(with thanks to Douglas Williams)
Got to the precinct early
Ready to get to work
Changed into the blues
Sat thru roll call
Sippin’ coffee
Anxious
Finally
I hit the streets
Before I
Could finish muh joe
I get my first call
Barely out the gate
Call for an assist
Suspicious person
Rape suspect
I hustle
Join my buds
We move in
Find him in
A vestibule
Yup
Suspicious as hell
We tell him to freeze
He doesn’t
He reaches
We got no choice
Later they say
41 shots
Springsteen’ll write a song
But the shoot’s righteous
Suspect was reachin’
Had no choice
I get back
On the streets
Barely
Before
I hear bout
Fight on the subway
Not far
I get down there
Commotion’s deep
Folks detained
Looks okay
Maybe I’m not needed
Wait —
There’s drama…
I hurry over
Some kid
We get him down
He’s scared
And he’s off
To my mind
I pin ‘im face down
Like the job says
I got him
But like I say
Kid’s off
I get my piece out
Just in case
Y’know
It’s the job
Kid gets himseIf
Shot in the back
Like I said
Kid’s off
What am I s‘pose ta do?
I gotta look out
Gotta get back to my family
Right?
I’m back in my ride
Go for that cup of joe
Sittin’ in the holder
Finally…
Never got a sip
‘Nother call
Suspect givin’ cops
Hard time
I radio I’m goin’ in
I arrive
Guy givin’ it as hard as he gets
I join the scrap
He’s refusin’ to go easy
Big guy
I get my arm around his big throat
Need to send a message
People watchin’
Need to know
You listen we cool
You don’t it goes hard
So we take ‘im down
Over some damned smokes
He’s moanin
Can’t say
I’m listenin’
By time medics get there
I’m already on my next call
Badass wit’ a gun
Threatenin’ a community center
I skid to a stop
In the recreational area
I see ‘im
Gun tucked in his waistband
He’s that close
I get my gun out before I get the car door open
One shot
He’s done
Damned shame
A kid…
Walkin’ round wavin’ a gun
That wasn’t a gun
When these kids gonna learn?
New call
I’m out
Undercover sting
Gone wonky
Backup requested
I get there
It’s already crazy
Black guy
Runnin’
[Big surprise]
We catch up
Take him down
He wrestles
He wiggles
He resists
He gets shot
Later
They’ll say
I thought
It was
My taser
They’ll say it was
A slip and capture
Hell
They’ll say
Tunnel vision
Diminished hearin’
Autopilotin’
But I just
Did the job
And that’s
When I spy
With my little eye
Some fool
Sellin’ CDs
Coupla cops are
Dealin’ with it
But I go over
It’s what you do
We get him on
The ground
When one of my
Brother officers yell
“He has a gun.”
I do
What’s necessary
Nothin’ left to do
‘Sides
I got more work to do
Radio’s screamin’
Abandoned vehicle
Middle of street
I get there
And here’s a guy
Who ain’t listenin’
Wanderin’ round
Walkin’ when
Told to stop
SUV in road
Like they say
Doors open
Everything
Wrong
We tell ‘im to stop
Ova and ova
He doesn’t
He reaches in the car
Someone tasers him
I don’t
I do what
I’m s’pose to do
I do
My job
Then
I’m back
Behind the wheel
Sippin on cold joe
Thinkin it’s time
To get a fresh one
But I don’t get the chance
Before I know it
I’m goin’ thru
A door
No knock
We’re in
We’re movin’
Somebody
Takes a shot
Hittin’ one of ours
We shoot
Someone
Somewhere
Gets hurt
What you expect?
You don’t
Shoot
At us
End of story
No matter
How much they
Say her name
End.
Of.
Story.
I finally stop
To get that fresh cup
But it don’t happen
Somethin’ crazy
Goin’ down
Wit’ some of
My boys
We get the suspect
Down
I get my knee
In his neck
Baby’s cryin’
For his momma
My brotha blues
Keep back
The whiners
With their
Video tapin’
Their outrage
Suspects ain’t whinin’
No more …
I leave my peeps
To finish the job
Won’t be a problem
He ain’t movin’
Easy-peasy
I get my fresh cup
Long day
I go home
Sleep
Like a baby
Next day
I’m ready
Get back out there
They say no
They’re actin’ like
I did
Somethin’ wrong
I did the job
They sayin’
I’m not
Sayin’ I’m
Responsible
For the death of
Two blacks a week
Assholes
They don’t get it
Just
Doin’ my best…
What’d you think would happen?
K. Michael Williams is a freelance writer. He loves to read, draw, go to the movies and watch bad zombie movies (well, with that last one “love” may be too strong a word). He lives in New York City with his family. K. Michael believes COVID has given him way too much reason to not leave the house.