Grateful to CPD’s vigilance
I woke at 4 a.m. to three armed intruders, clad in black, in my house.
They were officers of the Columbus Police Department on a mission to serve and protect. In this case, to protect my family, from our own carelessness. We had spent the last three nights working as Bethlehem’s blacksmiths at First Christmas.
After “striking the set” Sunday night we drove home with our props and the generator we had loaned to the production. After unloading the generator, we intentionally, left the side door and hatchback of the van open to air out the gasoline fumes from the generator.
Knowing we had to go back out to finish unloading, we didn’t close up the house, before accidentally falling asleep in front of a sappy Christmas movie on Hallmark Channel. We roused ourselves only enough to go to bed, without closing up car or house. The house and car were still open hours later when the patrol came through the neighborhood.
Awakened by the police, I was initially confused, then embarrassed and grateful.
I want to thank the CPD for their professionalism and their courage.
Think of it from their point of view: entering an obviously unsecured residence in the wee hours. Would they interrupt armed burglars? Would they find deceased residents? Would they encounter a homeowner who was also a gun owner, paranoid and untrained? In this case they just found a couple who were more tired than careful.
The officers tactfully made the transition from protection to service, before departing on their under-appreciated rounds.
Bob Altman
Columbus
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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