Ace Boobtoucher
Founder and Captain of the Douchepatrol
Last night I was working in NW Las Vegas at a retail/housing development with a really nice private park and playground when I noticed a family approaching after the posted closing time. I advised the mother that the park closes to the public at sunset and is open late only for special events.
She had four of her children with her, the youngest among them a precocious four year old girl. I felt bad about enforcing a pretty stupid rule and the pitious look on the little girl's face. I told them they were welcome to use the park for a little while and if one of my bosses drove up they were to say they were guests of Andy and Lindsey, a couple that moved into one of the homes a few weeks ago. I guess I'm kind of a softy when it comes to little kids.
So the little one and her seven year old sister began playing on the equipment. The mother asked why such an idyllic setting needs armed security and I explained that before my company got a contract with the developers all hell was breaking loose on the property. 25-30 kids would hang out in the park breaking curfew, smoking weed, fighting, vandalizing property, breaking into retail shops and setting fires. The former security company on property was ineffective at best, incompetent at worst. One of their guys was beaten almost to death behind a dentist's office and another was held up at gunpoint.
We took over the patrol about three months ago and started affecting arrests, advising wayward teens of the trespassing laws, notifying parents of violations and contacting the LVMPD when infractions occur. Word got out and after 30 or so arrests the park was reasonably pacified to the point where only one security officer is required on premises.
The mother, who introduced herself as Nina, said she was relieved that this part of town has people who care enough about their environment to have this kind of service. She had eight kids and was raising them on her own. They had just moved to this area from Lake Mead rd and I forget which cross street, but its not a great part of town. I asked her what precipitated the move and she said her 12 year old son got shot in the face three months ago.
Wait, what? Apparently it was all over the news a few months back. Her son answered a knock on the door at home and a 13 year old kid shot him in the face with a .22 caliber revolver as part of his gang initiation. He survived with a broken jaw and a few other injuries. Nina decided it was time to move shortly after he was discharged from the hospital.
She said it wasn't the first time handguns had affected her family. Prior to that, one of her other sons accidentally killed himself while playing around with a pistol. I was mortified and heartbroken by her loss, but wait, it doesn't end there. Twelve years ago she lost a daughter to spina bifida. I was flattened by this. This sounds like the kind of tragedy that befalls a Shakespearean protagonist or something from Dickens not a 21st century family.
She's been supporting her family while working at Red Lobster and child support she receives from her exes. She'd briefly gone on food stamps but was too proud to do that for more than a couple months because she's able bodied. She's also trying to get a doctorate in psychology because she doesn't believe her kids should want for anything.
My admiration for her is pretty great, obviously. A lesser person would have been sent over the edge years ago but she's persevered and come out with more determination than I thought possible.
The community support has been, in her words, unbelievable. The Catholic church to which she belongs, took extra collections to help defray some of the medical bills. Some of the Christian churches she's attended did likewise and the Mormons who heard of the family's struggle have prepared meals and delivered them to their house since this incident.
After hearing this heart rending story I was grateful to learn that there are enclaves within Las Vegas where people do truly care about their neighbors well being and not everyone is cynical, jaded, greedy and corrupt.
We talked for a while more and I let her know that while there is a gang presence on this side of town there are places of refuge where the gang members just aren't allowed. The property managers have special events going on in the park every week like a farmer's market and a movie night. We increase our patrol during some of these events and enforce a strict NO UNACCOMPANIED MINORS rule. She was glad to hear that and assured me that she and her family would be certain to make it back to some of the events.
Nina also inquired about the possibility of vending soft drinks and water, etc. at some of the events because she wanted to donate the proceeds to the communities that helped her and her family in their hour of need.
Wow. You hear stories about selflessness and courage but you think of soldiers, firemen and policemen. Not 44 year old mothers of eight. This may be the push I need to start getting active in volunteerism again. But knowing me, it probably won't. At the very least, the next time I encounter her I'll ask what I can do to help. I just thought it was a touching story and I needed to pass it on.
