Weekly Message from Chief Goldstein

Good day everyone!!

How are we doing today (sorta like the question we’re asked at the doctor’s office)? My usual response, “Well, I’m doing ok…you?”

Like so much of our everyday lives, we’re living with perspective. Over the past weekend, I was talking to some friends and it hit me that this “new normal” is another view on day-to-day life. That does not minimize the COVID-19 issue at all, it simply (in my pea brain) helps to sort out where we are, where we’re (possibly) going and how we should act and react.

As a state trooper, my permanent assignment after completing my probationary year, was Troop A. I was assigned to the 101 Patrol. The patrol area extended from the Auburn/Manchester line to the Exeter/Hampton line on Route 101(at first a two-lane undivided roadway and later a divided four lane highway…more on that some other time). The patrol also extended to Deerfield on one side and Plaistow on the other.

For those of you not familiar with the geography…that’s a lot of area for one person to cover.

Anyway, one night I was on patrol and observed a vehicle swerving in and on the roadway. I followed the vehicle for a short period of time and stopped same. I subsequently learned that the vehicle’s only occupant was the operator. I further noted the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage carried on the driver’s breath. His speech was slurred and his eyes appeared wet and glassy (like the police jargon?).

Ok, enough of that. The driver failed his field sobriety tests and I arrested him for DWI. Now I know this is hard for some people to accept and believe, but such a stop is not personal. In fact, as we interacted through the evening, I found him to be friendly and conversational.

One question any police officer learns to ask in such situations is “How much have you had to drink tonight?” And any officer who has been on the job longer than 6 months will tell you the usual response is “I only had two.”

On the passenger side floor of his car was a large, brown paper bag that smelled very much like Chinese food. I was particularly sensitive to that because I was hungry and had not had any dinner.

So, I posed the quintessential question…how much had he imbibed that evening? He looked me straight in the face (he couldn’t stop swaying long enough to look me in the eye) and clearly said, “One!”

Needless to say, I was taken aback and before I could think I caught myself asking, “One what!?”

And without missing a beat he replied, “One Scorpion Bowl for four!”  At least he was truthful.

I did learn that he had the drink while waiting for his take out (appropriate?) order. I appreciated his honesty and I told him so.

I guess it’s all a matter of perspective. In his mind, it was only ONE drink.

He later plead guilty to the DWI charge and he thanked me for potentially saving him from causing great harm to himself or others.

Getting back to my discussions this past weekend, the idea that we’re living a “new normal” is true, but is it really new?

I believe we are assailed consistently with “new normals”. By way of example, as I write this it is raining heavily and there is a promise of wind gusts up to 70 mph. Those speeds approach a Category 1 hurricane classification. Overall, we have the COVID-19 issue still staring us in the face, predicted power outages and structure damage later today and we are still resolving a significant cyber-attack on the City. Do we need more to constitute a “new normal”? I think not.

We are always dealing with a “new normal”. Of course, some are greater than others, but they are with us nevertheless.

Perhaps we might take a few moments to examine our reactions and responses to the difficult challenges and “new normals” of everyday life. Perhaps we need to look at our own perspectives on the way things really are and then act accordingly.

Apologies…I had to take a break…I was trying to think of something profound to write and K9 Miller just came into my office, had a treat, rolled over on his back for a belly rub and said, “Don’t worry. It will all work out in the end.” (I hope he’s also referring to the stock market.)

Here are my humble recommendations for the moment…take a well-deserved break, think positively, know that we are in this together and that we’re always here for you, be careful, be safe and pet a dog.

David Goldstein, Franklin Police Chief