The Best of Adrienne Sioux Koopersmith
The Weekly Companion ©
Sunday: September 10, 2000
“3 Phone Calls to 911 + 4 Cops = Nabbing 2 Criminals in 24 Minutes Flat”
How A Vantage Point Becomes an Advantage Point
A Social Commentary in Press Release Form(at) By:
Adrienne Sioux Koopersmith
“America’s Premier Eventologist ®”
adrienne@21stcentury.net
Original HOLIDATE ® conceived and copyrighted: 1997
DateLine of this Updated Segment: Saturday, August 28, 1999
PREFACE:
“Giving Credit where it is due” has always been tantamount in my
mind, heart and designer genes. Especially so in this Day & Age
when a matter of Seconds can mean the Difference between Life &
Death. Several years ago, as “America’s Premier Eventologist ®”
(a Title I received from Washington, DC’s Insight Magazine in August of
1997, I kreated a HOLIDATE ® called 911 Day ©97 that would salute
those Individuals who answer the Calls of those in trouble, in pain &
in a dire Crisis – those stoic Individuals who man the Telephones
when an Emergency rears its ugly head. I methodically chose the
Ninth Month & 11TH Day as the Observation Date since those Figures
are Symbolic in the “911” Formula & are immensely easy to remember
for those wishing to participate.
Using my own Experiences as a teachable Guide, I carefully wrote up a Four (4)
Page Chapter, Article and/or Essay on how this HOLIDATE ® should, could & would
be observed.
I promoted it enough so that Radio Talk Show Hosts from Coast-to-Coast contacted
me regularly wishing to learn MORE about it and why I was so impassioned about
this Topic. It seemed that several national Cases concerning 911 Operators were
hitting the fan; that is: They were receiving Bad Publicity & then out of the
blue, they were being saluted for the Strides they had made in helping out those
that truly needed it. What’s a Dichotomy Today is the Norm Tomorrow or so it
seems in Americana Pop Culture.
Aided with Alexander Graham Bell’s Invention of the Telephone, I would dare say
that MORE Lives have been saved the last Century than at any other Point in
recorded Time or History. Not only is the Telephone a Great Communication Tool
for General Purposes, but it can & has been used in Emergency Situations where a
Second or Third Party must assist. Speed is the Factor that makes the Phoning
so favored. Speed is instrumental when Tragedy strikes. Speed is tantamount
along with Teamwork. If one portion of any of this Equation is inhibited or
momentarily stifled, a Life could end in the snap of a Finger…or less.
High Technology has made this so. It is highly responsible for Life & the
Quality in which We wish to live it. We are living much longer due to 911
Operators. We are putting MORE People behind Bars thanks to 911 Operators & We
are uniting as a cohesive Group of concerned Citizens working for the Welfare &
Betterment of the Group when We pick-up the Receiver & make that most important
& crucial Call.
“Man-to-Man anything can be accomplished – that is, IF Teamwork is placed in
order.” That Quote is not from a Seasoned Politician who figures it may grab
some more Votes for him/her at Election Time. It is from me – just a
law-abiding, 47 year old (now 48 as this is being rewritten in September of
2000), petite brunette, an active law-abiding Citizen who felt it would be the
proper Thing to DO – even if these Two “Vagrants” were merely ‘cutting through’
the Yards to get to the next Block.
Creating a HOLIDATE ® that praised this Faction of the American Work-Force made
me feel good as there were several Occasions in my Life-to-Date, where I needed
to solely rely on the Kindness & Generosity of a Total Stranger (ie: a 911
Operator) to help me in a harrowing Situation that I could not weasel out of…as
I always & usually have the knack of doing.
PURPOSE:
To make a detailed & precise Press Release longer & to anxiously kick-start my
last Weekend for August of 1999 & for the Final August in this Decade, Century &
Millennium, little was I to know that on the Morning of Saturday, August 28TH,
the Dispatcher of my 911 Call would again be & become my Guardian Angel and “GA”
for all of those that live on “My Block.” The Saga unfolds…
HOW IT HAPPENED:
On that Morning in question, I had slept nearly 10 Hours straight & woke at 6:53
AM. This was extremely late for me. My Home Office is situated at the front of
my Apartment, in a cozy sunroom that overlooks the street. From this Vantage
Point, I can see everyone walking up & down the street; Dogs with their Owners,
Owners out with their Dogs, Cats darting across the Street, Squirrels frolicking
from tree limb-to-limb collecting nuts, Birds flying here & there; Motor
Vehicles of all makes & models gliding by as well as Bikers, Bicyclists, Joggers
& Roller Bladers getting their self-imposed exercise & morning constitutionals.
