August to December 1991

Academy

I got a call while working at CSC Collection Services, a bill collecting company in Metairie. It was Friday and I had put in an application to join the NOPD some months earlier and went through all the Civil Service testing and was basically in a holding pattern. They were rumors they would be hiring a lot of new recruits soon.

A funny story about the Civil Service written test is that on my way to take the test in the upstairs meeting area at 401 City Park Avenue, where I’d eventually attend the Academy, a lady crashed into my car. HOLY CRAP. I called someone in Civil Service and explained what happened. They said I needed to get there or wait for the next test in a few months. I told the lady who crashed into me that she needed to follow me to 401 City Park, which she did! Someone there took the report, and I took the test.

Anyway, on a Friday at CSC Collections, Lydia Smith from NOPD Personnel called me and said, “Hey, you want to be the police?” Just like that. “Yes”, I said. She told me the academy started MONDAY. Like in a few days. But I still needed to go to NOPD Headquarters to fill out all the paperwork Monday morning.

Well, that sure was lot of information to act on in a rather quick period of time. Ok. I walked over to my boss Terry Scott’s office and told him I quit because the NOPD Academy started Monday. No time for 2 weeks’ notice and all that. Sorry man! (I’m still pals with Terry.)

I just saw Terry at the House of Blues this weekend, (September 16, 2023) and we talked about this. He reminded me that I had given everyone a bullet at the office, and he still had his. That’s pretty amazing.

After dealing with the paperwork and a very animated Lydia Smith, I made my way to the academy. LATE. I walked in and I believe it was Michael Pfeiffer who mentioned how nice it was of me to join them, soon followed by making everyone do pushups due to my tardiness. I was told NOT to do the pushups. Great start!

We were assigned seating in alphabetical order. The instructor, Cynthia Landry, was telling us we were about to begin with “Basic Skills”. I imagined some sort of physical activity, maybe fighting or something? Nope. More basic than that. Spelling. Subject-verb agreement. That kind of basic skills.

I am really taken aback. Whaaaat? I look around the class and see another guy also looking around confused near the front. We lock eyes and agree that we would be best friends without even saying a word. That guy was Doug Baudier.

There was eventually a time we would be fighting. We had these “Red Man” suits we had to wear two at a time. I had never really had a fight in my life so I can tell you I was a little intimidated. I got to pick my opponent. I have two ways I can go here. Go for the skinny guy, Ben Glaudi, OR I can pick this Marine guy, John Drury. Drury had already given both me and Doug bruises on our shoulders with some playful punch-the-shoulder after telling a joke stuff. You know how some people do. Well, I pick John Drury. Go big or go home, I thought. Plus, I wanted to know the real thing. John looked at me with this USMC 1000-yard stare and said, “whatever you do, don’t hit me in the nose.”

My first move was to hit John in the nose. I then immediately prepared for what I knew would come next. And it did. John unleashed a fury (rhymes with Drury) on me like I’d never felt. I fell back into the surrounding classmates who asked me, “Terry, are you OK?!?” The answer was, “no”.

But I did learn what I wanted to learn. What it feels like to be beaten up. I would later remember that day many times in my career and I would silently thank John for that day.

I had also never shot a gun. Back then we had to provide our own firearms and we had a list from which to choose. Various models of .38 caliber revolvers were on the list. ONLY .38 caliber revolvers. I got a Smith and Wesson 686, which can also shoot .357 magnums. I still have that gun and it’s the most reliable firearm I’ve ever owned. I got it at a place called Chalmette Jewelry where most cops got their guns back then.

We also had to buy our own bullet resistant vests. My stepfather Ladd bought mine for me and I still have it, long expired, but better than nothing. Not sure I’ll ever wear it again, but you never know!

We bought our uniforms at a variety of places, but Friedberg’s on Canal was the main place. It has been replaced by American Police Equipment on Airline and Brown’s on Galvez and Poydras. As of my retirement date, we are still buying our own uniforms but now our vests and firearms are provided. We get $600 a year for uniforms and maintenance.