Deputy
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We had deputies who rode the trains, and deputies in cars that responded to calls for the buses. Deputies in cars could also respond to calls at the various subway stations. There was a south division and north division each with their own captain. It was quite an operation. Since I had originally applied to the New York City Police Department before leaving Livingston County, I knew this assignment would be the closest thing to working a NY subway system. My wife and I enjoy using the NY subways when we visit each year during the Christmas season, so I was anxious to learn about the Los Angeles system.
I mostly worked the overnight shift, which ran from 9 pm until 5 am. For the bulk of my time, I worked the north division and supervised deputies who patrolled the red, gold, and north end bus lines. In some weird agreement, we had patrol responsibilities for half of Union Station and LAPD the other half. For the most part, all calls for services in Union Station were handled by us.
For some reason, stepping in front of an oncoming train is a preferred choice of those wanting to commit suicide. It's always a brutal scene because of the moving train and devastation to the body. A lot of the time, the body is cut in half. In the short time I was at TSB, I know we probably had ten or more suicide by trains that I know of. Sometimes there were accidental deaths because of people walking on the tracks at night or their vehicle was stopped on the tracks.
I loved patrolling through downtown Los Angeles. They had some big redevelopment operations that beautified most areas of downtown. They created a big entertainment zone called L.A. live, which incorporated the Staples Center and the L.A. Convention Center. The area was full of restaurants and clubs. The downtown area was growing with the creation of trendy residential lofts. This was back in 2010-2013. The area east of Spring Street was the beginning of Skid Row. It was horrible, just stacked full of garbage and homeless in tents up and down the sidewalks. On the weekends church groups would come to the area in large numbers to hand out clothing, blankets, and food. I think this led to more and more southern Ca. homeless coming to Skid Row. There was the mission, which was always overcapacity, and people would wait for an opportunity to get in.
I remember driving my stepson through the area, and he was in shock when he saw how these people were living. The amount of garbage on the street was horrendous. But the city was keeping them in this corner just a few blocks away from the glitz and glamour of the revitalized L.A. I know it got worse as the years have gone by. But in 2019, when it became an epidemic of drugs and diseased rats, the national news started putting a spotlight on it. Seeing some of the news coverage, much of the area conditions were in effect back in 2010. Nobody wanted to hear anything about it. As soon as the national news started their coverage, putting shame on the city of L.A., all of a sudden everybody was clamoring to do something about it.
I was still doing some comedy during my time at TSB. I would perform on occasion at the Downtown Comedy Club which was operated by my good friend Kevin Garnier. I would say it was mostly a black club. Garret Morris was a regular at the club (1970's Saturday Night Live cast). I loved meeting and talking with Garret. He was getting up there in age, but was extremely energetic and still loved doing standup comedy. I produced a show in downtown and Garret agreed to host the show. He was amazing.
About two years before I retired in 2011, my parents came out to L.A., and I took them on a ride-along. We stopped in at the Comedy Club, and they were thrilled to have our pictures taken with Garret. A few short months later, Garret well into his 70's was cast in a supportive role in the now hit show Two Broke Girls. I was so happy to see him have such success late in life. I took my parents around to meet all of my deputies. We had a lot of great laughs that night—some of those deputies when I rarely see or talk to them ask about my parents. You wonder if your parents are really that wonderful and fun to be around. My parents really were loved by anyone that met them even for a brief time. Some of these deputies only talked to my parents for a few minutes, but they left a lasting impression.
June of 2010, the L.A. Lakers win another championship. I remember that night. I was doing a comedy show at Steven's Steakhouse south of the city and had permission to start my shift an hour late. I had just got offstage when my lieutenant called me and told me to get to work as soon as possible a riot was about to start after the Lakers’ win. I never could understand the mindset of rioting when a team won. I could justify it in my mind if the team lost, but when they win? Can't understand the mentality of celebrating by burning down the city. We were heavily involved in the post-game activities because one of the major subway stops was a couple of blocks from the Staples Center.
I got in my uniform and immediately headed for the 7th and Metro Station where we had a command post. The large crowd was coming in our direction from the Staples Center. As the crowd got closer, more LAPD units and Helicopter Units arrived. The sky was full of police air units and all the local news station helicopters. Even though we were dead center in the heart of Los Angeles, the Transit Services Bureau was responsible for protecting the busses and their patrons, not the LAPD. It was a weird dynamic.
