Free Bad Luck Cadet by Suzie Ivy

to kick everyone
out.
    My other mistake of the day was missing a
small gun while searching a suspect. The gun was on a chain around
her neck, in her cleavage. I managed to grab the gun as she was
pulling it out to shoot me, but I was pissed at myself. I had
performed a bad search on a female suspect of all things. After
that incident, my searches were extremely thorough and I found two
additional guns during the following scenarios. One was literally
underneath a suspect’s penis. I located it, removed it, and found
some satisfaction in shaking everyone’s hand before I was able to
wash the ball sweat off.
    My last scenario on Friday was with simulated
weapons (SIMs). A small group of us were waiting outside the
driver’s track building and we were able to pick partners. Rocco
was in the group so we partnered up. When our turn came we geared
up with head, chest and groin protection. I could barely breathe in
my face mask. We were also handed SIMs guns with rubber bullets.
These guns fire and launch a rubber bullet and leave a colored
chalk mark on what they shoot. We were warned it would be painful
if we took a hit.
    When it was our turn, we walked to the front
of the building, and were told to enter the abandoned building to
search for a trespassing vagrant. Rocco and I began the search. The
building was dark and we used our flashlights. We had our guns
drawn, looking and listening, although all I could hear was my
loud, too fast breathing. We searched room by room. There was a
small closet and Rocco opened the door as I peered inside. My gun
came up and I began shouting commands. There was a man standing
inside, next to a water heater. He had his weaponless hands,
visibly crossed, in front of him. He put his hands up and complied
as we talked him out of the closet. The scenario was over and so
were the practical tests.
    Rocco and I went back to the classroom and it
took about an hour for everyone else to finish up. We were all
telling each other which tests we had passed and failed. Everyone
made mistakes. We were all upset over the pop gun incident and no
one felt as if they’d aced it. Donna had not returned and I didn’t
find out how she did until we were released, she came into the
classroom and sat down right before our scolding
started.
    Sgt. Dickens came into the room after we were
all assembled. He was pissed off and stated there were forty three
guns missed in searches. He asked everyone that missed a gun to
stand up. Everyone stood. Some cadets missed more than one. We were
given forty three hill runs to be completed the following
Monday.
    Sgt. Dickens also told us two cadets shot an
unarmed man and these two cadets needed to consider if police work
was right for them. He told us in real life the two “officers”
would not only lose their police certifications but would be
prosecuted for homicide.
    The judges next reviewed specific scenarios
and we were praised on how we handled ourselves throughout the two
days. We were told to be proud of the job we had done. This was
hard due to the angry look on Sgt. Dickens’ face.
    Donna and another cadet were called to the
Sergeant’s office when we were given permission to leave for the
weekend. I waited for Donna before taking off. She was crying when
she entered the room.
    She told me she shot the unarmed man in the
closet with her SIMs gun. Sgt. Dickens told both cadets they needed
to think long and hard over the weekend about being police
officers. I consoled her and said Sgt. Dickens was an ass. We both
packed our laundry and took off for our homes.
    Donna called me that weekend and told me she
was not returning. She was sorry to leave me alone, but she could
not take it anymore. The thought of being prosecuted for homicide
was more than she could handle and her mind was set.
    My son also announced he had taken a job in
Phoenix and would be moving out in two weeks. He barely spoke to me
and refused to ask about the academy. I loved him dearly but his
attitude