Famous Sightings

While on patrol I saw Randy Travis at a private concert this week. I was asked to work the concert as part of security, but had to be present for my patrol duties. So I told one of our sergeants I would stop by anyway. When I did, I saw two huge musician tour-type buses in the parking lot. I asked the valet who was hired for the event who the buses were for, and he told me someone I had never heard of (not even sure what he said). When I rolled around to the other side there was a sign that read, "Welcome Randy Travis and friends." I then knew I was in the right spot and came back later to see him take the stage and talk with the audience. Stayed for birthday cake and sweet tea!

The next day I saw Bush #41's motorcade, when he came to speak at a nearby place in Plano. Due to secret service protocol I saw more of him Monday standing up on ESPN at the Astros v. Marlins spring game.

'Kidnapping' in Plano...

Many of you may have seen some reckless teenagers make the news this week involved in a kidnapping.

I was working Saturday around 5:00 pm on a Traffic Accident involving property damage, and no injuries. While working w/ the parties involved in the accident, our dispatch sent out their deafening tone to signal us that something life threatening was taking place that required our immediate attention. A kidnapping was being called in 2 miles from where I was on the same road. The suspect vehicle was last seen southbound from the scene of the crime. Vehicles dispatched were running code by me with lights and sirens activated. By the time the individuals exchanged info at the accident, a perimeter had been set, and the white van was no where to be found.

The sector of town in which I work had officers searching surveillance video, and the area, talking to witnesses and making information available to find the kidnapped victim. I say all this to mention that we had a Lieutenant, Sergeant, Public Information Officer, Detectives, and other officers involved in the incident. While investigating we had to treat the situation as real, like we do all calls, but officers had their suspicions that this may not be real.

The next day the news reported that our department was contacted and it was a Hoax, putting officers and citizens' lives in danger as they hurried to the scene, wasting manpower, which in turn costs the City a lot of money for the single incident. Not to mention the people who were seen on surveillance video who had to dodge out of the way of the reckless driver of the white van.
View the article and surveillance video at the link below.
Police: 'Kidnapping' caught on Plano Wal-Mart's security camera a hoax News for Dallas, Texas Dallas Morning News Breaking News for Dallas-Fort Worth Dallas Morning News

Not your Ordinary Rainy Day!

Well the weather went from a high of 80 on Tuesday to a high of 41 yesterday (projected to be 51 by other weather sources). The rain started the time I was ready to get out of the door, and would prove to keep steady throughout my run. Not my favorite running weather by far, but with a race around the corner I suited up. Don't get me wrong, I like to run in the rain, just not the cold.
My attire:

• Lightning Yellow (TNF) running shoes w/ a wire lacing system that prevents your shoes from coming loose.
• Fleece lined running pants and fleece lined running top, w/ moisture wicking Under Armour as my base layer, and glove liners which kept my hands warm, even though they were soaking wet.
• One light weight rain jacket, and an Asics running hat that was a prize from the last race I entered.
• My i-pod, with Lifechurch.tv pastor Craig Groeschel, speaking on marriage, and the vows we enter into. The punch line, "When you are dating opposites attract, and when you are married opposites attack!" I knew it was going to be good and funny, and it was both!

Needless to say, I didn't get my optimum long run in I desired, but I ran 4 miles, and faster than my last run of this length. At the end I was soaking wet, except for what my rain jacket managed to keep dry (my i-pod, and the long sleeve fleece shirt under it). Thankfully I could take all of these layers off in the garage and not make a mess inside.

Other news from the rainy day. I decided to see what it was like shopping on a shoe-string budget when getting essentials from the grocery store. So I took an undetermined amount of change to the coinstar machine inside of Wal-Mart, had it counted, and transferred it to cash. I got back $43.90, then went throughout the store selecting items. My goal was to spend as much money without going over the amount of cash I got back. I bought 16 items and managed to spend $42.80. For the other dollar, I rented a movie from Redbox!

Our New Place!