The Broken Center-Line

About the Book

Have you ever thought you might feel comforted by the sound of a shotgun?  The following incident describes how such a noise can be comforting, from Chapter Twelve:   ****  "May I see your driver's license and registration?"  The motor rider grinned and replied, "I don't think you want to see my driver's license, do you?"  I could feel the press of unwashed bodies as they pushed against me and the rider I had been talking to said, "You're not going to see anything else, Mr. Cop!"  The timing was perfect, almost as if it had been staged.  My actions had diverted the crowd's attention completely to me and they failed to notice my back﷓up units slipping into place and two of the officers emerging with shotguns.  There was a stunned silence when the shotguns were racked and loaded almost in unison by the officers.    "I don't think you heard me.  I asked for your driver's license and registration," I asked again and the rider started fumbling for his license.  I glanced over my shoulder and observed two CHP officers (one car unit and one motor unit) as well as a sheriff's deputy standing spread out in a line behind me.  I never have felt more secure than I did then and there.  *    *    *    *     This is a book about many facets of a Highway Patrolman's life while working in this dangerous occupation.  The last statistics I remember checking indicated that there are more officers killed in traffic enforcement, than in any other law enforcement duty or activity.  This is indeed a sobering thought. While it seldom happens to an alert officer, it usually involves an officer who is not paying attention to his duties, or who is taking unnecessary risks and has his mind focused on something else.  However, this book as written is mostly devoted to the large variety of things going on to all officers in all agencies and at all locations.  No two traffic stops or investigations are exactly the same and should never be treated as if they are.  The lesson here is plainly: "Don't take needless risks!  Think safety!"  It won't do any good to become paranoid about everything you do, but pay attention to what is happening around you and you'll probably live to go home to dinner with your family.  Most of the incidents described in this book are illustrative of many similar incidents occurring day in and day out to all officers everywhere.  They have been chosen not just for the interest they should awaken in all of us, but to show the wide variety of incidents confronting every officer each time he puts on the familiar blue and tan uniform and pins on his star to start each and every shift.  Although this shows variety, it can never show all of the different types of incidents that do occur as we go through each shift.  This is only my story of some of the incidents I have been personally involved in and each officer would have his own stories to tell about similar or different incidents occurring to him.  The only time I received a serious injury was when I took things for granted and assumed things not in evidence (this has been listed in one of the chapters dealing with incidents occurring in the Fresno area).  Other incidents occurred during my career where, although I was not injured or killed, it wasn't due to my fantastic reflexes or remembering to do everything right, but undoubtedly was due to my very active guardian angels. Nothing else could possibly account for the way things turned out and I'll just keep on being thankful.    Some of the material is meant to be funny and still, is serious.  It doesn't hurt anything to try and see the humorous side of any incident.  Just keep things in the proper perspective and balanced as you go through life, especially in this line of work.  You will have many opportunities

About the Author

Ralph W. Landre, Jr., has published several articles in The California Highway Patrolman magazine, including: The Day Fresno Burned, Motorcycle Theft Rings, Training Pays Off, Sno?Deo and 32 Dead and 28 Injured. The U.S. Army has published his training bulletins at training centers in Santa Cruz, San Jose and during Annual Active Duty training with the Military Police at Camp Roberts and Fort Ord, California. The bulletins focused on preservation of evidence at crime scenes and interrogations and interviews of suspects and witnesses. He served as temporary Chief of Police for the new city of Capitola and at the same time was deputized by the Santa Cruz Sheriff's Office due to the police district the newly formed city was geographically located in. He then served as patrolman for the Santa Cruz PD before serving on the California Highway Patrol for over 29 years, retiring as a sergeant.