There are very few opportunities in life to encounter someone with grace. This was one of them. Take care of your neighbors.
She had four of her children with her, the youngest among them a precocious four year old girl. I felt bad about enforcing a pretty stupid rule and the pitious look on the little girl's face. I told them they were welcome to use the park for a little while and if one of my bosses drove up they were to say they were guests of Andy and Lindsey, a couple that moved into one of the homes a few weeks ago. I guess I'm kind of a softy when it comes to little kids.
So the little one and her seven year old sister began playing on the equipment. The mother asked why such an idyllic setting needs armed security and I explained that before my company got a contract with the developers all hell was breaking loose on the property. 25-30 kids would hang out in the park breaking curfew, smoking weed, fighting, vandalizing property, breaking into retail shops and setting fires. The former security company on property was ineffective at best, incompetent at worst. One of their guys was beaten almost to death behind a dentist's office and another was held up at gunpoint.
We took over the patrol about three months ago and started affecting arrests, advising wayward teens of the trespassing laws, notifying parents of violations and contacting the LVMPD when infractions occur. Word got out and after 30 or so arrests the park was reasonably pacified to the point where only one security officer is required on premises.
The mother, who introduced herself as Nina, said she was relieved that this part of town has people who care enough about their environment to have this kind of service. She had eight kids and was raising them on her own. They had just moved to this area from Lake Mead rd and I forget which cross street, but its not a great part of town. I asked her what precipitated the move and she said her 12 year old son got shot in the face three months ago.
Wait, what? Apparently it was all over the news a few months back. Her son answered a knock on the door at home and a 13 year old kid shot him in the face with a .22 caliber revolver as part of his gang initiation. He survived with a broken jaw and a few other injuries. Nina decided it was time to move shortly after he was discharged from the hospital.
She said it wasn't the first time handguns had affected her family. Prior to that, one of her other sons accidentally killed himself while playing around with a pistol. I was mortified and heartbroken by her loss, but wait, it doesn't end there. Twelve years ago she lost a daughter to spina bifida. I was flattened by this. This sounds like the kind of tragedy that befalls a Shakespearean protagonist or something from Dickens not a 21st century family.
She's been supporting her family while working at Red Lobster and child support she receives from her exes. She'd briefly gone on food stamps but was too proud to do that for more than a couple months because she's able bodied. She's also trying to get a doctorate in psychology because she doesn't believe her kids should want for anything.
My admiration for her is pretty great, obviously. A lesser person would have been sent over the edge years ago but she's persevered and come out with more determination than I thought possible.
The community support has been, in her words, unbelievable. The Catholic church to which she belongs, took extra collections to help defray some of the medical bills. Some of the Christian churches she's attended did likewise and the Mormons who heard of the family's struggle have prepared meals and delivered them to their house since this incident.
After hearing this heart rending story I was grateful to learn that there are enclaves within Las Vegas where people do truly care about their neighbors well being and not everyone is cynical, jaded, greedy and corrupt.
We talked for a while more and I let her know that while there is a gang presence on this side of town there are places of refuge where the gang members just aren't allowed. The property managers have special events going on in the park every week like a farmer's market and a movie night. We increase our patrol during some of these events and enforce a strict NO UNACCOMPANIED MINORS rule. She was glad to hear that and assured me that she and her family would be certain to make it back to some of the events.
Nina also inquired about the possibility of vending soft drinks and water, etc. at some of the events because she wanted to donate the proceeds to the communities that helped her and her family in their hour of need.
Wow. You hear stories about selflessness and courage but you think of soldiers, firemen and policemen. Not 44 year old mothers of eight. This may be the push I need to start getting active in volunteerism again. But knowing me, it probably won't. At the very least, the next time I encounter her I'll ask what I can do to help. I just thought it was a touching story and I needed to pass it on.
There are very few opportunities in life to encounter someone with grace. This was one of them. Take care of your neighbors.
