A Sad Day

In what Santa Maria Police Chief Danny Macagni called “the definition of a sad day,” an on-duty police officer accused of having sex with a 17-year-old girl was shot and killed early Saturday morning by a fellow Santa Maria policeman. - Santa Maria Times

They stood shoulder to shoulder in front of a pair of yellow headlights. One of the men held a flashlight. He pointed the light into the window of the car as it slowly drove by. He waved his hand and the driver nodded and continued down the road.

There was a line of about 10 cars in front of them. They slowly moved through as the the two officers looked in the windows for anything suspicious.

They stood in front of two cop cars. Another pair of cops stood on the opposite side of the street, checking windows and making small talk.

“I know what you did,” he said. “I know about the girl.”

The officer stood with his hands on his hips, his pinkie resting on the butt of his gun. The other officer flashed his light into the window of a car and told the driver to roll down the window.

“Licence,” he said.

The driver reached into his pocked and handed the driver his ID.

“Been drinking?”

“No sir.”

He studied the photo for a second then handed it back to the man and waved him on. He stepped back from the line of cars and faced his partner.

“Is this really the time?”

“There isn’t a good time to do this, Jimmy. I have to take you in.

“Take me in?”

He smiled, turned his back  toward his partner and started walking toward the squad car.

“You’re not taking me in,” he said over his shoulder.

He heard the noise of the gun being drawn and stopped dead in his tracks.

“I’m sorry, Jimmy. Now turn around.”

The officer turned back and faced his partner. His gun was drawn and he stood next to a long line of cars that stopped to watch.

“This is how,” he yelled. “You pull a gun on me? I love her man. I do.”

“She’s 17,” he said. “I’ve got to bring you in.” He walked slowly behind the barrel of his gun toward his partner, his friend, and his criminal.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “Get on your knees.”

Jimmy slowly knelt down and placed his hands above his head. The officer walked around his back and pulled out a pair of handcuffs while placing his gun back in his holster.

“I’m sorry,” he said again.

He bent down to grab his wrist but Jimmy whipped his head back and into the officer’s nose. The officer fell. The criminal stood. The lights from the traffic stop flooded the median and the officers on the other side of the street drew their weapons.

“Get on the ground,” they yelled.

Jimmy drew his gun. They fired first.

Jimmy fell to his knees, then to his side, and then to his back. He placed his hand over the hole in his neck and listened as a friendly voice faintly screamed for an ambulance.