That Was My Dream

Each child has a dream. I had two. One was to be a marine and the other was to be a policeman. It's one of the most gratifying jobs in the world.
This was my childhood's dream which has been realized. I am a policeman now.
I make an arrest on someone who commits a crime, or violence. I have to resort to a physical type of arrest to subdue him, I might have to shoot the person. I am chastised for being brutal. It's all right for him to do what he wants to do against myself or legitimate people, but in no way I can touch him. I don't see the justice.
I've been accused of being a bigot, a hypocrite, and a few other niceties. I'm a human being with a job. I judge people on face value. Just because I'm black — I'd rather work in a black neighbourhood.
All I ever wanted was to be a detective and I couldn't make it.
If there was a crime pattern working, we'd go out and find out who, what, when, and cleaned it up. We would roam the street as citizens, rather than marked as policemen. We'd wear neat and presentable suits. You can hear a lot more when you are sitting in a group of hippies or you're sitting in a restaurant. That's how I used to operate. I'd pick up information. Nobody knew I was a policeman.
I don't believe in entrapping. To entrap is to induce someone to commit a crime.
There was a gang of thieves in Old Town. At the time there were 60 or 70 unsolved robberies. They were working in conjunction with each other. They would rob. They would sometimes cut, beat, or shoot the victim.
I took on four guys in a gun battle. One guy stuck a shotgun in my stomach and it misfired. I killed the man with the shotgun, wounded the other guy and took the other two. I volunteered.
I'm human. I make mistakes like everybody else. If you want a robot, build machines. If you want human beings, that's what I am. I'm an honest cop.
I've never studied psychology, but I apply it every day of my life...
I can't shoot an unarmed person. No way. Anyway, knowing people, they'll say, "Forget it, we're insured." So why should I get involved in insurance matter? I would love to go after people who perpetrate robberies of hurt other people. Robbery is hurting a person.
I don't even consider this a job. It's like R and R, rest and recreation. My day today is nothing. I get up, I eat, and I blow the whistle. It's not very exciting. I'm looking at it now as a fellow who goes to the office and he is not very enthused. Because I wear a uniform people that are garbage will say I'm a "pig". They look at my dress. I am a representative of the law, of you, the citizens. You created my job, you created me. To you, I am a robbot in uniform. You press a button and when you call me to the scene you expect results. But I am also a man. I even have a heart. (Laughs.)