From Retired Dale County Sheriff Bryant Mixon

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
[email protected]
334-790-1729
Date: Sep 23 2020 3:36 AM

FROM RETIRED DALE COUNTY SHERIFF BRYANT MIXON

Cake Cutter

El Palacio was a favorite in the 1970’s. Steak fingers and fries dipped in their signature salsa added two inches to my waistline. We had just taken our first bite.

Officer Gordon Kemp was my Training officer for the night. I was a newly sworn police officer and had a lot to learn. He took the call...We didn’t finish our meal. It was not an infrequent occurrence.

She was out of control and ran everyone from the house. A naked bulb on the front porch was the only light and it was dimmed by a night time mist. The air was so sultry and humid, the mosquitoes wouldn’t fly.

Gordon says, “Watch me and follow my lead.” That was one minute before we were separated in a dark house.

He knocked, no response. The door was slightly open. “Police, we need to talk with you.” No answer. “We are coming in.” No answer. We entered the house.

I heard the scream...followed by Gordon shouting, “Watch out!!!” The knife was huge and split the air by my face. Another scream as she ran through the house and slammed the huge knife into the wall. Gordon, from somewhere in the dark asked , “Are you okay?” Hurt, I was not. Was I “okay”?, that was debatable.

Her screams were guttural and sounded like a wounded panther shrieking in the night. Again, she made the run across the dark house and slammed the knife into another wall. Gordon shouts, “Try to trip her if you can.” The only time she was clearly visible was when her silhouette passed by an open window. The street light gave me a brief glimpse.

It was going on too long. A highly dangerous event that would not end. We couldn’t clearly see her or each other. She was slashing and jabbing the air with the knife. Something had to give....And then it all stopped.

Our supervisor arrived and could hear from the yard the chaos inside. I saw a burst of light, heard the blood curdling scream and the BOOM...And then, another BOOM....It was an ear piercing, deafening explosion that rattled the house.

When a .357 magnum goes off in the dark house you are in, it leaves a memory. The second round exploding leaves a lifelong imprint.

After the two shots....long seconds of silence. The quiet was defeaning. Who shot? Anyone hit? Where is she?

And then the familiar voice of our supervisor....”You guys, Okay?” The flashlight comes on. She’s sitting on a bed a few feet away. Her face is without emotion...her demons departed. She is remarkably calm for a woman who has been shot twice.

She took a high speed trip to the emergency room and survived her wounds. We have met since and her eyes were calm.

You learn lessons in moments of high drama ... Two will forever stand out: (1) Officer Gordon Kemp was a standup guy. While his body was short and thin, his heart was large and brave. You need to know if a guy is going to stick it out or cut and run. He had your back. (2) The difference a good supervisor can make.

When he entered the yard, he knew we were in extreme danger. He didn’t hesitate...With a flashlight in one hand and a revolver in the other, he took charge and responsibility for his two guys fighting evil spirits in a dark place. He mercifully put a stop to a highly charged moment. He taught me something about making the hard call in life.

The lesson about being in charge and taking responsibility fell on my shoulders years later.

And that’s another story.....

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