C.L. Swinney's Blog, page 6

Compassionate Cops?? 5-9-14

Another one!

I was at the local coffee shop grabbing a cup of joe, hold the half and half, and noticed a homeless man kind of loitering in the street nearby. He seemed out of place, lost maybe, and disoriented. Several of the patrons in the store were snickering and making snide comments about the man. I’d seen him before, but he was never this bad off. I was about to order my breakfast and felt something inside me saying, this just isn’t right.

I went outside and began speaking to the man. Instantly I see he’s prideful and agitated. His clothes are dirty and his shoes are torn and ragged. I looked him in the eyes. What I saw was sadness and desperation. Nevertheless, a man in his shoes, unlike many other homeless folks I’ve met, would not and has not ever asked for money. He cannot work due to physical injuries. I have no idea if he collects welfare. I have my own opinions about the welfare system. I feel I have to pay for everyone who doesn’t work as well as for myself and family, but when you’re right there in the moment, you can’t think about that because it really doesn’t matter then.

I offered to buy the man some food and drink. He refused and became agitated further. Obviously I’d disrespected him. Now an audience had formed at the coffee shop.  I felt the stinging glares on my back and heard the giggling. I resisted the urge to identify myself to him and ask him to kindly move along. That was the easy route.

Finally he asked, “What do you care?” When I’d asked him if there was anything I could do to help him.

Hmm, great question I thought. “Because someone has to, right?” He just looked at me funny.

“Listen, bub, why don’t you just leave me be?” He asked. I could tell he was hungry because the people who came outside with muffins and bagels caught his attention. He stared at the food as it went by.

I replied. “I can’t. You might get hit by a car. Why don’t you take a seat,” I said as I pointed at the bench in front of the store. He looked at me and we stared at each other. I could only imagine what was going through his head. He finally went to sit down. He stumbled and began to fall. Without hesitation I grabbed him and dropped some cash on the ground right where he was. No way anyone saw that. A lady came out and helped me stable the man and get him seated.

Once he was content, I pointed to the money and said, “Hey, you dropped some money.” The man looked at the money, at me, back to the money and shook his head.

“Not mine.”

I shook my head. “Me either.” Obviously this wasn’t going to work. I was frustrated, but determined to find some way to help him. As I struggled for another idea, a man exited the coffee shop and asked if he could help.

“Sure,” I said.

He began speaking to the seated man and he listened intently. The man from the coffee shop offered the man a place to stay and wash up and said he could pick from his clothing and shoes to get him back on his feet. I was shocked. More importantly, the man agreed! I was pretty happy for him, and thankful the stranger came along to help. They turned to walk away.

I shook both of their hands and patted the homeless man on his back. At the same time I slipped some cash in his coat pocket. I’ll never know what happens with him or the money, but it seems by just talking to him, reaching out to him, he will have at least a decent rest of today. And, isn’t that all we can ask for? Just live day by day and try to be happy.

Anyway, I’m a cop and there were several other ways, perhaps even less friendly ways, to have dealt with this situation. However, hiding problems is not the answer. Taking them head on, in my opinion, is the only way to deal with them effectively. Just remember there are plenty of compassionate law enforcement members out there trying to do good things for people.

C.L.Swinney

Compassionate Cops? 5-3-14

Check out this great story from my good friend, Rick Smith (retired detective).  It’s another example of cops doing more than carrying a gun and badge…it’s a story about law enforcement being humane toward homeless folks. It’s an eye opener for sure.

 

http://www.upworthy.com/how-to-deal-with-homelessness-in-a-reasonable-humane-way?g=2&c=ufb1

 

Chris

 

4-27-14 Compassionate Cops?

4-27-14 Compassionate Cops?
I seem to be having a tough time getting my brothers and sisters in law enforcement to submit work regarding the compassionate side of what we do and how we live. I can’t let this concept go to the wayside; however, and have decided to put my own work up in a serialized fashion. That is, when I see compassion or feel compassionate about something, I’ll post it on this page on my blog.  Among  all the other stuff in my life I can’t guarantee this will be regular, but I’ll do my best to keep this thing alive :-)

The most recent thing I can recall is members of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office conducting a fundraiser event for Special Olympics. Many people in the general public who are not fans of law enforcement believe officers “just do these events to keep a decent public image.” Not true. The men and women I see volunteering hundreds of hours of time for planning, preparing, soliciting, and running these events is overwhelming. They do it because they are kind people, and feel the need to help others. It’s why they wear a badge and swear to protect society. It runs through our blood, an insatiable thirst to do good for others, particularly for those who may not be able to to it for themselves, or those who need a tiny bit of assistance.