A little Universe resides here and calls it “Home Sweet Home.” That’s the way I
see it. That’s the way I wish it to stay.
With a Special Plan in mind, going from Point A to Point B always seemed to be
their specialized MO: Modus Operandi, both as People & Animals flourished on my
Block, but at this particular time, as I peered out, waiting for this lively
Parade to begin & for my PC to warm-up, I saw Two “Vagrants” who appeared to be
“unwanted” and not needed “in my Hood.” Perhaps I should capitalize that last
adverbial Clause &make it: IN MY HOOD. What really caught my eye that seemed
especially strange & peaked my Curiosity further was that the Woman followed the
Man with a sluggish walk a few steps behind. Then, quickly they both decided to
non-chalantly dodge through the gang-way between my Building & my next Door
Neighbors to the east.
Suddenly, upon viewing this unexpected move, an instinctual Gut Reaction hit me;
a Maternal Urge passed along to me from Cave Man Times told me that my
“Survival” was hampered by this Odd Couple cutting into MY TURN & that of my
lovely Neighbors, by an Outside Enemy that had no right to be on “Our Grounds.”
This embedded Primal Feeling told me something was not right here. My Hand
rapidly grabbed for the Phone & swiftly I dialed “911.” More quickly than that
move, was the Operator who picked up my Line & asked me what was happening. I
told her I wished to remain Anonymous but since a Series of Break-Ins the last
few weeks had plagued “My Neighborhood,” I felt compelled to call & report this
Occurrence although NO Crime had been committed … yet. Within the last month,
most of the Neighbors I spoke to retained this in the back of their Minds as
they went about their Daily Activities.
Don, my next Door Neighbor had his Bike stolen just moments after he parked it a
few days before this Saturday Circumstance arose. Seeing his Concern, I felt
compelled to place that call to “911” since these Two “Vagrants” were definitely
not Neighborhood People & their “Mad Dash” down the side gang-way seemed all the
more mysterious, if not downright, suspicious.
THE FLAWS IN REMAINING ANONYMOUS:
Initially in my Conversation, I told the 911 Operator that I would remain
Anonymous, but later laughed to myself. Me, Adrienne Sioux Koopersmith, remain
anonymous? Me, the biggest Publicity Maverick north or south of Devon Avenue;
west of the Rockies; south of Canada & way north of any Region that boasts of
Palms & not Pine Trees. I would remain anonymous? I even questioned that
Concept later as the ensuing Commotion began to gain Momentum. After all,
Anonymity does not fight Crime or protect the Innocent & Properties they work so
hard to keep & maintain. And since I did receive a Voice at Birth, (as part of
the Full Package), I might as well use it to my Full Advantage whether it is
for:
A. Writing
B. Speaking or
C. All of the above.
THE CRIME SCENE’s TIME TABLE:
As I typed a few Notes into my trusty PC, I checked the Clock. I called 911 at
7:06 AM to report the Sighting of the Two “Vagrants.” By 7:19 AM – some 13
minutes later – a Squad Car pulled up & out jumped Two Officers of the Law. I
yelled from my Window that I was the one who called. Wishing them to search the
correct gang-way, I pointed to the one located on the east side of my Building.
Knowing that Time is & was of the Essence, the last Sentence I told the Officer
was that “She wore a Red & White T-Shirt.” Then, both Policemen quickly
disappeared into my Gangway & I went back to my Letter Writing, still sitting in
my Window, waiting for the next thing to happen. I did not have to wait long.
At lightning speed, one of the Police Officers charged back to his Vehicle
parked in the Street & put it in reverse speeding down the Block as if he was
racing in the Indy 500 on Memorial Day Weekend. I knew something was happening.
