The morning roll call I attended at the end of June 2026 revealed the patrol squad I was riding with was short about half their officers due to training schedules and other events. There were several familiar faces and Officer Purvis, who is mentioned in the articles covering my 2025 rides in 1st Precinct (see Parts Five and Nine in the “Fragments Observed: Riding with the Mobile Police Department series) was my host for the next twelve hours. The clear sunrise over Mobile Bay promised a day of heat and drama.
The first call dispatched to Officer Purvis came in after a couple hours of patrol. He was sent to the scene of an attempted suicide, which was my first time on that type of call. Family members had fortunately been able to remove the weapon from the individual before MPD arrived, but the responding officers took the time to talk to each of the people at the scene. Then MFRD medics arrived to assess the individual before Officer Purvis transported the person to the Alta Point Behavioral Crisis Center for professional help.
Several hours later, a medical emergency call came through that dispatch said involved a person who—according to the relative who called it in—had taken unknown drugs. Upon arrival, it turned out to be someone threatening to kill themself with a weapon after taking a mix of medications. As the lead officer spoke to the individual, Officer Purvis quickly radioed for a supervisor to come to the scene as he made sure I was out of harm’s way. Multiple other backing units arrived and a short standoff ensued while I watched the property entrance from the air-conditioned Tahoe. About an hour later, the scene was cleared, the extra officers left, and the individual was transported to a medical facility.
Some point before noon, a few officers from other precincts joined the squad to fill the need for more units in 1st. Throughout the day there were numerous calls about disorderly conduct, trespassing, and other issues from concerned neighbors. Some were situations that could be easily assisted or explained. Others proved to be non-issues when the police officers arrived because the people had left or quieted down. But as the midday medical emergency call that turned out to be a standoff showed, officers never know what they will walk into when they respond to a call for help.
Most of the afternoon involved patrolling neighborhoods and parks with multiple MPD units in areas known for high numbers of “shots fired” calls and other related issues. The officers drove both in caravan and split-up while discussing their location and direction of travel between each other. The glaring sun was brutal, made more pronounced for the officers wearing thirty pounds of gear when standing outside during traffic stops. If you are requested to pull over for law enforcement during the summer, try for a shady spot, if possible. The officers will appreciate the respite, even if their gratitude isn’t spoken.
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