MY WAY
/MY WAY
By: Dale Gabriel
I have always lived life on the edge. It's more fun that way. Just the small stuff; nothing major. Despite being a trooper, I was somewhat a bit of a rule-breaker. I am a non-conformist, which really does not go along well with being a trooper. I liked to do things my way on my terms.
From the time I was a kid with my parents, into college, then even with PSP, I learned it was better for me to do something first, then ask permission (or forgiveness) later. This probably isn't the smartest way to do things. It got me into some trouble over the years. But that's just who I am, right or wrong. And I was always great at talking myself out of trouble.
In the fall of 2004, a high school senior in our tiny little town of Slickville came to me and told me that she wanted to make a police video, such as the show "Cops" for a class project. She asked me if I would help her. I was on board immediately. Being from a small town, everybody knows everybody. Her younger sister was good friends with my oldest daughter. I grew up with her mom. Her grandparents were church friends. I loved the idea but was not sure if PSP would approve it. I thought about just doing it, and letting the chips fall where they may, but I decided to take the idea to my boss instead. I told her to take her idea to my boss, and of course, to tell him that she wanted ME to do it, since she knew me.
She contacted my station supervisor and explained her idea. He told her that PSP would not be able to participate in this, that it would put her in danger and be against our regulations, but he NEVER said a word to me about her request. Not one word. She came back to me and was very disappointed, as was I. We discussed it. I told her that I would still do it, as long as she would deny that she ever told me that my boss told her no, if we were to get caught. Yeah, I know it was against regulations, but I thought it was a great idea. I felt it was a stupid that he would not permit it, or even consider it. I knew I could do it without putting her in any kind of danger.
Over the next month or so, we sat down at my house several times (off duty--not wasting any "state" money). We talked about her plans and exactly what she wanted to do and how to do it. We discussed questions that she wanted to ask, about laws and the way things are done, as well as how some things work. She was very thorough, and I was excited, maybe more than she was.
We picked a date when I was working daylight shift and met at our church in the parking lot. First, she grabbed a camera and interviewed me while I was sitting in the patrol car. She asked me everything from my background to college, why I became a trooper, and so much more. She asked about the process to become a trooper and training in the academy. These were all things that I LOVED to talk about. She did a fantastic job, was very well-prepared. I got out and showed her all the parts of the patrol car, how they work, and what they are used for. I demonstrated all the equipment on my duty belt and uniform, and the things in my patrol bag.
We drove around just a bit, with her shooting video from the cage inside the patrol car, as we continued to talk. We stopped along the road, and I ran some radar. I set it up, checked the internal and external calibration, just as I do every time I use it, as I explained the entire process while she recorded. Then, we waited for a speeding car to come by, but I watched for a driver I knew very well. I wanted it to be real, and not some staged traffic stop. I was sure that several friends would be passing by, en route to the post office.
I saw someone I knew, speeding ever so slightly, and made a traffic stop. About the only thing that was not 100% authentic was leaving the girl in the patrol car while I approached the vehicle that I stopped. I wanted to make sure it would be OK with my friend who was driving the car. I told her what we were doing, and asked her permission to be included. I told her exactly what was going on, and asked if she would be willing to participate, which she was.
I then went back to the patrol car and got the girl. She followed me up to the vehicle on the traffic stop, while capturing it all on film. I handled it as I had done on thousands of previous traffic stops. I approached, identified myself, and gave the reason for the traffic stop, obtained license, registration, and insurance. I went back to the patrol car and checked status of the license. I wrote out a written warning, went back to the vehicle, and issued the warning to the driver.
The final thing the girl asked me to do on camera was explain the difference between a written warning vs a citation, the ramifications of each, and the court process, along with how I decide the appropriate action to take. Of course, she also asked if there is a quota for giving tickets (which there is not). A few weeks later, after editing, the girl showed me the video before turning it in for the teacher and class to see.
We made it without our secret being revealed. I ran into the teacher after that, and he told me how impressed he was with the project and my participation. He wanted to call my station and let them know how good it was. I actually had him as a teacher and knew him from some of my volunteerism in the district. My kids had him later on. I told him that I appreciated the kind words, but asked him not to do that, explaining the circumstances. Knowing me, he was not surprised. He laughed and thankfully complied.
Sadly, about a year later, when the girl was just a freshman in college, she was murdered by her boyfriend right here in town. Despite being "just" a patrol guy, I was somewhat involved with the investigation due to my familiarity with everyone. That was a very difficult thing to do. The subject was convicted of murder and will be in prison for a very long time. The girl's mom put on some programs after that about domestic violence, and I was a speaker at some of them.
Dale Gabriel is a retired patrol and community services officer with the Pennsylvania State Police. After 25+ years of service, in retirement, he has been working on a book of his many PSP memories. He also coaches a baseball team in a Miracle League for those with special needs. He holds a communication degree with English minor from Saint Vincent College in Western Pennsylvania.