Little did I know that my Call that came about 3-4 Minutes before these Two
“Vagrants” began breaking in to my Neighbor’s Basement had tipped the Police Off
so that they actually had a Head-Start on this Criminal Activity-at-large.
Some People say: Time is Money.
Some People say: Time is of the Essence.
I say: It is both.
But then, everyone everywhere has a VO: Valued Opinion.
And in the Statues of the Police Enforcement Field, I am sure they have written
some Significant Quote that deals with how Seconds can either make or break a
Case; save a Precious Life; or end a Precious Life way before it should be. And
that may be just IT in a nut-shell.
Moments later, a Second Squad Car pulled up after the first one returned from
its reverse drive down my Block. In the back seat of the first Squad Car sat
the Woman in the pronounced Red & White T-Shirt &her Male Companion. Shortly
afterwards, she was taken from the car & lead down the Gangway that she
initially entered as a “Free Woman” only minutes before. Her Hands were cuffed
behind her back exactly like they do on TV & Movie Dramas. I dared to think
what was in her mind at this time.
After she was gone from view & down the gangway, I shouted from my Window to the
Officers on the street that that was her since I immediately recognized her &
her tell-tale T-Shirt. I then complimented the Officers who were on the street
for nabbing the two-some – all within a very few short Moments – not even
Minutes. I promised that I would write a Letter to the Mayor’s Office & Chief
of Police commending them on a job well done.
INPUT FROM THE NEIGHBORS:
Now it was nearly 7:30 AM. The Neighborhood began to awaken with all the
Action-Activity. My neighbor Vince, an Actor, walked down the sidewalk to “test
out the waters” as a Conscientious Observer. He lives two buildings east of me
& is constantly outside early in the morning gardening. With his roots deeply
embedded in Nature, Vince calls Iowa his Home-State & he now immensely enjoys
the Challenges of being a full-fledged Inner City Farmer – even if it includes
“fighting Crime.” Indeed, his Property shows what Real Estate People call:
Pride of Ownership. When Vince passed by my Window, I whispered to him:
“Vince, I called 911.” He stopped & looked up at my Window & smiled, quietly
saying: “We all did.” I translated this to mean that several other Neighbors as
well saw the Two “Vagrants” ‘in the act’ & phoned 911 for Assistance. That
perhaps was the Reason for the Second Squad Car pulling up.
Soon more Neighbors were coming out of their Homes. Don & John were the Second
& Third to come out to the street, following Vince. A few days previously to
this Situation, Don left his Bike unchained in his backyard for only a few
seconds as he went into the Basement of his Building. This was the same Housing
Unit that was being burgled this Morning. Don turned & realized a Man was
attempting to steal his Bike. An Altercation erupted between the Two Men with
the Thief snatching & seizing the Bike. He successfully rode it through the
Gangway that led to the Street. Seeing this, the Neighbors across the Street
began to cheer the Robber on as he sped away; falling once from the Bike,
picking himself up & then peddling as fast from the Hood as he could. He did
get away & Don became yet another Statistic.
With this Crime occurring only a few Days before, Don was still “hot under the
collar” not only because of his Loss, but due to the fact that U.S. Statistics
on Bike Theft declared that as of 1999, 430,000 Bikes are stolen each Year with
Chicago ranking as #4. Preceding the “Windy City” is New York, Phoenix & San
Francisco. With all the Bikes being stolen, one would instantly think the
Pollution Rate would subside, although Figures out on this Concept have not been
gathered.
On this crisp Saturday Morning, as Don fearlessly peered into the Squad Car, he
quickly realized that this confined “Perpetrator” – the Male in question was not
the one responsible for stealing his Bike a few days before. I could
automatically tell from his Stature as he peered around that he was glad his
Neighbors were up & alert. I could not decipher any of the Words from their
Four-Way Conversation from my secluded perch in my “window.” And in this case,
not my PC operating system, the quartzy glass “Window” variety that keeps the
bugs, rain, wind, intruders & aliens out & is the leading reason why Shades,
Curtains & Phoenician Blinds are so popular these Days.
