By Barbara Garnett, October 18, 2016 — Did you know that there are many degrees of happiness? There are things in nature that can have good or evil meanings. Life is ever teaching and ever learning. Find good and healthy habits for each day. Each day is God’s gift.
One Saturday, I was working a 4 X 12 tour of duty many years ago as a Philadelphia Police Officer. Some jobs or calls are the same over and over again. Weekend calls are Domestic or something else. I wanted to help a mother of 3 children with one on the way. This woman had an abusive husband. Whenever we came to the apartment, she had apparently been in a fight with her husband. She would never press charges against him. Our hands were tied. This went on for months. I wanted her to leave and take her children somewhere else. However, with no money or job skills, that was impossible, especially with no family help.
As luck would have it, the laws changed to the extent that if a person had been apparently in a fight, showing signs of abuse or black eyes, a police officer could arrest the doer. We got the call of a Domestic at my not so likable address. At the door, we were greeted by the husband. He told us to “get out.” I told him, “not this time.” I asked him, “Did you hit her?” He responded with, “none of your (expletive) business!” The woman was scared. I told her to take the children in the other room. It was very satisfying to handcuff this man and take him to jail. When I saw him the next day, he told me that he didn’t think a woman would put him in the police wagon. Yet, we did, two female officers! We never got a call for Domestic problems at that address again. I guess he could not hit me. I hit back!
Every day is a good day when you can help someone that can’t help themselves. Fear can cripple you but help can give you strength and hope for a better tomorrow.