Monday, April 5, 2010

That’s better

In the mailbox Thursday night there was a letter from the Lincoln Police Department. Turns out it was from me—and to me. The previous Sunday afternoon, my car had been keyed in the parking lot of a local restaurant.  I called the Communications Center, and Officer Ryan Duncan came out to investigate, in the event that my insurance company needed a report for the claim. There wasn’t much that could be done, but Ryan checked to see if the parking lot camera covered the area where I was parked (it didn’t.) His Incident Report on the vandalism caused the letter to be generated, in which I offered myself the services of the Lincoln Police Department Victim/Witness Unit.

Among the services was something called “supportive listening,” so I took my letter into Victim/Witness Unit on Friday morning and presented it to the unit’s manager, JoAnna Briggs.  While I went on a five-minute rant, JoAnna, without speaking a word, conducted an excellent clinic on active listening techniques: maintaining an empathetic facial expression, nodding, and making that little hand gesture that says, “Go on”.  After venting, I felt better, so I took myself out for a cup of coffee.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Was the car that got keyed your little two seater? I'll bet that was the first scratch and that can ruin your whole day. You are now driving "damaged goods". I get that same sinking feeling every time I get that first scratch on a new firearm or motorcycle. To quote Bill Clinton "I feel your pain Chief".

Gun Nut

Anonymous said...

Sometimes all it takes is someone to listen. A bunch of positives come out of negitive situations. The letter supports the post office, we all know they are hurting. The person who keyed the vehicle released some anger, and they may not commit a violent act like we have seen on some college campuses. I had a coworker complain this week. He said he has not had a raise in two years and the manager of our business had to take a 10% pay cut. He went on to tell me about the two other emplyees who got a promotion and a nickle raise.
All I can say in this situation is everyone is hurting. Many are having to sell homes, many with no jobs and several millions more who can not go to a doctor. I think many Americans today are just waiting around to die.

So if we all look at our problems in a big picture way it can make a change in the way we see things. I agree, you should be mad, but things can be worse.

stumble-tripping feet said...

I'm glad your department and you took care of you. It's kind of nice to see the system run, sometimes. Sorry your car got keyed. :(

Anonymous said...

I didn't know that police respond to something so puny on private property. I guess Lincoln is pretty quite...but we need to hire more officers we don't have enough. More tax dollars so we have more officers to sit on there ass and respond to scratches on paint. I don't think its a waste at all. Just like all the officers that wasted our money watching videos, and getting a slap on the wrist.

Anonymous said...

Yesterday 2 cars down my block were broken into. My neighbors litter of dogs stolen, and I watched close to 10 drug deals from my front window. Cops? I don't think so. Chiefs car get scratched and he gets more support than most people on the street do in months. With so much shit going on in the street I'm glad to see priorities in the right place with LPD.

Most people a scratch is an everyday occurrence I'll have to start telling my friends about all the support they can now receive for a scratch. Free consultation, police response and report for insurance, and investigation. LPD better get ready for MANY calls for scratches, I know I get a couple new ones everyday.

Anonymous said...

Thumbs up JIM J

It could be a lot worse Chief, you're living the high life compared to a lot of Lincoln

Anonymous said...

"The person who keyed the vehicle released some anger, and they may not commit a violent act like we have seen on some college campuses."

Or they might anyway. Sane people just cool their own jets or buy a heavy bag and release their anger on that. It's only borderline nut-jobs who think that having a bad life could somehow justifies damaging someone else's property that can't blow off steam in a healthy way.

Anonymous said...

How much damage, Chief?

Anonymous said...

Chief,

Wow, a couple of pin-headed commenters seem to really hate the police, and since you're the highest-ranking one at LPD, they apparently hate you most of all.

SAT said...

Tom, I sincerely sympathize with your "injury". The bright side here is you're adding to the annual bonus of our favorite production mgr at the best Body Shop in town. ;) Thanks, "Uncle" Tom!

Ang said...

(11:12 -- It never ceases to amaze me at how negative some people can be, regardless of the topic!)

Recently I had the unfortunate pleasure of having to contact our local law enforcement agency to report a bullet hole that somehow found it's way into our living room skylight (yes, private property!). After the investigation, we received the same letter as did the Chief. This may be a standard form letter, but I had no idea this service existed until then. I was very nervous and felt somewhat violated with this incident. I feel quite positive that if I had taken the time to contact the Victim/Witness Unit, I would have likely felt better, as did the Chief. And I'm just a little ol' citizen!

Regardless of the negativity we seem to be seeing more and more all the time, I truly have to believe that the majority of the people still appreciate all that is done by our government (and private) workforces. But as has always been, "damned if you do, damned if you don't"!!

Tom Casady said...

11:12-

$860--felony level. Doesn't take much these days, does it?

Anonymous said...

Wow. You post the comments that are from anon people who have some real issues. I guess in the job you have you get to meet the best with the rest.
I wonder how many of those filled out an employment application with LPD and did not get past the trash bucket.
I bet I have used several trees of paper, and I sure do not feel alone.

Anonymous said...

I'm sure your guys worked real hard after how you have treated them recently. I hope that cup of coffee wasn't on city time Chief.

Anonymous said...

Chief-Some dweeb drove down our street and shot the windows out of neughborhood cars with a pellet gun. He was a crappy shot in my case and shot my door resulting in an $800 ding. I share your pain.

Any gutless, low-life, scum-sucker that would do that can only be compared to someone that would post some BS anonymous blog about a topic of which they clearly have no knowledge.

Thank you. I feel better now. You're right, a little venting is marvelous. I think I'll go buy myself a cold beer now.

256

HuskEric said...

Thank you Chief for the humor, and bit of irony. Keep up the good work.

Steve said...

Wow! Your apologetic blog a few days back about the officers with a poor work ethic really brought out the cop-haters in our community. It's too bad that the rest of us have to plow through all that hate to get any interesting or inciteful information about the police department or crimes in the city. I may not agree with everything you say, Chief, but anyone who thinks the city could do better should put up, or shut up.

Mark Bach said...

So who bought the cup of java? :)

Anonymous said...

WOW. Sometimes you just can not win. What the Chief of Police can not get a cup of coffee with out ticking off a bunch of people. Please grow up.

Anonymous said...

I think the idea of the story was to creatively brag about the Victim/Witness Unit and the great, mostly unappreciated, work they do. Reading some of the posts lately makes me need to go blow off some steam myself.

Anonymous said...

Chief, you said $860 was felony level? Felony level is $1500 or more, I think your damage would fall under class 1 misd.... The law changed a few years ago from $300 as a felony.

Tom Casady said...

12:17-

Well, I'm glad that at least someone understood the point of the post! It really does help to have "supportive listening!"

3:34-

Yep, my bad.