It has been printed in its entirety to preserve the humility of these officers.
They convinced him to stop driving when it became obvious it was no longer safe for him to do so. The officers have talked to Mike’ s two grown children, who live out of state. Gary & Trevor have contacted various agencies on his behalf and have helped him care for his small dog. When I met Mike, he wore me out about how much he cares for these officers. He boasted they helped him when his wife died years before. While they keep up with him throughout the week, I believe Sunday is primary visit day. Gary is a PTO and there’ s no telling how many trainees he’ s dragged to Mike’ s house. It ' s probably a safe bet to say all the officers on the shift know what’ s going on with Mike. That is a good thing.
I had occasion to recently work on the weekend again. I ran into Trevor at Mike’ s house. Mike is at least in his mid-90s now. Trevor was sitting in Mike’ s living room with his MDC atop a TV tray. He was focused on finishing a crash report. Mike was in his easy chair watching TV. I noticed there wasn’ t a whole lot of interaction going on because Trevor was busy working.( Although Mike did take time to critique Trevor’ s Spanish in a brutally honest fashion) Then it dawned on me the point was just to be with Mike, and not necessarily to entertain him. It was a comfortable situation for both of them. Mike mostly went on to me again about how much he loves Gary & Trevor. As far as he is concerned, they are his children.
When I left, a bunch of neighbors were outside. They all waved. Without a doubt, everyone on that street knows the police look after Mike and I think they really appreciate that. I know Mike does. These officers make no big deal out of this and wouldn’ t want a huge deal made out of it. It is just what they do. These are things people just don’ t know about police. I am always humbled when I see something like this.
Arlington, Texas Police Department
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