Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Mug shot history

Officer Katie Flood, a veteran of 15 years at LPD, presently serves as the department's public information officer.  As such, she has a high public profile.  She is frequently quoted in the press, and if often contacted by members of the public looking for information.  Last week, she told me about a very interesting contact she had from a woman who wished to obtain copies of her own mug shots taken for various arrests over a period of time. This person wanted to have a reminder of how her drug abuse had affected her physical appearance.

Several years ago, I assembled my own collection of mug shots of this type: the same person, at various points in time, before and after their LPD arrest record included methamphetamine.  I don't show this in public anymore, remembering that each of these individuals has a family, and all have struggled with the demons of addiction.  They are powerful images however, and several web sites contain such a collection.

I am hoping that the former addict that contacted Officer Flood is doing well, and that her own photos serve to reinforce her resolve to continue her recovery, and maintain her sobriety.

6 comments:

Steve said...

"assembled by own"

Oops. I don't mean to be pedantic; I just can't help it. It's a curse.

Tom Casady said...

Steve,

Same here. Thanks.

ARRRRG!!!! said...

"Several years ago, I assembled my own collection of mug shots of this type: the same person, at various points in time, before and after their LPD arrest record included methamphetamine."

I remember that one. It was one of my favorites.

Before meth.......After meth.

Anonymous said...

Director,
Recently a commercial of a long term cigarette smoker has been shown on TV. It starts off showing a picture of a beautiful woman in her twenties. Then it shows the same women in her fifties after smoking for decades. I'm sure everyone has seen it. I wish I would have kept a series of time lapse photos on the door of my refrigerator for the past forty years. A trim and fit 19 year old at 208 pounds would be a daily reminder of what years of second helpings can do to a person.

Gun Nut

Steve said...

Wow! It doesn't take long to destroy one's self on that stuff (I don't mean second helpings, but rather, meth). I've seen those kinds of pictures before, but never paid much attention to the time that had elapsed between them.

Anonymous said...

Three accidents in twenty-four hours at 22nd and P street...how many dozen this year? Does someone have to be deceased at that intersection prior to action by the city? Im chomping at the bit because I called city traffic a year ago.