A Tense Moment
All kinds of things went through Officer Reece’s mind as he approached. They had been trained to approach erratic drivers with extreme caution. Experience showed that there could be any number of reasons why a person would drive this way.
As Reece approached, he barked orders, instructing the driver to show his hands. All he heard in response was crying. He rushed over immediately and was stunned by what he found when he opened the driver’s door.
A Bad Month
Officer Jordan Reece of the Jackson, Mississippi PD had a bad month. Tensions had been rising in the area leading to a high number of callouts. Reece was a third-generation cop and old-school in the way he handled his job.
However, times were changing, and Reece had found himself on the wrong side of a disciplinary committee. He was known for taking a robust approach to crime fighting. Now it seemed he had taken things too far.
The Penalty
Reece had been cited as a “cowboy”. He was branded as reckless for choosing to rush into dangerous situations without waiting for backup.
As a result, Reece received a warning. That wasn’t the end of it. The other penalty he received was the worst one he could imagine.
Traffic Duty
Being placed on traffic duty was a nightmare for a cop like Reece, who loved being in the thick of the action. He had barely gotten through a few days of it when he was already bored out of his mind.
On the fifth day, things got worse. It was the evening rush, and Reece was already cursing the ridiculous uniform he was forced to wear. That’s when he spotted a group of teens nearby.
A Different Time
Reece sometimes resented the way the world worked these days. Growing up with a father and grandfather that were cops, Reece came from a generation where the police were respected.
Now, a group of teens passed him. They used their cellphones to record him and mocked his attire. He lamented how much times had changed. Then one of the kids passed a comment that immediately drew his attention.
Grumpy
When Reece heard one of them referring to him as a “rent-a-cop”, he stopped and glared at them, but this only made them chuckle at him and run away. Reece sighed to himself, feeling grumpier than ever.
He wondered if he would end up as a meme or a post mocking law enforcement somewhere. However, the incident was soon behind him when he suddenly heard a commotion down the road.
The Day Changed
Since being placed on traffic duty, Reece had become accustomed to boring shifts spent directing traffic. Aside from the odd fender bender, nothing exciting ever happened.
However, today was different. In an instant, Reece’s dull day was suddenly turned on its head. He sprang into action, adrenaline pumping through his body now.
The Scene
It started when he heard muffled screams somewhere behind him. Reece turned and noticed a small crowd looking in the same direction.
His eyes roved past the crowd, and he could just see the taillights of a car as it turned the corner. His instincts told him something wasn’t right.
The Car
Reece glanced around the intersection he was monitoring. Traffic had thinned, and he decided that the few motorists remaining could handle it without him there. Leaving his post, Reece ran in the direction of the car.
As he reached the crowd and identified himself as an officer, he saw that most people on the curb wore white-faced expressions of fear. One woman pointed towards the same car he had seen. It was now erratically weaving its way down the road.
Giving Chase
Reece felt very exposed. He wasn’t accustomed to following a car on foot. Thankfully, the vehicle was driving suspiciously slow. It was also zigzagging, and there was something obviously wrong with the driver.
Reece's heart began to race as the car neared the next intersection. It seemed to be veering onto the pavement. “Watch out!” Reece yelled, praying the people there would move in time.
The Curb
Thankfully, the nearby pedestrians noticed it and got out of its way. As the car slowly rolled forward, it sideswiped two vehicles parked on the roadside before stopping. A crowd was gathered now, some people screaming in shock at the scene.
Reese approached the car cautiously, his heart hammering. He barked instructions for the driver to show himself. All he heard was a person crying. Reece was stunned by what he saw as he reached the driver's side.
The Driver
It was darker now and Reece had his torch out. Armed with nothing but a whistle, he was grateful that he wouldn’t need his sidearm.
As he opened the car, the driver hopped out of the driver’s seat, tears streaming down his face. Reece had no idea what to make of the situation. Somehow, a small child had managed to get behind the car's wheel and had taken it for a joyride.
Comforting Him
Reece hadn’t known what to expect. At first, he thought he might be dealing with an intoxicated driver or a fleeing criminal. He hadn’t expected to find a child driving the car.
The little boy looked barely four years old. He was crying uncontrollably as Reece picked him up and held him close. Comforting the child, he got him to calm down, frantically checking him all over, hoping he wasn’t injured.
Finding Mom
Thankfully, the child was uninjured. Given what a dangerous situation it had been, it was a miracle that neither the child nor any pedestrians were harmed.
After running the vehicle’s plates, Reece was able to contact the child’s parents. His mom came rushing to the scene. She was as surprised as anyone to find her little boy there with her car.
A Strange Day
It turned out that the little boy was at home with his mom. She had worked a night shift and was resting while his dad was at work. The resourceful little boy named Kyle had decided to take his mom’s keys and go “vroom, vroom,” as he described it.
After getting the boy home safely, Reece returned to his station, relieved as he laughed to himself. He had learned an age-old lesson that day. In law enforcement, there was no such thing as a dull day. In order to protect the privacy of those depicted, some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed and are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblances to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.