I would later learn that Vince had spotted the Two “Vagrants” as they began
crow-barring the basement door of Don & John’s building. He called to caution
them. Then, they, too, also called 911. Therefore, Three (3) concerned
Parties alerted the Police to this CIA: “Crime In Action” within minutes of
each other’s call.
WHY THIS EPISODE HAS A HAPPY ENDING:
Upon closer Analysis, the Teamwork between all Parties involved in this ICI:
Inner City Incident was astounding. Conscientious Neighbors, a quick-witted &
decisive 911 Operator dispatching the “Cry” & Four (4) brave & heroic Officers
all came together to nab Two sordid Characters (“Vagrants”) who were up to no
good in this dramatic pre-meditated act. Later that Day, they would be arrested
& charged with attempting to break in; a Felony that could cost them (at least)
a year in prison if not more. “Serving and Protecting” definitely applied in
this Special Circumstance. Although all Three Types of People were skilled in
their Fields, it was a Meeting of the Professionals that solved this Crime in
the snap of a Finger. Because a Crime can & does happen in the Snap of a
Finger; a Blink of an Eye or in a "New York Minute” (although you need not be a
Resident of Manhattan to experience Crime-at-large) so it can be alleviated in
that same short period of time.
PSYCHOLOGICAL DEDUCTION:
When I think back on the brief moments in which this Couple walked down my
Street & I spotted them & instinctively knew that something was not legitimate,
I see how important First Impressions really are. “Lackadaisical” was the Term
I would apply to this Couple’s Demeanor. Drugs may have placed them into this
altered State. They may have been breaking into support a Drug Habit. We may
never know why they were breaking in nor why they chose this block. They might
have thought that the Folks in this Neighborhood would sleep-in late on a
Saturday Morning or may vacation away from Home from Home from Friday Evening
through Sunday Night. It was not a National Holiday so the “Hood” was not
quieter than usual. According to my select Standards, I had actually over-slept
but I still work in enough time to “Fight Crime.”
Assuming is never a wise thing to do. However, it is done & done a lot. The
Two “Vagrants” may have thought We (collectively speaking now) house our
over-priced racer mountain bikes & expensive tools in the basement confines of
our homes or more likely hide giant chests of money, loot, gold bouillon &
diamonds in the dark & dingy dungeon-like, sub-terranean basements beneath our
Homes. Whatever they thought, they should have first consulted with a brain
surgeon or rocket scientist for Advice for they definitely were “out of kilter”
on all given accounts. They definitely had no clue or idea that they were
having the whistle blown on them as soon as they turned to walk down that
gang-way…perhaps minutes before they pulled out their crowbar to chip & chop
open the basement doorway on Don & John’s Building. Video Cameras could not
have done a better job. Indeed, this gave the Police a distinct & advantageous
Vantage Point. All Crimes should be so easy to solve. All People should be as
cooperative & alert to a Situation like this. Is it any wonder Video Cameras
have become a Second Set of Eyes for so many Institutions? Next to the
Telephone, Video Cameras may rank second in Modern Technology Tools that “save
Lives.”
CLOSING:
Vantage Points come in handy. Oh yes, they do. Whether it’s for a few minutes
of Fleeting Time, or knowing the right answer on a Televised Panel Quiz Show or
realizing the correct avenue & gangway to pick & stroll down, a Vantage Point
may be more important than a Winning Lottery Ticket. This True Story definitely
claims that to be the case. Being on the right side of the Law to appreciate a
Vantage Point is the only Alternative as there are no others that can save &
protect both Life & Property. Perhaps these Two Perpetrators will someday call
911 when they need a “Helping Hand” & then fully understand what I mean.
END OF 1999 Essay
SEPTEMBER 9, 2000 UPDATE
It has been over a year now since that Incident took place. My Neighborhood has
been relatively peaceful with no rash of break-ins taking place. Don’s bought a
new Bike to ride. As a matter of fact, that was the last 911 Call I made to
date. Life has been good. However, it still does not mean that the 911
Operators are forgotten as they are on their Jobs dispatching help when a “Call
For Help” comes in 24 hours a Day. Therefore, as my Original Proclamation for
911 Day ©97 stated:
September 11 – The Ninth Month & 11th Day shall be set aside to honor those
valiant 911 Operators who answer the Calls of those in true need. At 9:11 AM &
at 9:11 PM, take a minute out of your Day to think of all the Lives they save. A
Prayer of Thanks is in order. This kindly Gesture aids not only for the Victim
in need but for the Family Members he/she may have left behind if a Third Party
had not been called in the nick-of-time.
