Annette Dashofy's Blog – December 2008 Archive (3)

A Hot Time at the Firefighters Exam

(Cross Posted on Working Stiffs)

As some of you already know, I spent five years as an EMT on the local ambulance service. I have had fantasies of being a cop. But there is not enough money in the world to make me want to be a firefighter.

It’s not that I don’t admire them. Quite the opposite. I think guys who charge into a burning building to rescue people and pets are the biggest… Continue

Added by Annette Dashofy on December 17, 2008 at 10:28pm — No Comments

Citizens' Police Academy: Narcotics Squad-Part Two

(Cross posted to Working Stiffs)

While heroin is by far the biggest drug problem in Pittsburgh, it isn’t the only one.

Crack cocaine is manufactured “in house” by cooking powder cocaine and baking soda into a solid “rock,” which is then smoked. Crack is generally more potent than the powdered form, since the cocaine needs to be rather pure to create crack, whereas the powder can be cut with other ingredients,… Continue

Added by Annette Dashofy on December 11, 2008 at 12:26am — No Comments

Citizens' Police Academy: Narcotics Squad-Part One

(Cross posted to Working Stiffs)

The one session of Citizens’ Police Academy that I missed last time around was the Narcotics Squad. This week, I made up that session. When Sgt. Doug Epler started unpacking his props, I sensed this was going to be interesting. I was especially intrigued by a car battery sitting on the floor among the cases and boxes of drug paraphernalia. Was there a… Continue

Added by Annette Dashofy on December 4, 2008 at 12:40am — No Comments