PUBLIC O/R wants to know (Scariest Situation)

[Reca]

In the verified section of the site we often ask questions to get real responses from real cops. One of the Leo's suggested that we put this question in the public area for the public to see.


O/R wants to know: what's the scariest situation you've ever found yourself in?

[Xiphos]

There was the guy running from us at 80 MPH in the stolen car. When I threw the spikes he decided to run me over to get around them. I jumped. He missed by a couple inches. His maneuver to hit me caused him to loose control and hit a building. He's taking a dirt nap now.

[SPD]

Pursuits scare me more than anything else. Worst one was a crazed, armed ex-husband who had been following his wife trying to hunt her down. He had his two kids in the car and I could see them very clearly.

Shooting sutuations are usually over so fast, you don't have time to be scared. Pursuits take a lot of time, and you have plenty of time to think about what's happening. Plus, there are so many people in harm's way and tons of variables.

Long story short - car chases just scare me to death.

[cntryboy0531]

Working a car crash on the interstate.. Traffic reduced to one lane. 18-wheeler is driving down the road, I'm on foot in the median. Car cuts the 18-wheeler off.. He jack knifes and comes sliding towards us in the median. I scream for the people im with to run, and we take off running down the median. Truck driver regains control just before the truck goes off into the median.

Been in a few situations where it was a shoot or no shoot deal, but those were over quick enough I didn't have time to be scared until after.

And then a couple of time's I've been invovled in an armed manhunt in wooded areas where all you think about is hopeing you see him before he sees you, even though you know in the back of your mind, he's probably able to see you now.

[Jenna]

Almost got run over by cars a few times.

[ms1600]

Running Class V rapids with waves and rollers that were bigger than the raft was long. Six Mile Creek near Hope, AK. I was thinking that the bright colored dry suits and life jackets were to help find the bodies later.

[Pudge]

Partner and I get sent to a suicidal male call.

We're dispatched to the downtown area at the apartment above a tattoo shop. We arrive and find a male in the doorway with a shotgun threatening to shoot himself. I know the guy, so regardless of who was up to handle the call, the guy focuses in on me and will only talk with me. I'm trying my damndest to talk him out of the shotgun, but all the responses we were getting were looking like it was going to end as suicide by cop.

After what seemed like forever and some very creative negotiation he sets the shotgun aside just long enough for me to rush him and secure him. I snatched up the shotgun and passed it off and went in the shop after him as he tried to get away from me. I snatched him up and walked him out to the car. Once secured, one of the other officers on scene cleared the gun, finding a shell in the chamber and ready to go.

I talked to his father a couple of days later. He had been notified of what was going on at his shop and was on the way. Due to the way his son was acting that night, he was convinced that he would arrive to find him dead.

I've had several talks with the guy since the incident, and of all of the apologies and thank you's I've heard, "Sorry I made you deal with that, and thank you for not killing me" is by far one of the most unique I've ever heard.

[Jenna]

I've had several talks with the guy since the incident, and of all of the apologies and thank you's I've heard, "Sorry I made you deal with that, and thank you for not killing me" is by far one of the most unique I've ever heard.

You really risked your life to save his. At least he came to understand that.

[Pudge]

You really risked your life to save his. At least he came to understand that.

It was made rather clear that that night was a unique situation and he was lucky. I was pretty blunt in telling him that should he ever think he's going to pull that shit again, he may just get what he was asking for.

[Motorwaycop]

For me it was standing in a room at a prison. I only had a few years in then.The prison officers were on strike and the inmates didn't like being locked up for 23 hrs a day!
We had just kitted up into public order gear(riot hats, shields etc) and I can just remember the noise from inside the prison, it sounded like we were about to enter a medieval battle. You could see cell doors ripped off their hinges, small fires and all kinds of mess.
The scary thing was you couldn't see the inmates and you knew that for most of them this was a no win situation and there was probably nothing for them to lose by having a go.

Turns out there was a football match on TV and most of the noise was from TV sets turned up to full volume! most of the inmates came with us like naughty little boys and I breathed a sigh of relief.

In truth what makes my stomach turn over the most these days is the moment before I enter a room to deliver a death message. That is what really scares me.