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TheGardensGazette.org
News > Current Events

Officer Todd Wiebke SPD - Part 2

9/4/2017

 
Category: Officer Todd Wiebke
The following was originally posted
on the
Highland Park blog “Next Door”
November 10, 2016

By: Officer Todd Wiebke, Seattle Police Department
Shared with all areas in SOUTHWEST PRECINCT in Crime & Safety

Reprinted with permission

Someone’s Knocking at the Door, Someone’s Ringing the Bell

“Do me a favor, open the door and let 'em in.” Paul McCartney 1976?

I have been quiet. My mom said when I have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all. You see, I have been being followed home at night. They have followed me before, but back then I gave them a ride home. Despair, Depression, and Sadness make for a poor carpool.

This time I found them hanging out under a bridge in their friend Misery's motorhome. Addiction was there, but he was sleeping. We told Misery to move out and he fired up his motorhome and left with Addiction. I guess Despair, Depression, and Sadness took that as a clue to join me. I didn't ask. 

I don't like them, they are not nice. I cannot think, or sleep, or share. They annoy my family and they ask me to get rid of them, but they won't leave me. I took them up to the mountains with me last weekend.

I got up early and my buddy Archie and me went for a walk. Archie is unaware that the three have joined us. He just wants me to throw him a stick. We walked all the way down to the lake and I sat down while Archie ran up and down the water’s edge excited by the plethora of sticks that were to be found.

As I sat there with Despair, Depression, and Sadness, the sun began to work its way down the western side of the mountain on the other side of the lake. It was beautiful. Then the light touched the top of the one larch tree opposite me. It was like a candle being lit. I started to laugh at how beautiful it was and when the wind made the leaves dance, I had to smile.

I looked on the ground at the leaves who had already shared their joy earlier and saw them skitter on the ground seeking a place to spend the rest of winter. Archie went running by and hit me in the head with the stick he was carrying and continued zooming down the shore.

When I stood up to leave, Archie came over and jumped on me and got me all wet. I gave him a hug and got more wet. I looked around at the bright new world around me and paused for a moment. I could not find Despair, Depression, or Sadness. There was a new guy. The new guy said his name was Happiness. I took him home with me and made room for him to stay as long as he wants.
​

Our outdoor neighbors are preparing for winter. Your Seattle Police Department continues to serve you and them equally and faithfully. We have a large task, but I have faith in my city. I found happiness with my little buddy in the middle of nowhere. Happiness is homeless and don’t worry, owns no possessions. So, do me a favor, open the door and let him in.

Officer Todd Wiebke SPD - Introduction

8/19/2017

 
Category: Officer Todd Wiebke
There Is Always Hope

Many of you may be familiar with the Highland Park (which we are a part of) neighborhood blog, NextDoor.  If not, I suggest you JOIN and take a look at it when you have a few free moments (Nextdoor-Highland-Park-News-Feed).  It has serious listings and fun ones (I.e., Has anyone seen my rooster, Charlie? He somehow flew the coop OR found scared little puppy, black and tan about 6 weeks old.  Have him safe and warm, give me a call so we can get her home again.)

And there are a lot of serious postings.  For me, the most meaningful are the ones about every 6 weeks from Police Officer Todd Wiebke of our local precinct.  The latest one follows.  When I asked our webmaster to post it, he asked that I contact the author and get his written permission to publish it, previous ones, and any he writes in the future.  I did so and he replied:

"Please share whatever I write, it is yours. Arrowhead is right in the middle of things, and as bad as it looks sometimes, I want you to know I am out there. You guys are important to me and I share that with the homeless and demand their respect for your property. They try in their own way, to be good neighbors."

I encourage you to read his latest posting below.  I have saved his previous ones and will submit them for posting shortly. They reflect an insight and compassion that are much needed.
​

-------------- 
Laura R.
Arrowhead Gardens Resident

King 5 - Elisa Hahn - April 23, 2016
​Seattle PD officer gives voice to police working with homeless

Includes a video of Officer Todd Wiebke

Cross-posted from Nextdoor.com - Highland Park - August 15, 2017 

Officer Todd Wiebke, Seattle Police Department 

Because your mine, I walk the line. Johnny Cash

     It is a thin line that I patrol on. The needs of the housed community to feel safe, the needs of the homeless community to feel safe, and my need to impound and remove drug addicted thieves from both communities.

     I towed one of the motorhomes that has been overstaying its welcome in our residential area. I have a few more to sort out still. In the industrial area I towed two broken vehicles surrounded by old tires and debris that wasn't there a week earlier. I towed a trailer and had a man move his tent off of the side of the street. I was smiled at by motorists in my residential area and thanked by the business owners plagued by the issues surrounding the lives lived on narcotics.

     On my way to Camp 2nd Chance to assist with a call concerning the chaos developing there, I past the broken motorhome and the broken car parked in a long line of broken things, I knew I had him this time. I was towing him for sure.

     I walked past a beautiful church group serving warm meals to the campers, and the drug addicts and the crazies as they walked up with their needs bare for the whole world to see. I saw the church folks smile and care and dishing up some chicken and corn bread, not caring about the hair, or the halitosis. Not caring about the dirty clothes, the unwashed hands. Serving those in need.

     I went into the camp and addressed the issue which is causing stress to the people for whom I have come to care a great deal about. I addressed everybody equally on all sides I think. But when one young lady whom I have known these last two years walked up to me trying to keep her emotions in check and told me that she doesn't like it here anymore; in the midst of all of this commotion about who is in charge, I saw who wasn't. I spoke to all about this mess and the fact that we were here trying something new, and that this stress and how we chose to deal with it is how we can define ourselves and move forward, or fall down and give in. Again I see the weakest amongst us over tasked with burdens designed for broader shoulders.

     I am weary. This is breaking me down, but I cannot stop. I walk out the gate and see a woman emerge from a wetlands area and decide to talk to her. Her matted clumped hair hid a face that had not seen happiness in many moons. She approached me with trepidation as I asked her if she was camping where I had seen her come from. She said yes and I explained that it was a wetlands and she couldn't camp there. She began crying and told me she did not have the strength to move. Her boots fell from her hand as she stood crying in her sock feet in sharp gravel. Her stump of a cigarette burned her lips and she spit it at me, realizing in horror what she had just done. She apologized and like a beaten dog prepared to get hit. I smiled. I told her it was okay. I told her she should hurry over and get a hot meal from the church ladies, and that we would talk tomorrow. She told me her name, and I told her my name was Todd. She stared at me for a minute and then hustled to get her some warm cornbread and fried chicken.

     I looked across the street and saw a great big wreck of a pickup pulling a bigger mess of a used up travel trailer. I pulled out into the center turn lane and addressed the lady next to the truck. You cant park here, I will end up impounding your truck. She told me her story. She wasn't high, or drunk and looked like she never had been. I told her my name, she told me hers. I gave her the Navigation phone number and told her that they might be able to help. She patted me on the arm and told me how great I was. I told her she should go grab some chicken at the camp. She said they looked like wonderful people and I told her they were.

     I made my U turn and headed down to the motorhome that I was going to impound. But in the line a hulking man stood. His broken body bent over, his broken mind hidden behind wild hair and blue mascara. He smiled feebly and waved at me as I drove down to take his motorhome.

     I couldn't do it.
Nextdoor Subscribers of SOUTHWEST PRECINCT
Republished with permission from Officer Todd Wiebke via Nextdoor

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