"There are over 5,000 men in this city who know that being a policeman is an endless, glamourless, thankless job that's gotta be done. I know it too - and I'm damn glad to be one of them!"
- Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday, Dragnet (1968)
Dave Stalling is another of the characters of Being Dilly* that lives inside Sienna's head. He is a captain and head detective of a New York City Police Department precinct. When we first met, he was basically 'on the take' from a crooked politician. He was protecting thugs that the politician was using to try and drive tenants out of an apartment building so that it could be purchased by one of the poltician's friends and converted into luxury condos. But, through some 'gentle prodding' from me (and a thirst for revenge after the politician slandered him and cut him off), Dave turned state's evidence against the politician and helped greatly to end that building's reign of terror. We've been friends ever since.
Now Dave enjoys living here in the crannies and crevaces of Sienna's brain almost as much as I do. When we see what's happening in the world through Sienna's eyes, Dave is amazed that there are trained police officers and security guards in almost every building downtown and in almost every government department. Today we even saw that the County Assessor has his own police unit! That's weird.
Dave's take on all of this (Guest Blogger: Dave Stalling)
Sienna thinks that the reason there are more police and security people out there is because we as a people have grown to be more paranoid and mistrusting of others. Dally tends to agree but what does he really know? He just runs around and helps people as much as he can - he doesn't care if the perpetrator is arrested (he usually lets me worry about that), it's the person he's helping that gets his full and complete attention.
I personally believe that the reason for this is that today people and building owners are more cautious, especially in light of the September 11 terrorist attacks and various workplace and government building shootings that have occurred in the past several years. People need to know that they will be secure everywhere - at home, on the job, even at a ball game. You never know who you will be standing next to, sitting next to, or even who's in front of you. Any of these people might turn violent for any one of a hundred different reasons. It's my job to protect the public and apprehend the criminals that cause chaos and crime in our streets and buildings.
I'm not even in this job to receive thanks or appreciation from the people in my precinct - if it happens, I am grateful. But, if I see a young family walking down a street, or a group of buddies enjoying themselves at a cookout, or just a lady chatting with her friends on the phone without worry - to me, that's the best gratitude there is.
* All characters, plots, storylines and indicata associated with Being Dilly copyright (c) 2009, 2010 by Sienna Berton. All rights reserved.
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