Today at Work

**Autumn2009** · 07-22-06, 07:32 PM

Well I worked my first body recovery today. There was a pretty bad boating accident last night, which I can't really discuss here as it being a public area and all, and a person was thrown from the boat. Like I said I can't say much details.

It was a very chaotic day, we kept people out of the area of the divers and just generally assisted with the search. It was really weird though, because while I was working it, I guess I just wasn't thinking the grave fact of what I was doing. Even when we talked to the parents, family, when I was out there and saw all their grief, I mean the family picking through seaweed for their family member, it was just kind of, "yup ok back to work now". Especially when I got home and told my family, or as we were telling people today their reactions were, "omg how horrible!". Weird how you just become callous. Like it didn't hit me till I was driving the 45 minutes home, that "holy crap I was looking for a dead body", and how tragic the situation was. Then I felt kind of bad, because shit, I didn't in a way seem to care when I was out there the magnitude of the situation. I mean at lunch we were on shore with everyone eating pizza, shooting the shit, and throwing jokes back and forth like we were at a picnic or something. I just told myself though, that if I had gone about it and had realized the situation and had let it get to me while I was out there, I wouldn't have been able to do my job, and keep my divers in the water safe.

Crazy stuff, first time for all this.

Not to mention we had a collosion between our patrol boat and another boat today, can't go into much details about that here in the public either. I'm ready for a shower and bed, I smell like a river.

**MisterK** · 07-22-06, 08:07 PM

Mmmm... river...

**jmur5074** · 07-22-06, 09:07 PM

Didja find the guy or what?

**Autumn2009** · 07-22-06, 09:25 PM

Had to call the search off because of weather.

**Vendetta** · 07-22-06, 10:14 PM

Yeah we had one this year too.........17 yo HS junior out on skip day. We recovered the body. It sucked. I dont mind dead people put theres no way in hell that I want to find one in murky water with zero visiability face to face.
You dont joke around because you dont care you joke around because you do care and thats the only way you can go on with your day.

**Virginian** · 07-22-06, 10:55 PM

Just be careful about where and when you're doing the joking. I've heard stories from cops about how they've put their foot in their mouth in front of family members without realizing it at the time.

**Autumn2009** · 07-22-06, 11:26 PM

Originally Posted by Virginian

Just be careful about where and when you're doing the joking. I've heard stories from cops about how they've put their foot in their mouth in front of family members without realizing it at the time.

Oh we were, we were in our own little cove today, and were nothing but professional when the family came to thank us. We also were just throwing generic jokes back and forth, nothing about the situation really.

**TXCharlie** · 07-22-06, 11:46 PM

Wow, are y'all going back out after the weather calms down?

**Autumn2009** · 07-22-06, 11:58 PM

They're going back out in the morning at 7, I'm not personally, as I'm not scheduled to work, but our boat will be out there at that time tomorrow. We waited around today, and even was out there in a downpour for awhile, but the lightining forced us off.

**Jks9199** · 07-23-06, 01:39 AM

Originally Posted by Virginian

Just be careful about where and when you're doing the joking. I've heard stories from cops about how they've put their foot in their mouth in front of family members without realizing it at the time.

Be VERY careful...

I once had to explain to a father why the cops downstairs in the room where his dead son lay awaiting transport to the morgue for an autopsy were laughing.

**dlefdal** · 07-23-06, 05:36 AM

Your reactions are completely normal. The magnitude of the situation hitting you until after shift is completely normal and to be expected. This just means that you were focused on the task at hand and that you can handle the situations in a proper manner.

As far as the joking and shooting shit all day........this too is completely normal. Nothing wrong with it. It is how people in this line of work deal with tragedy. It's just the way it is and nothing to feel guilty about it.

It it starts to bother you, don't feel ashamed or embarrased (sp). Find someone you feel comfortable talking to.

**OfficerResource.com** · 07-23-06, 05:41 AM

Originally Posted by dlefdal

Your reactions are completely normal. The magnitude of the situation hitting you until after shift is completely normal and to be expected. This just means that you were focused on the task at hand and that you can handle the situations in a proper manner.

As far as the joking and shooting shit all day........this too is completely normal. Nothing wrong with it. It is how people in this line of work deal with tragedy. It's just the way it is and nothing to feel guilty about it.

It it starts to bother you, don't feel ashamed or embarrased (sp). Find someone you feel comfortable talking to.

Very well said!