Once Upon a Time

                    Once upon a time, its always been a phrase I've loved. It is so crazy how time periods of my life which are further from me feel closer. The lessons I have learned the ways in which I have progressed forward is such a blessing to my soul. I am sitting here on my couch on a Sunday night, now early Monday morning. I feel a sense of urgency to get this story out.

In 2011 at 21 after a few rough years in my life in which I embraced the struggle. I was working a lot of hours as a bouncer, while going to school part time. I worked at a local college bar across the street from Rowan University in Glassboro NJ know as "Landmark Americana". My older cousin Justin worked there as well so it was nice to see family each night at work. I worked mainly the patios and the deck which was a lot of fun. I met a lot of people I became really good friends with, and experienced a lot of wild action.

It was a February night, and my duty was to make sure things stayed under control in the parking lot. I paced the parking lot all night making sure no one was fighting, drinking, or loitering around the lot. The night always started out rough, fighting for parking spots, dealing with the local gangs stirring up trouble. So as I pace the lot an SUV which I recall was a Cadillac Escalade slows next to me and rolls the window down. Guy most like his late 20's or early 30's in the passenger seat says "hey buddy". I turned to firmly greet him and I said "What can I do for you sir". He says "well" reaches into his back pocket, which somewhat alarmed me. He then flashed his Police badge and said "Hey can you find me a parking spot". I chuckled, and said "that badge doesn't mean nothing to me buddy". I proceeded to say "parking is first come first serve" "You guys have a safe night". This off duty cop and his friend driving the SUV find a spot to park, a good spot too. This same guy who flashes his badge at me gets out of the SUV drinking a beer. I yell "yo man get rid of the beer", "he responds with its almost empty buddy don't worry about it". I see this guy throw his beer almost breaking the bottle into the rocky landscaping of the lot. He heads toward the front door I radio him in to the front to let them know what this guy did. Somehow he and his friend find their way into the facility anyhow. I then walk toward this SUV and see two empty Miller Lite's in the cup holders. Now I have not been a saint when it comes to drinking and driving in my younger years prior to 21 believe it or not.  However if your going to be a cop there is a certain level of conduct you must uphold at all times. So this guy drinks and drives lets his friend do it as well, and then arrests people for it. So hypocritical and immature on his part, this guy came off to me as a careless bastard. I hate to say that, however a DWI charge will devastate an individual and their family. This guy was a cop and seemed not to care much about how he acted or whose life he made a living hell. I care about people too much for that lifestyle. Later in the night he and his friend stumbled into the SUV clearly tanked. About 200 feet down the road they get pulled over. Within about 5 minutes they drive away and so do the Glassboro Police. I learned a cop won't give another cop a charge like that if he can get away with it. You don't know who he knows in the system and he doesn't know who you know in the system. So maybe it is just better to not talk about it. Some things are unbelievable this is one of them.