The Stop That Ended My Career Is Still Haunting Me
The Stop That Ended My Career Is Still Haunting Me
Bottom line up front: I’m giving you my personal tragedy to make you understand that you need to wear a mask, gloves and eye protection when you work drug cases (big or small). Learn from my mistakes and don’t take unnecessary risks.
This week, I got a call from a hard working narcotics detective that found a substantial drug lab (I know you’re reading this, great job brother). He did a great job asking for advice and, with the help of the great Bob Pennal from WISN, we were able to get him the help he needed to investigate this case. But, proper PPE wasn’t worn initially. This came at a time when I am suffering immense pain and hardship because I wasn’t wearing proper PPE, got sick and had brain surgery all from a stop I made long ago. I’m bearing all to you to make you understand, no matter how big or small the case, wear PPE or you will suffer the consequences.
If you have been to any of my street drug classes, you have probably heard my story about the stop that ended my career. The disease I got from that stop is back this week and it is altering my life again. tl;dr: if you don’t wear a mask, gloves and eye protection (eye pro), you are risking injuries and sickness that will haunt you well into your retirement days and affect your life in ways that are life altering.
The Stope that Killed my Career
To bring some of you up to speed: In 2015 I made a ped stop on a low level drug dealer. He was sick from a virus and during an altercation and arrest, I got the virus he had. That triggered a disease called trigeminal neuralgia. Now, I may have already had trigeminal neuralgia prior to this stop, but I didn’t know about it and will never really know. Either way, it triggered the disease which causes immense pain that is so great, they nicknamed this disease the “suicide disease.” Click the link if you want to read more about it and why it got that nickname. It is horrible and life altering.
What would have kept me from getting sick? Wearing gloves, a face mask and eye protection. I deeply regret ever stopping that person and I regret not wearing PPE. If I had worn that PPE, I wouldn’t have the issues I have today. Why didn’t I wear PPE? I was the sergeant of a street crimes unit that was doing great work at keeping our streets safe. I felt that the mask was going to get in my way of doing great work.
The Aftermath of One Stop
Six months after getting diagnosed, I had a craniotomy (brain surgery) to repair the damaged nerve. I came back to work, but it was difficult and I retired in 2017 when I realized I was a liability to those I worked with and the stress of the job made my health issues worse. This problem has persisted since retirement.
Oftentimes, people ask God why tragedy fell upon them. I know that God needed me for other things including spending more time training you and more time over at Christian Warrior Training. But, the pain became so bad in 2019 that I had to stop teaching and I took a break from 2019-2021.
Romans 8:28: "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."
I’m back to teaching full time again, but the disease is back. My choice is to either have another brain surgery, radiation treatments, or go on medication that makes me the most mellow person in the world. So, I’m back on medication and you’ll see me more chill than you’ve ever seen me before.
Do I Continue or Call it Quits?
That’s simple, I’m going to continue teaching. I have a class on Tuesday and Wednesday on Dark Web Investigations. I’ll be more mellow, but the work needs to get done.
The call from the hard working Narc reminded me that I need to send a strong message to you that you need to wear ALL of your PPE whenever you deal with transients, drug users, and when doing any drug investigation. What level PPE do you wear?
In the case of transients and drug users, an N95 mask, nitrile gloves and eye pro should be sufficient. When it comes to drug investigations, it gets more intense. If you are dealing with fentanyl, you should be wearing an APR, gloves and eye pro. If you’re dealing with large amounts, you may need to go to level A or B. Go to my fentanyl class over at the WRCTC to learn more. If you are dealing with labs, NEVER GO INSIDE WITHOUT DONNING LEVEL A or B.
Too many narcs I know are getting cancer or other diseases like mine. If you want to enjoy your retirement, protect yourself and learn from our lessons.
Stay safe my friends.
Keith