To the Pickerington Police Department
You gave me my first (and hopefully last) speeding ticket. I deserved every bit of that ticket.
My first car got totaled in Pickerington, and I got mouthy out of anger. You all dealt with me with an eye roll because I’m not in the slightest bit intimidating, I appreciate that sincerely because the consequences were probably bigger than my words and I didn’t realize that at the time.
You were there apologizing after my home of seven years had gotten broken into, explaining everything you could do for my family.
This will be the first and only time I discuss the following publicly, (I’ve tried to not identify anyone, please respect that if you know this situation.)
When I was freshly 18, I was helping a friend. That friend had just been kicked out of their parent’s home, and I was prepared to help them out for a little while (a couch to sleep on, some food to eat). However, their parents didn’t like that, and while trying to get more things from my friend’s house, one of their parents came out and began to yell at me. I drove off, and instead of leaving well enough alone, the parent followed me in their car, getting out at every chance (intersections, stop signs, even into oncoming traffic) to do who-knows-what to me. I was afraid I was going to lose my life that day, maybe a gun would have gone off, maybe they would have hit me hard enough, or pulled me out of my car and beat me, I do not know. But by the time I had finally made it to a place where I couldn’t escape safely (too much oncoming traffic to cross the double yellow lines, too much cross traffic to run the light, etc…) I turned to look at the parent who was beginning to get out of their car, but instead what caught my eyes were the three Pickerington Police cars behind me.
I have never felt so safe in my life. There aren’t enough words to describe that feeling. All panic, all emotions, all fight or flight, calmed down instantly and tears of relief took over instead of fear-induced tears.
The people I was (regretfully) hanging with at the time had made me hate the police, because they were just trying to ruin our fun. But in a heartbeat, my entire belief was shattered and rebuilt. Here they were, an odd number of complete strangers who signed up, years before I was born, to be there to protect me when I needed it the most.
The worst part is that I don’t remember a single one of their names.
I was finally at the police station; it was a blur getting there. I remember trying to call my mom, but I think ultimately an officer took my phone and calmly explained what had happened to my mother, who quickly rushed to the station. (Probably breaking a few laws herself.) I was asked questions, I don’t remember any of them, and I don’t remember my answers, if I was even coherent enough to understand. The Police Officer sat me down and talked with me in a room full of toys and comfortable chairs (At least this is how I remember it.) and calmed me down through what was the single most traumatic experience in my life to date.
My point being, those Nameless Officers are the reason I trust police again, because they treated me with kindness and respect, and I gave them none of that in return.
So, Pickerington Police, if you happen to see this, and happen to read this far, I’m wish I knew your names. Each and every single one of your names. And I truly, from the bottom of my heart am thankful for what you do each day to keep others just like myself safe (even if that includes giving me a ticket, but let's make a team effort to not have that happen again!)
And I’d also like to take this opportunity to apologize for lying to you about how fast I thought I was going, getting slightly belligerent after my car got wrecked, and being agitated when in all reality, all you were concerned about when you were knocking on my door is that I wanted to take my own life that night.
Now that I’m moving out of Pickerington, I realize the people I’ve really taken for granted. I know I’ve been a handful for the past nine years for you guys, my mom will vouch for this, but I appreciate all you do and have done to keep me and this community safe. I wish I could shake all of your hands, and learn all of your names.
Thank you Pickerington Police.