TO FURTHER ELABORATE AND PROMOTE THIS HOLIDATE ®:
Coincidentally on the Evening of Wednesday, September 6, 2000 I was watching TV.
On one of my favorite Channels, The Discovery Channel, a Survivor’s Program was
aired. These consisted of a Series of True Stories of People who were caught in
places far away from Modern Civilization or Home and were in dire need of help.
Many were lost at sea or in mountainous passages far away from accessible and
paved roads where a Squad Car could easily pull up and “bust” the Vagrants in a
matter of 24 Minutes or less. The “Vagrant” in these cases was “Mother Nature”
– the fierce, brutal and ugly side of Mother Nature. Many of these People were
lost for days, often losing Toes & Fingers to freezing temperatures that dropped
at nightfall.
I sat there totally mesmerized and astounded as I watched these Re-Enactments &
wondered how or IF I would survive in such a Situation. Indeed, the frightening
Part was that some of these People had become lost from their Party. They did
not carry cell-phones and they were at the Mercy of not only the Elements but on
Modern Technology’s Reach and the Right People (doing the Right Thing in the
most Righteous of Time, not wasting any Time and utilizing each Moment to the
maximum of capacity) jumping in to merely try to find them.
Locating the Lost Souls was their first order of the Day. Try as they may,
they did succeed in these particular Stories. Making Life-long Friends was the
Outcome of this Story along with realizing that every Day is indeed a Precious
Blessing given to us and that We never know what can, will or may happen that
can “snap” that Bliss in a matter of mere Moments, changing Life-as-it-is
FOREVER.
Therefore, this Televised Programming deeply affected me & I realized that my
Concept of 911 Day ©97 in its 20th Century Rendition needed some fine-tuning and
updating. Instead of being a singular 911 Day ©97, I decided to take it to
another Level and Plane. Rescues NOT only occur by dialing 911, but through the
Teamwork of Others who are armed and equipped to go into treacherous areas to
save The Unassuming who have slipped and fallen into a Danger they cannot free
themselves from.
Due to these new Facts, I now wish to declare a Double HOLIDATE ® for September
11TH and also proclaim it as:
International Survivor’s & Saviors Day ©2000
aptly saluting those Individuals who have suddenly found themselves in a risky
and life-threatening Situation and the heroic (sheroic ®, if the Hero is a
Woman) People who have come to their Rescue, who sometimes use Basic Instinct,
Know-How and Gut Experiences to find and save that Person or Group. They, too,
are now to me, as Big a Heroes/Sheroes ® as our 911 Operators. Try going a Day
without them see.
Therefore, September 11TH shall be marked in EVENTOLOGICAL ® History as the
Commemorations and Celebrations of:
911 Day ©97 & International Survivor’s & Saviors Day ©2000
As for me personally, I am thrilled when I have a P&Q: Pleasant & Quiet Day not
having to call 911 for an Emergency, but it’s reassuring for me to know that
THESE OPERATORS ARE THERE FOR ME in case the need arises. For this Reason, they
deserve the Honors & Accolades a HOLIDATE ® holds.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Contributor, Adrienne Sioux Koopersmith lives in Chicago, Illinois and is
heralded as “America’s Premier Eventologist ®” by Washington, DC’s Insight
Magazine. Having created over 1,200 HOLIDATES TO CELEBRATE ® since Wednesday,
July 25, 1990, ASK believes “Every Day is a HOLIDATE ®” and quite appropriately
a Miracle in and of itself.
“ASK” may be reached at:
adrienne@21stcentury.net
for any and all Comments you may wish to share. 911 Day ©97 & International
Survivor’s & Saviors Day ©2000 are part & parcel of her Thirty-One (31) other
“Saluting Professionals” Events created by ASK since Wednesday, July 25, 1990.
