MEMORY LANE - Today Like Yesterday: "Mount Street Blues"

By: Joel E. Gordon

If you are an old timer like me, chances are certain television shows and the portrayal of their characters became a positive influence in contributing to a desire to become a law enforcement officer. Shows such as “Adam-12” and “Hill Street Blues” are two such shows. Among the most impressive character portrayals are of the salty old first-line supervisors; the hardest, most influential and one of the most critical assignments in any department. During the best and worst of times, we all have memories of supervisors who became our rock who could always be counted upon. Some of us went on to emulate their example paying it forward.

Upon my graduation from the police academy on to my West Baltimore assignment there was a local TV promotional ad that aired frequently on Baltimore television comparing the fictional crime-ridden Hill Street Precinct to “Mount Street Blues” our real Western District police station located at 1034 North Mount Street. It still is located there.

We, in fact, had a salty older police desk sergeant on my shift who kept us and others straight and on the path to order and righteousness. He kept both young and old in line along with arrestees and anyone else who crossed his path. A rock and steady, in control, influence.

“Adam-12’s” Sergeant “Mac” MacDonald played by William Boyett famously once had an opening line telling an overly confident and opinionated rookie Officer Jim Reed “You’ve been on the job for three weeks! You don’t have an opinion!”

Sgt. Phil Esterhaus, played by actor Michael Conrad, was another such character. When it was announced that Sergeant Phil Esterhaus had passed away, the moment of truth at roll call was scripted this way… PHIL ESTERHAUS PASSED AWAY THIS MORNING. CAPTAIN HAS A FINAL ITEM FOR YOU. GOOD MORNING, FOLKS. [ALL] GOOD MORNING, CAPTAIN. AMONG SERGEANT ESTERHAUS'S EFFECTS WAS THIS LETTER ADDRESSED TO THE PEACE OFFICERS OF THE HILL STREET DAY SHIFT.

"PERHAPS YOU THOUGHT YOU'D HEARD THE LAST FROM ME, "BUT I DESIRE TO TURN YOU OUT ONE LAST TIME "BEFORE ASSUMING THE DUTIES OF MY NEW ASSIGNMENT. "THERE, I'M SURE WE'LL ALL BE DOUBLE-SHIFTING TOGETHER AGAIN. "I HOPE NOT FOR A LONG TIME. "ITEM ONE: "THE SHEDDING OF CROCODILE TEARS IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. "HOIST A SHOT OR TWO, IF YOU MUST. "THEY'LL LOOK THE OTHER WAY, BUT NOT WHEN YOU'RE ON DUTY. "UM... "ITEM TWO: LET US NOT FORGET IN THEIR BEREAVEMENT "THE LOVED ONES OF OUR DEPARTED FELLOWS. "LOOK IN ON (my wife) GRACE ONCE IN A WHILE, MY FRIENDS. "ITEM THREE: "REMAIN MY KIND OF COPS. "FIND SOMETHING OF WORTH IN EACH PERSON, "SOMETHING TO CARE FOR IN EACH SITUATION. "DRESS NEATLY, SPEAK POLITELY.

"YOU HAVE DECLARED YOUR FAITH IN SOCIETY. "KEEP THAT FAITH. "IT WILL KEEP YOU. "ITEM LAST: "THOUGH THE HILL IS GENERALLY CONSIDERED THE WASTE BASKET "OF THIS CITY'S LAW ENFORCEMENT MINIONS, "I HAVE FOUND ITS DENIZENS TO BE THE FAIREST, "MOST COURAGEOUS, AND HARDWORKING "I'VE BEEN PRIVILEGED TO KNOW. "GENTLEMEN AND LADIES, IT HAS BEEN A RARE PLEASURE. "NOW PICK YOUR BUTTS UP AND LET'S ROLL, "AND REMEMBER, ALWAYS, LET'S BE CAREFUL OUT THERE."

Amen to that. Those about sum up the dedication of those who serve areas like the Hill and Baltimore’s Western. May the genuine spirit of those who care continue to be a shining light to all who take up the cause of law and order for the common good in cities across the U.S.A. during these most difficult of times.

Joel E. Gordon is a former Field Training Officer with the Baltimore City Police Department and is a past Chief of Police for the city of Kingwood, West Virginia. He has also served as vice-chair of a multi-jurisdictional regional narcotics task force. An award winning journalist, he is author of the book Still Seeking Justice: One Officer's Story and founded the Facebook group Police Authors Seeking Justice. Look him up at stillseekingjustice.com