Bad decisions weigh us down on journey through life

We’re going to see “The Wizard of Oz”; there’s the yellow brick road. Follow me, let’s walk. While roads in Boulder City may not be yellow, the theory of making a choice to take the correct or right path is just as important today as it was in the marvelous 1939 film.

Along the walk of life, we consciously select one option over another. However, the ability to recognize a poor decision is often limited by a person’s pride or other factors. In our journey, these tacky decisions can stay with us for many years to come.

A dear colleague shared a parallel idea with me the other day. This partner described decision-making in the following manner: In life, every poor decision a person makes is packaged in a suitcase. Each suitcase’s weight varies according to the profoundness of the poor decision. These suitcases may be picked up along the path of life. These suitcases possess a certain amount of adhesive on the handle — an impediment we wish we would have never found — that sticks with us.

In time, we walk farther and farther. The more poor decisions (suitcases) we pick up along our journey, the more bogged down we become. Sometimes the weight can bury us. Thank goodness for the wheels on the bottom of some suitcases; they act as forgiveness, allowing us to move forward.

You know what the solution is. Walk on the brick road lined with good choices, maybe a briefcase, but not those suitcases.

“Control, 269, I’ll be 10-8 (in-service) with my trainee.”

Feb. 16. It’s tough out there and finding a job is difficult. The McDonald’s manager calls regarding an issue. An employee clocked in, works a couple of hours, embezzles $60 and walks out. The employee must have forgotten about the eye in the sky. It’s not going to be easy in the future having picked up that suitcase.

Feb. 18 We get a whole bunch of tractor-trailers coming through our town. An 18-wheeler trailer detaches as the driver turns southbound off U.S. Highway 93 onto U.S. Highway 95. Needless to say, the traffic lanes are blocked. Thankfully, no injuries are reported. A Nevada Highway Patrol commercial inspection unit is on its way.

Feb. 19. A caller reports two males are riding bicycles in the industrial area, acting suspicious. The subjects appear to be canvassing the area. Officers contact the subjects and determine the kids were just heading to Bootleg Canyon. Good eyes on the caller; thanks for looking out.

Feb. 20. A father reports his teenage daughter has walked out of the house toward a local motel and is on drugs. Officers locate the juvenile on foot near the motel. A good Samaritan tells the officers the young female stashed something in her back belt before the officers’ contact. The young lady appears to be under the influence of narcotics. Officers check the rear belt line and discover four hypodermic needles. After checking her status with Clark County Children and Families Department, officers discover she also has an active warrant.

Feb. 21. Officers are out conducting an investigation at a local motel; they hear crash, boom, bang, near 7-Eleven on Nevada Highway. Seconds later they see a vehicle drive by with a flat tire with no front bumper. Now that’s a clue! Officers stop the vehicle and contact the driver and passenger. As the driver fails a sobriety test, the passenger, still seated in the car, expels the unmetabolized alcohol and pizza dinner over the dashboard and the car’s interior. Ugh!

Feb. 22. We get dispatched to a vehicle fire on U.S. Highway 95 and the dry lake bed. Officers arrive along with Boulder City Fire Department. Thank goodness there are no injuries and the fire is quickly put out. The officer checks the driver’s status. You ready for this? Not only does the driver’s car get destroyed, there is a warrant, and the Metropolitan Police Department wants the driver. Now that’s a bad day!

Hope everyone had great and safe week. If you get a chance, try and pay it forward, help someone avoid picking up one of those suitcases. “Control, 269, I’ll be 10-7 out of service.”

Officer Jeffrey Grasso is a 10-year veteran of the Boulder City Police Department. He previously served as a police officer in south Florida for four years.