What are the odds? Imagine a father and son, both law enforcement officers, each involved in a shooting on the very same calendar day, separated by 35 years. This is the true story of one such family, a testament to the dangers and emotional toll of police work.
For years, a portrait hung in the lobby of a police department. It depicted a young officer, a Vietnam veteran turned law enforcement professional, who had received the Medal of Valor. The officer, “Nick” (not his real name), had left the agency before the author’s arrival, continuing his career in other California cities. Stories about him were passed down, but they lacked the personal touch of the man himself.
Years later, the author had the opportunity to meet Nick. Through a chance encounter, he discovered that Nick was a neighbor of a friend, living miles away from the streets they once patrolled. Over dinner, Nick recounted his harrowing experience. While working undercover on a joint case with the Huntington Beach Police Department, he and his partner took an informant to a house controlled by a notorious outlaw motorcycle gang (OMG). Their objective was to gather intelligence on methamphetamine production and stolen property trafficking.
During the visit, a dispute arose between the OMG members and the informant over a debt. Tensions escalated, guns were drawn, and shots were fired. Nick found himself caught in the crosshairs of controversy.
Nick described being shot in the face, the scar still visible as a grim reminder. The bullet traveled downward, exiting through his shoulder. Despite his injury, he returned fire, striking one of the gang members multiple times before backup arrived and the shooting ended. The aftermath involved multiple surgeries, months of rehabilitation, and the daunting prospect of preparing for trial. The OMG attempted to intimidate him, staging a menacing display outside his home with a parade of revving engines and flying colors. The situation was resolved through undisclosed means, but the threat remained.
During his recovery, Nick recalled waving to his seven-year-old son from his hospital room, which overlooked a cemetery – a somber backdrop to his traumatic recovery. Nevertheless, he persevered and continued his career.
Thirty-five years to the day after Nick’s near-fatal encounter, his son, now a police officer in a large Northern California city, faced his own deadly ordeal. A man wielding a knife attempted to take his life, forcing the officer to use lethal force. The odds of a father and son facing such life-threatening situations on the same date, decades apart, are staggering.
Hearing Nick’s story firsthand underscored the emotional toll that police work takes on officers and their families. Principles like “duty, courage, and commitment” are not just words; they are a way of life. In a world where videos can “go viral,” the public often remains unaware of the extraordinary sacrifices and dangers faced by professional police officers.