Reprinted from Maine State Police Headquarters Facebook Page
Wednesday, January 20, 2016 6:04 am
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"Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?" The Trooper knows.
Sometimes, we take a short break from fighting criminality in all its forms. That's right, every once in a while we get to do something relatively easy. You know, like what the Game Wardens do every day. (We love you fellas in green though, we really do.)
Yesterday, Trooper Eric Paquette was going about his non-caped crusader duties in the town of Greene. We don't wear capes. We tried them. They looked cool, but proved too impractical. Anyway, he came upon two vehicles pulled off the edge of the roadway, so he did what we in the business like to call an "Investigation." Trooper Paquette was suddenly confronted by one of the citizenry in dire need of his assistance. It seems whilst driving, Mr. James Feely ( No, I'm not calling him out, he said we could use his name and he's a good sport) was given a start by a stowaway underneath his seat. During Trooper Paquette's "Investigation," he observed a rather creepy, hairless tail protruding from underneath the seat. Being that Troopers are "jacks of all police trades," Trooper Paquette returned to the trunk of his car to retrieve his riot baton. Now let me just say right now that no animals were harmed during this "Investigation" and before the wise cracks about police brutality start flying, I'd like to say that the riot baton is a legitimate tool. I will also tell you that the only time I have had to remove mine from my trunk in the last twenty years is when one of the gold wearing, high ranking officials in our outfit wanted to make sure I didn't burn it to stay warm in the winter or when one of my kids asked to play with the really cool, long stick that I keep in the trunk. Now, back to our regularly scheduled program.
With baton in hand, Trooper Paquette returned to Mr. Feely's vehicle and gently encouraged, I believe Eric's exact words were "persuaded," the rather ferocious looking critter from the passenger compartment of the vehicle and back into the wild from whence it came. What was this beast you ask? Well, if you've looked at the photo already, you know that it was an opossum. Not your regular docile, fainting at the first sight of fear opossum, but a nasty, fire breathing type opossum. At least that's what Paquette says.
This little incident only came to our attention because Mr. Feely wanted to thank Trooper Paquette for a job well done, but didn't think to get his name before leaving. Thanks for being a good sport, sir and for the kind words you shared with us. Now if we could just get boats, ATVs and snowsleds, we might just be able to have as much fun as those Game Wardens.
"The weed of crime bears bitter fruit. Crime does not pay... The Trooper knows!"
Happy Motoring friends and don't drive distracted
Guardians of the Highway
TF