Writers Tricks of the Trade VOLUME 10 ISSUE 1 | Página 12

This was not a simple traffic accident.
It was multiple crimes. I had at least
seven drivers and other witnesses who
remained at the precinct and reported
their cars being purposely crashed into by
this individual. All of these civilians had
to be interviewed, their statements taken
and photos taken of their damaged
vehicles. I was gathering the necessary
information for the reports and arrest
paperwork before going to the hospital
emergency room myself, to have my
injured neck treated.
I gathered the license and registration
from one woman who was visibly shaken
while patiently waiting with her daughter
and neighbor for me to interview them.
When she handed me her license, I
read her address and suddenly was back
to a dark and frantic night in the early
1980s. On that night years before, along
with a number of other officers and an
ambulance crew, I responded to her
address for an aided case involving an
infant. The victim was a little girl, a twin,
who succumbed to Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome. The ambulance took the baby
and the father to the hospital.
I
transported the mother.
Now as I looked at the lady before me
I asked in a shaky voice, “Was I at your
house during a tragic event and did I
drive you to the hospital?”
“Oh my God it’s you!” She came
running over to me and threw her arms
around my neck and hugged me. “I’ve
wanted to thank you for years”. She then
pointed at her daughter and said, “This is
her twin.”
Nothing more needed to be said about
that night so many years before.
The paperwork was eventually com-
pleted, the hospital treated my neck and it
didn’t hurt as much as it did earlier in the
tour, when my anger was replaced with
the needed thank you.
Keith Bettinger is a retired Suffolk County (N.Y.) Police Officer. He’s been writing for law enforcement
publications for more than 25 years and has received 18 awards for his articles, stories, poems, and books. He
has a Master’s Degree in Human Relations with a major in Clinical Counseling. During his career he received the
department’s Bravery Medal, Silver Shield Award, Meritorious Police Service Award, Special Service Award,
Professionalization Award, Department Recognition Award, five Headquarters commendations and six Precinct
commendations. He also was a field training officer and an instructor on Post Shooting Trauma and Critical
Incidents.
W INTER 2020
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W RITERS ’ T RICKS OF THE T RADE