Ride Alongs

This past Saturday I had a ride-along for 12 long slow hours...I say that like it was a bad thing even though it wasn't too bad...I usually don't mind ride-alongs but I thought I knew this guy and wasn't happy...
I got there in the morning and there he was, I thought he had already been there all night riding. His name is Dave -- mid 50's, bachelor, head of his neighborhood watch and part of the CERT team for the Estates and he rides with us a couple of times a year. I really didn't want him or anyone in my car but the other Eric bolted out the door once he found out Dave was a RA and Pat didn't think she been around long enough to do it, so , there I was...
Things progressed slowly, no calls all morning...one traffic stop and then heading out to Ave for lunch...nothing going on after lunch either, although by now Dave and I are talking and I start talking about how I like to watch COPS with my kids so they can see what happens when you make the wrong choices when he blurts out that being in my car was like an episode of COPS for him! I looked at him like he was crazy and mentioned that this would be the worst COPS episode ever since we were so slow but he said it didn't matter...he felt like the camera guy, slipping into our world, catching a glimpse of what we dealt with on a day to day basis.
I started to think about what he said and realized that while I tell my stories about some of the stuff that goes on, there are somethings that just should stay with me...accidents, case outcomes, kids in really bad situations and much more...
Anyway, we did end up going to a call, a possible violation of an injunction, but no one went to jail and the guy was not in violation...just several adults acting like children...have seen it way too much...And if you ever want a ride along, let me know...