I remember back when I was working the motor squad at the LAPD. It was the best of times – It was the worst of times. That quote is very fitting when talking about jobs that consist of 99% boredom and 1% pure adrenaline.
Last night another in the industry of real estate asked me if he could borrow a pen, which I gladly agreed. All of the pens we use have our Santa Clarita Real Estate Brand, Paris911, emblazoned all over them. He needed the pen to have a prospective real estate buyer, write down their information so he could help them buy a home. The cute thing is that I was on my way out and I heard the agent yell to me, “hey, what about your pen, take it!”. I laughed and said, “let him keep it, I have more!”
As I was walking to my car, I remembered a day of traffic enforcement. For some reason I needed to get my motorcycle looked at by the on duty motor mechanic. So I went to the motor garage and filled out a blue sheet listing the issue that my police motorcycle was having.
I used my pen and must have forgotten it at the motor garage. So, back I went to shoot some more laser on Burbank Blvd. This location was on our top ten lists of the streets in the valley with the highest incidence of speed related traffic collisions.
The very next vehicle was observed, estimated, acquired and locked in at 60 mph in a 35mph zone. He saw me too late and I hit my lights, siren, ignition and throttle, I gained. He pulled over and I approached.
I explained why I stopped him after introducing myself. I Then told him I was going to issue him a citation for unsafe speed and went back to my m/c to get my ticket book and to start writing.
I went to a place to stand that afforded the most advantage while I wrote the citation, from a tactical point of view.
I grabbed at my shirt pocket and no pen. I walked to my black and white police motorcycle and rummaged through my saddlebags. Nothing. The pen that was usually by my notepad, my back up, was missing as well. I checked my motor boots and nothing.
So, I walked back to the traffic violators vehicle and said, “Mr. ________, may I borrow a black ink pen.”. He said sure and I took the pen he presented to me. I paused, “Mr. ______, it just doesn’t seen right.”. He said, “what doesn’t seem right?”. I said, “for me to write you a citation with your own pen..”. He smiled as did I. I then said, “here is your pen, I’m going to have to let you off with a warning.”. He looked at me with a bewildered look and said, “Thank You.”
I want back to the station and took a box of pens, placing them into my top box.
Last night, securing a clients information with my pen… That just didn’t seem right either…” 