Men and women wearing a badge are ordinary people just like everyone else. Many of them have children with special needs, debilitating diseases, or huge obstacles to overcome. They cry and stress out just like you. We’re not any better than the next person, we’ve just chosen a profession that is highly visible and overly scrutinized. All that we can ask is that society is a fair to us as we are to them every time we show up to a call. Nothing more, nothing less. Law enforcement, in my eyes, is the social glue that keeps society together and allows cohesion to form among all members of society. We aren’t looking for handouts or freebies. Our primary mission is to serve and protect, but it would sure feel great to believe we are on the same playing field as the rest of society.

Thanks and God Bless,

C. L. Swinney

Authors Supporting Authors

Hey guys,

 

A quick note. I created a group on Facebook for anything to do with being an author. Check it out and join if you’d like!

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/461403627329203/

 

Thanks,

 

Chris

Off The Hook

C. L. Swinney:

So cool.

Originally posted on Doublewhirler:

And now a small tribute to the payphone, a contemporary artifact. These old school hefty beasts gave us the expression “off the hook” from the dangling handsets indicating to passersby that they’re out of service. In an era where car bodies and bumpers are made of plastic and fiberglass, the payphone is solid metal right down to its casings, levers, knobs, and buttons—even the phone cord is encased in metal. The phone company knew what kind of life on the streets their phones would be facing.

So here’s a little (dirty) love letter to the old fashioned payphone. I love that that they soldier on like modern day wooly mammoths, I love that they are one of the last familiar faces from my childhood, I love that they have seen so much life and I love their battered, scratched and worn patina (but no so much the stains of dubious origin).

View original 7 more words

Daily Rant #7

Been awhile, but this is a doozy.

 

If you’re driving along the freeway at 55 mph in the fast lane, and the speed limit is 65 mph, don’t take it personal that I am passing you. YOU SHOULD NOT speed up and make it impossible for me to merge over while you’re texting, talking, putting on makeup, singing, eating, spacing out, or whatever it was you were doing while I attempted to pass you to keep the flow of traffic safe. I don’t know you! Me passing you has nothing to do with you. I’m sure you’re a great and wonderful person who just got preoccupied. Please, for a more pleasurable experience, allow me to pass or move over to allow traffic to proceed. That is all.

 

Chris

 

 

Anyone can come to this event. I’ll spe

Anyone can come to this event. I’ll speak to the store owner later today to get a feel for what can and can’t be done! Then I’ll adjust accordingly :-)

Please come by if you can, even for a few minutes :-)

Two Excellent Novels Hit the Scene!

                                                                      

 

 

Can We Successfully Combine Drama and Humor in a Mystery?

The simple answer? Yes. I write two mystery series, and they’re both lighter with a little humor. There’s a great big “however” here. However, murder isn’t funny, by any stretch of the imagination. Therefore, the books contain some drama, too. I’ll never make light of a killing.

Back to humor, you can find some in the characters solving the mystery, and in some of the situations in which they find themselves. There’s so much drama in today’s world that I believe we need something to lighten our moods sometimes. Hopefully, that’s a need I’m addressing.

In my Sandi Webster series, she’s a female P.I., has a menopausal mother, employs a klutzy guy, and has a partner who always wants to watch her back — although he usually ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time. She frequently finds herself dealing with quirky or eccentric people. These traits often equal humor, and they’re traits I’ve found in people in my own life over the years.

I’ve worked in law enforcement (in a clerical capacity), part-time in a shoe store and a lingerie store, and for a state transportation department, among other jobs. Like Chris, I could sit down with you for hours and hours and tell funny stories. Of course, some are only humorous after the fact – like the time I had to search a Ladies Room for a bomb, with no training. There was, after all, a time when you wouldn’t expect to find a bomb in a john. Then there was the time a woman was turned down for a clerical job in law enforcement because she didn’t have the qualifications. Death threats followed, even though I’d only given her the typing test. Ah, those were the days.

My Bogey Man series features Chris Cross, who’s a dead ringer for Humphrey Bogart, and who manages to walk the walk and talk the talk. Bogart is his muse, his hero and his idea of how a man should act. That is, the Bogey he saw in the movies. He’s very good at rolling his lip under like Mr. Bogart did. Chris is married and has a step-son, and they sometimes remind me just a little of a modern Thin Man family.

