Healer

Normally one thinks of someone in a hospital as a healer. I have met many Doctors who are just punching through the numbers, some who care about what they do, some truly interested in the process of returning someone to full function. Detectives come in all of these flavors.

Overworked is not just some idiot thing I spew when it comes to the detectives I have gotten to know. Some, out of pure frustration become 'by the numbers only' administrators of overstrung resources. These detectives have learned to do the job without straining the system that never has enough people and equipment to solve every crime that comes along. If what I said sounds cruel I am truly sorry. Not every crime gets full blown attention. I was telling a story of four teenagers shot up in a car at a housing project on a Sunday afternoon. There was no media and the thousands of people who were out milling around didn't see anything. In the right neighborhood, say like a nice suburb, their would be national attention. I did get the hint from the Officer In Charge that the teens were selling drugs where they were not supposed to. I was told to take the photos and then the officers could all leave. I did and we all left. I wondered if someone would report what happened later.

Most detectives fall into the category of really loving what they do. They like being surrounded by the staff of experts a department like LAPD has and they are genuinely happy about seeing me on scene. They gather evidence while walking with me knowing that every nuance of procedure they follow today helps the case they have, and probably cases in the future. Good police work has allowed the cold case unit to solve murders that are more than fifty years old.

The true healers, the ones all other detectives look up to are so very rare. They have what it takes to be a great detective, and a great mentor. The joy of every process and the way they embrace every member of the team is palatable. You want to be like them in all ways. I have seen them solve cases with only a few interviews. They contrast the first kind, the administrator who figures 'without DNA there is no case.' I am amazed how the healers, like great doctors can get the invisible dots illuminated, and then connected.

I had a chance to talk about what I do this weekend. I met Dr Tess Gerritsen the author of “The Surgeon” who's work has been turned into the popular television show Rizzoli and Isles. It is obvious to me she is a healer, someone who takes what they do to the highest level it can be.

Doing your best, then doing it again makes you better, never get put down by your first effort, or get too hyped by early recognition. Make yourself open to new learning and points of view. Doing this will make you the healer so admired.