I was assigned a corner just east of Wilshire Blvd on 7th Street. Everything was looking pretty good on my corner until all of a sudden, it wasn't. People started gathering in large numbers on each corner. Cars were driving by with people hanging out the windows yelling and throwing things at the people on the corners. Two blocks away, the crowd started fires in the middle of the intersection. One block down they tipped over a taxi and started it on fire. I could see the flames from where I was standing. One of our Sheriff Units had made several arrests in connection with that fire.
All the crowds that had started from the Staples Center were now flooding the streets where I was posted. I had a team of deputies at the intersection, and we were ready to rock and roll. My team knew it was a green light from me to use whatever force was necessary to protect ourselves first, then whoever needed help. We never gave up or lost any ground at our intersection. But between intersections, there was no police presence.
Just down from where we were, the crowd stopped a bus in the middle of the street. They started pulling the bus driver from his bus through the side window. A response team ran by us firing paintball guns and distraction grenades, which quickly dispersed the crowd. They were running for their lives, and the bus driver was rescued before he could be pulled out of the bus.
This madness went on for a couple of hours. The crowd continued to burn cars and break windows out of businesses along the way. The crowd had left our area, and now LAPD was dealing with the rioters. We had stopped all bus lines and shut down all subway lines. A couple of hours later, we were able to reopen the subway stations and let the busses resume their routes. Kind of sad when you start hoping the local team doesn't win a championship, so you don't have to deal with the rioting.
I could see more and more that it was time for me to retire. As flexible and willing to change with the times as I was, I still had a hard time with the verbal abuse that deputies had to take. I couldn't get used to people verbally abusing deputies and the expectation that it was part of the job.
Transit Services is where I finished my thirty-year career with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. It's a great feeling to make it to the finish line. I had told my friend at Livingston County in upstate New York before I left for L.A. "I would rather die of a gunshot than from boredom." I laugh when I think about that, but I have no regrets. It was my dream to work for a large metropolitan police agency, and my dream came true. I'm a little in awe that more than once since retiring I have run into deputies that worked for me, and they have said, "Working for you was the most fun I ever had on the Sheriff's Department." I've had a couple of co-workers tell me that same thing.
Out of all the wonderful things that I experienced in my career, I think hearing these words has the most meaning. To know you impacted and influenced someone in a positive manner is very rewarding. I have to say the thirty years went by in a
flash. The department is so big, and if you move around to different assignments, you meet so many people. By the time you have moved around to several assignments, twenty years have gone by. I love the freedom of retirement, and I enjoy every day. Working for the L.A. Sheriff's Department was a very exciting and rewarding career. Things didn't always go as I wanted; there were several goals never attained. But many that I never dreamed of did come true.
I hope this book might find itself in the hands of someone who may have the thought of leaving their small little town and heading for the big city lights in pursuit of their dreams. For some who may have had a tough childhood or who aren't close to their parents and family, it might seem easy to make that decision. It wasn't for me. I was very close to my parents and love them with all my heart. I had a great childhood. I was an only child and was always encouraged by my parents. I had established myself with the Livingston County Sheriff's Department after five years of service. So, it was a tough decision to follow the yearning of something more is out there. But I don't regret it for a second. I found that the miles from home made me appreciate every visit and phone call. You can hop on a plane and be anywhere in the U.S. in four to five hours.
In pursuing your dreams, whether attained or not, you will become more, and you will be able to share more. Your relationships will be deeper and held tightly to your heart. Your family and friends will love coming to visit you. They will love sharing your adventures, and you will have many. You will have many adventures, loves, heartbreaks, but limited will be your regrets when you make the decision to follow your dreams.
FROM THE AUTHOR
I HAVE BEEN a cop by day and a comedian by night. I have produced a comedy special now streaming on Amazon. I have a talk show and a cooking show on Amazon. I am starting a podcast and continuing to write. The most rewarding moments have come by way of connecting with new friends. Join with me and share your adventure. Visit my web site and connect with me by joining my email group. Check out my videos and books at www.cliffyates.com