Of Golf Courses and Garden Hoses

[cxm]

I guess this story can now be told... everyone involved must by now be long retired.

Many years ago in Florida the town I lived in was pretty quiet on midnight shift. As a result in mid week, the city police dept officers on the midnight shift would get pretty bored.

One officer (who was a serious badge heavy jerk) discovered if he drove to the back of a local golf club he could pull his patrol car over and get some sleep with a good measure of safety from discovery.

What he overlooked was the fact the golf course could be seen from the main highway and it wasn't long before two young FHP troopers noticed the city car parked at the golf course several nights a week.

It wasn't too long before the troopers curiosity got the best of them and they ever-so-quietly crept up on the parked patrol car.

Sure enough, the troopers discovered the snoozing officer. The troopers quietly left, but started planning a wind up suitable for officer badge-heavy.

The next week they again had time on their hands and discovered officer badge-heavy taking a nap. Once again, they crept up to the parked patrol car and officer badge-heavy. Because it was summer the patrol cars' windows were rolled down.

With the first trooper watching the snoring officer, the second trooper pulled a garden hose attached to one of the golf courses many water faucets to the patrol car. With the water running at a speed that was quiet, the hose was inserted into the back seat of the patrol car. The troopers then repaired to their cars to watch.

The water level rose in the patrol car... unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your point of view) the good officer had his feet up on the seat so he would be more comfortable... so the water was quite deep before anything happened to attract his attention.

The attraction that got his attention was when the control head on his car radio went under water... apparently with some fanfare of an electrical nature. Officer Badge-Heavy jumped up from his slumber and both feet went into water about half way to his knees... this apparently was something of a shock to him.

Unfortunately mini cameras didn't exist way back then, so exactly what happened in the car beyond those facts is not recorded... perhaps that is a good thing. The officer did open his car door ... instantly creating a water fall of some magnitude... and because he put his legs on the ground to get out at the same time, got wet from knees down in the deluge.

The troopers by now of course were semi-paralized from laughter and were suffering considerably from breathing issues realted to too much laughter. They hopped into their cars and with lights out carefully left the area.

Officer Badge-Heavy was is more water shortly... hot water as he tried to explain the condition of his patrol car... his claim he dumped a large glass of water was not believed... and he was provided with some motivational action by the department... he also got his nick name that stayed with him... maybe still has it... SPLASH.

The two young troopers were local heros, though they denied being involved their entire career...

Chuck