Humor keeps most of the characters going. We need a good laugh in our own lives once in a while, and so do fictional characters.

In both series the characters and their lives grow and change over time. So do we. Time seems to pass slowly in a series. Occasionally that would be preferable in real life, although there are other times when we wish we could speed things along.

One new book in each series was released in March of 2014.

Death Comes in Threes is the latest Sandi Webster mystery. She has to face a longtime foe, although things seem to happen on his terms rather than hers. He wants to kill her, and of course, she’s saying, “Nope. Not gonna happen.”

Awkward Moments features the Bogey Man. Someone sent me a joke that said, “Awkward Moments: When you’re digging a hole to bury a body, and you find another body already buried there.” This short joke inspired a whole book. Imagine trying to bury the small body of a bird and finding bones from someone who was buried there many years ago. You just never know what you’ll find. Right?

So now you know a tiny bit about me and my books. If you need a little entertainment, I hope you’ll look for it with either Sandi or Chris.

Needless to say, I hope you’ll try Grey Ghost by Chris Swinney first, but don’t forget me.

Thank you for inviting me in as a guest today, Chris. I’ve really enjoyed speaking out a little.

Website:         www.marjamcgraw.com

Blog:               http://blog.marjamcgraw.com/

Buy:                http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_8?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=marja%20mcgraw&sprefix=marja+mc%2Cstripbooks%2C203&rh=i%3Astripbooks%2Ck%3Amarja%20mcgraw

 

**NOTE FROM ME (CHRIS). THANKS for coming on my blog and sharing your wonderful work. I wish you tremendous success and I’m here for you if you ever need anything.

-Chris

Left Coast Crime Panel-2014 Police Proce

Left Coast Crime Panel-2014 Police Procedurals and a bunch more! – YouTube http://ow.ly/uUJHT

Eccentric Woman Blows Millions On the Advice of a Medium.

Check this monster of a home out! This is an overhead view of the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, CA. At the time of Sarah Winchester’s death, this property stretched over six acres, and contained  160 rooms, 2,000 doors, 10,000 windows, 47 stairways, 47 fireplaces, 13 bathrooms, and 6 kitchens. When the carpenters (which were hired to work shifts so building never stopped) learned of her death, they left nails half driven and walked away. Many people drive by it everyday and have no idea the story behind it. So, I decided to check it out.

 

I was blown away to learn Sarah Winchester’s story as most of it seems surreal. Born sometime around 1840 and into money, Sarah  Pardee was considered the “Belle of New Haven.” She met and married William Wirt Winchester and lived a wonderful and happy life. Unfortunately, their daughter passed away by a mysterious illness known as marasmus, which put Mrs. Winchester into a serious bought of depression. Eventually her husband also passed away leaving a void in her life that I think she always looked to fill but couldn’t.

 

Finally, she met with a Boston Medium who told her the family and she were haunted by all of the spirits that her late husband’s guns (and Winchester Family) had killed. The medium told her to move west and build a great home to appease the spirits. The medium said if the building never ceased, Mrs. Winchester would be left alone. So, she packed up and headed to Menlo Park, CA until finally picking a spot in the Santa Clara Valley (once a prolific orchard area now completely commercialized).

 

Once settled, Mrs. Winchester began to develop into somewhat of a folklore hero. People didn’t know what to think of her. She paid twice the normal wages (back then it was a dollar and a half a day!), made considerable contributions to orphanages, and spent countless hours with children. However, she also allegedly wore a black veil across her face while inside her home and would fire workers if they saw her face by accident.

 

Then there was the weird stuff. Neighbors would hear a bell ring at midnight and 2 a.m., which according to ghost lore are the times for the arrival and departure of spirits. Mrs. Winchester never slept in the same bedroom two nights in a row, in order to confuse any evil spirits that might be waiting for her.  The Blue Room, where Mrs. Winchester supposedly would go every night to commune with the spirits, consisted of a cabinet, a table with pen and papers, a closet, and a planchette board – used for transmitting messages from the beyond. It was rumored she would wear one of 13 special colored robes and receive guidance from various spirits for her construction plans.

 

I had the opportunity to visit the house and take a tour. It’s quite a bizarre place. Stairs lead to nowhere, windows are inside, not to the outside, and there’s definitely a creepy vibe. However, it was totally worth it. It’s a piece of California history that few get to experience, but it’s something you learn from and can appreciate.  If you get a chance to visit the Winchester Mystery House you really should do it.

 

http://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/