Gopher Gulch: Respect, gratitude for CHP

Nearly 30 years ago, Ernie Felio was the officer who investigated my son’s death after a tourist wandered off the road and hit him. Long after his duty hours had ended, Ernie sat in the hospital with my little girl asleep in his lap. For the remaining two months of his life, having lost a son himself, he provided emotional and spiritual support to our family. His death was both unnecessary and devastating.

A few years later I was arrested by a CHP officer, and dumped into a concrete room to have the DTs. Once sober, my behavior horrified me so that I never had another drink. After a month of sobriety, I went to the CHP office to thank the officer for saving my life.

Fast-forward 5 years, and I’m rushing home from a CR class that ended at 10 p.m. When I came to a stop sign and saw nothing moving for blocks, I went right on across. The flashing red and blue lights nearly gave me a heart attack.

Just after I got Lily the Kia, I crossed in front of a CHP car. He promptly stopped me, and I realized that officers were getting younger all the time. He said he didn’t like the way I was wearing my seat belt — lap belt on, shoulder strap behind me. He revealed an adjustment doohickey invisible to me, and I’ve worn my seatbelt as he adjusted it ever since. I felt cared about.

And then last weekend I was speeding when the flashing lights appeared. I was also terrified of the man with the gun. The officer, who is about the age of my oldest grandchild, could see that his biggest danger was not getting shot like Ernie, but having to deal with an old woman in total meltdown.

My hands shook so bad I couldn’t get my license out, and the card I thought proved I had insurance only proved I had roadside service. When all was said and done, he gave me a warning on the speed and a citation for not having the proper proof of insurance. He was both respectful and calming.

If he’d given me a speeding ticket, I’d have scraped up the money and paid it somewhat resentfully. But a warning means I am honorbound to obey all speed laws, forever.

We in Del Norte County, where treacherous roads are the norm, are very fortunate to have our CHP officers. They put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe, and they deserve our respect and gratitude.