An older retired deputy that I know told me about an incident at a school way back in the day.
He said there had been some trouble at the school over a couple of months. A deputy was assigned to be night watch to see if they could catch who was breaking in.
At this point in time, the "Radio System" was a 39Mhz base used to cover 88 square miles...so the cars had 100 watt mobiles and the only portables they had were a couple MH-10's only used for special duties, etc. So the plan was to give the night watch deputy an MH-10, then a deputy on patrol would go by the school every hour or so through the night and call him for a check in. Also, he could get to a phone in an office at the school to call dispatch if needed.
Apparently at some point after midnight, someone broke the glass out of the door in the back of the cafeteria kitchen, but the deputy on watch was somewhere else and did not hear it. Later he made his round to the cafeteria and heard some noise, and assumed it was the thief. He had gun in hand and approached for a better look. (This school was very large).
Then there was an awful racket and he felt in danger so he ran....screaming into the MH-10 "HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPP!" over and over.
The patrol deputy was fairly close and could just make out that weak old low band MH-10 as the other one ran down 2 long halls screaming. (Turns out he was a little afraid of ghosts too...all the alone time got to him I guess).
Upon pulling up in front of the school, the patrol deputy called back several times "What's wrong unit 65....what's wrong?" Then stopped and got out of the car to see the other deputy burst out of the front doors gun in one hand, radio in other screaming "HELP!"
About 5 seconds later a couple of Raccoons ran out the same doors and disappeared. The patrol deputy calmed the other one down and they checked things out. It seems the Raccoons came in the previously broken window and wanted to check out the garbage cans by the door, then wandered in to the kitchen and got onto a steel table that happened to be full of utensils, pots, glasses, etc. They made quite the mess of those and quite a racket getting off the table. They then followed the deputy to see if he had any food, apparently, or they followed the smell of fear!
Finally dispatch said car 12 is unit 65 ok?, Whats going on out there? He said, "The school needs a window, and the kitchen cleaned up. The Raccoons are ok, but I am bringing 65 back to station, I think he is done for the night"
Obviously this was a long time ago, and I didn't hear it first hand on the radio. But, I love talking to older deputies about the old days, and stories like this one, reeking of Barney Fife are my favorite.
