A New Beginning

I thought I would share a true story with you, from when I first met, then Sergeant Robert Waymire.

It was May, 1980 and roughly three weeks before the next BRPD Academy class was scheduled to get underway. Armed with a manila folder containing all of the required paperwork (well, almost "all"), I entered the academy building, then at 10th & Laurel to submit my information.

Sgt. Waymire (Mrs. Cleveland, the secretary, was on lunch break) dutifully thumbed through my paperwork (I thank God, to this day, that he was detail oriented) and asked me where my high school diploma was.

Me: My whut? (scratching my head)

RW: Your high school diploma. It's required.

Me: Oh, uh, well, hmmm, I never got one of those. I dropped out of school to go to work.

RW: Well, I'm sorry but you must have a diploma or a GED to satisfy our requirements. 

Me: A diploma or "what was that other thing?"

RW: a GED, which is equivalent to a diploma, for folks such as yourself, in need of a diploma. 

Me: Can I pick one of those up somewhere?

RW: At this point, even a dumbass of my caliber could see the look of hopelessness in his face. "Well, you could go to the adult education center (I don't recall the formal name but it's long since been demolished - where Albertson's is now) on College Drive. Unfortunately, you won't have the time to obtain it prior to this class beginning, but we will certainly have a spot open for the next class."

Sgt. Waywire was patient and provided me with the name of a doctor, who was the director of said center. I drove from the academy to that center, right then and met the doctor, who, while surprised to see me so soon, had been informed  by Sgt. Waymire that I may be dropping by.

I explained to the good doctor, my situation and that I needed the document prior to the class beginning June 2. He smiled and said, well, I'm not going to give you any false hopes, as that is pretty close to impossible, in that time frame. Let me give you a little test, just to determine where you are the "weakest."

I promptly told him, "math and english. Those are my stay-away-from areas."

He laughed and said "well, let's do the test anyway, just to be certain."

I took it right then. He called me in and said, "your weak subjects are indeed math and english. If you will come and study those, here, we can get you in for that GED test within a few weeks."

"Doc, what if I come in every single day, beginning today, for eight hours a day, could it happen any sooner?" He smiled and said, "I won't say no, it can't. It will be difficult, however, I'll be happy to work with you on it."

Folks, that was all I needed to hear. I'll cut this short. ALL of the above took place on a Monday. The doctor, suitably impressed, sent me to Pleasant Hall, at LSU, Friday, of the same week, to test for my GED. I passed.

I drove straight back to the good doctor who was beaming and extending his congratulations. He said, in a couple of weeks you will get your GED in the mail.

"Doc, I don't have a couple of weeks. Please, is there anyway to get it sooner? I passed!" 

I told you, he was patient. He asked me if I had a preference for a high school and all I could think of was that I lived three blocks away from Belaire High School on Tams. He said, well, I do know the principal, Mr. Wingate, out there. Let me call him real quick.

God as my witness, he hung up the phone and said "if you go to Belaire, right now, by the time you arrive, your GED will be ready."

I did and it was. I headed, from Belaire to the Academy, like a scalded dog. I walked in and the first person I saw was Waymire. I handed him my GED (original - not a copy).

RW: What's this?

Me: My GED you said I had to have.

RW: Where did you get this?

Me: From the doctor you sent me to see.

RW: Oh, okay....hmmm, well, have a seat, I'll be right back.

Folks, I was so naïve, it truly did not occur to me, even when I saw the light on Mrs. Cleveland's phone, illuminate, that Waymire was calling the good doctor for verification.

Three minutes later, Waymire walked back in, shaking his head and said he had never seen anything like this before and for that matter, neither had the doctor. He said "congratulations, you can start this academy."

June 2, 1980, I began the 43rd BTA with thirteen others. I was ecstatic. Less than a week after starting, Waymire came into the classroom with an announcement.

He said "listen up. Chief Johnston, due to the fact that we are seriously short-handed, has decided to allow the three former EBRSO deputies, in this class, to hit the road, as Officers and not have to go through the academy."

Well, I was one of the three. Marcus Wright and Keith Robinson were the other two. Marcus & Keith went by me so fast, for the exit, that I darn near got a head cold from the breeze they generated. I was still sitting there.

Waymire looked and said "it seems they made up their minds rather quickly. What are you going to do?"

I asked "the option is to stay in class or leave and become an officer right now, correct?" He replied in the affirmative.

I said, well, I guess I'm going to stay. I never learned anything about being a street cop, over there (EBRSO - that's just the way it was back then) and I recently jumped several hurdles to make this happen. I'm staying."

Waymire, although a little surprised, said "well, I'm impressed." 

August 27, 1980, we graduated.

I retired, a Captain, as the commander of 4th District, on July, 31, 2011.

No regrets. Not one.