Terry Smith

“I seldom learned what happened to the victim after my job was completed. I showed whatever kindness I could to those still at the scene and left, ready for whatever came next. I will say, though, that some of these things transcend the years for me. From time to time, I can still feel a touch of sadness or grief when one of them comes to mind. I’m glad that I retained that much of my humanity.”
― Terry Smith, CODE 4: True stories from a 37-year police veteran

“Recently my wife and I visited the Mall of America. I noticed that there were Bloomington police officers everywhere, in ones or twos, watching the crowds, patrolling the hallways, doing what cops do. Everyone looks young to me these days, but I doubt that any of the ones I saw were even alive when I and my compatriots directed traffic, or fought with drunks, or watched Harmon Killebrew hit one of his monster homeruns. I wonder if they’d like to hear about what used to go on here? I asked myself. Probably not, I answered, after a moment’s thought. So, I just sat on a bench and waited for my wife.”
― Terry Smith, CODE 4: True stories from a 37-year police veteran