April 21, 2025 • 56 mins
Mark Wright's story redefines what's possible after traumatic injury. As the first amputee motorcycle officer in United States history, Mark demonstrates that our physical limitations are often far less restrictive than our mental ones.
When Mark crashed his motorcycle after a late-night shift, hitting a disabled vehicle with no lights, his world changed forever. Multiple compound fractures left his left foot "like it went through a meat grinder." Despite doctors' attempts at limb salvage, Mark knew from his Marine Corps experience that amputation was inevitable. What happened next stunned everyone—from amputation in March to full police duty by December, and eventually qualifying for the elite motorcycle officer position, a feat many thought impossible.
"Our minds are our only limit," Mark explains, crediting his extraordinary recovery to mindset and exceptional support from his department. Unlike organizations that might sideline an amputee, Mark's colleagues embraced his return, even modifying equipment to accommodate his prosthetic leg. This partnership between personal determination and institutional support created the perfect environment for success.
Mark approaches life's challenges with remarkable humor and perspective. His license plates read "I'm on my last leg" and "It only cost me a leg." When people stare or ask questions, he uses these moments as teaching opportunities rather than sources of frustration. His philosophy is refreshingly simple: "My foot ain't going to grow back, so why waste emotional energy stressing about it?"
Whether you're facing your own physical challenges or simply need inspiration to overcome life's obstacles, Mark's journey reminds us that our perceived limitations often have little to do with our actual capabilities. Connect with Mark through his social media if you're struggling with similar challenges—he's made it his mission to help others realize they too are unstoppable.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Good evening and welcome to another episode of
Unstoppable.
I am Victoria with my amazing,wonderful husband.
It's like the redhead and theredneck.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Howdy y'all.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
I'm so happy to have another amputee with me on this
episode tonight because myhusband, mark, makes fun of me
and says some of the meanestthings.
I'll wait till you're notdrinking because I don't want
you to.
He'll say stuff like we'll playcards and he'll say something
like oh, you lost your handRight, or I didn't want to go
(00:38):
out to a store or anything rightafter and I like lifted up my
nub and he goes is it half off?
I mean, these are you know and.
I have the best sense of humorbecause, like, right before I go
in for any of my operations, Ialways tell my doctor you're
going to leave me in stitches,but you're going to get on my
nerves, right, and I mean theseare things that I do.
(01:00):
But to have another fellowamputee with me who is amazing,
I'm so excited to have mark withus.
His name is mark wright, senior.
He is the first and only I'm soexcited he can motorcycle
officer ever in the unitedstates like this is just amazing
.
I was so excited when I foundhim.
You can tell I'm a littleexcited because I was like oh,
(01:22):
brother, and all of us have lawenforcement background you were
a Marine.
Thank you for your service.
My husband was Air Force andit's just to know that I have
you coming on here.
Congratulations on not givingup, for reaching your goal, for
doing all that you do.
I am just so glad you're here.
(01:44):
I guess he's glad too, butthank you so much for being here
with us tonight.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Oh, it's my pleasure Whatever I can do to get the
word out there that our mindsare only limit.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
There, you go.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
You hear, that, did you hear that.
That is a great book, titleAwesome.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
So you started on your book.
No no not, I'm a dumb jarheadman.
There ain't no writing unlessit's in crayon.
Hey, that might be.
Uh, you know, put in greatcrayon.
See how many jarheads read iteven broken crayons make
beautiful pictures.
Yes, absolutely so I spent, uh,13 and a half years in law
(02:20):
enforcement work.
Um, I was a police officer outright out of the Air Force and
then I went to become a privatedetective, sheriff's deputy
inside the jail and then finallya K-9 officer.
During my police officer yearssix years there I got an
opportunity to.
One of my part-time jobs was toescort funerals, and of course,
(02:42):
you do that on a motorcycle.
So you buy your motorcycleHarley Davidson, of course and
then you start training.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
How do you know he has a Harley?
You don't know.
I know whether he does or not,but you don't know if he has a
Harley.
No self-respecting officerwould have anything to add,
because how do you know?
He has a Harley.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
You have a Harley, don't you?
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Not anymore.
I recently sold it and bought anew one.
Not yet I actually sold it tobuy a BMW because I've only
ridden Harleys my entire life,so I actually crashed.
That's how I lost my leg, wasin a motorcycle crash.
I was on my road glide, so Ihad a new bike before I had a
new leg.
In a motorcycle crash, I was onmy road glide, so I had a new
bike before I had a new leg.
(03:27):
Bought a brand new cvo roadglide.
It was beautiful, rode it forabout a year and that's where I
was like I didn't want to go tothe motors academy but our
department only uses bmws.
So I actually got rid of myharley, got a bmw, so that's
what I've ever ride my.
I got an adventure bike, so Igot that.
But my wife has said it's onlya matter of time now before I
(03:49):
get rid of this and put a Harleyback in my garage.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
She knows.
Can we talk about the day thatthis happened?
Yeah, so you were coming homefrom work and you were obviously
in an accident.
Can you kind of tell everyonewhat happened?
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Yeah.
So it was actually a crazy dayWorking second watch where I'm
supposed to be off at midnightbut of course we don't control
what calls we go to and we had areport of a traffic collision
where there were small childrenthat had popped out of the trunk
of this car.
So we all respond.
Turns out the driver of thevehicle was the children's
(04:30):
father, who had overdosed.
Right after telling his kids itwas okay for them to hide in
the trunk because they weregoing to surprise mom.
They were picking mom up andthey were going to surprise him.
So kids got in the trunk.
He took some sort of drug thatOD'd.
He went across a couple lanesof traffic, crashed, kids popped
out.
They were uninjured, thankgoodness.
(04:50):
So we we long story short.
We were going to arrest him forDUI child endangerment in the
whole nine yards, but because ofthe crash and the OD he was
going to be stuck in thehospital for a long time.
So my leadership decided hey,just we'll do a notify warrant,
we'll arrest them later.
Just go ahead and come back anddeal with the paperwork.
We'll take care of all theother stuff tomorrow.
(05:12):
So get back, finally get out ofwork at three o'clock in the
morning.
Jump on my Harley.
It's my personal bike, I'vebeen riding for years and years
and years.
Jump on my bike, start headinghome.
I live about 55 miles away fromwhere I work and it's mostly
interstate, so I jump on theinterstate doing interstate
(05:32):
speeds.
Next thing, you know, I'm goingaround a dark corner, going
through what I thought was fog,because we're right here on the
coast in Southern California weget a lot of fog from the ocean.
Well, as I'm going through itthrough this turn, I started
realizing I'm smelling coolant.
What I was smelling was thecoolant from a car that had
wrecked out and right when itclicked what it was, I saw out
(05:55):
of the corner of my eye piecesof the car and I was able to
look through the fog debris thatI was going through.
That's when I noticed theoutline of the car, realized it
was too late, impacted the carbroadside, basically because it
had no lights on.
I couldn't see it.
So I hit it.
I was moving.
Pretty good Hit it, but luckilymy Marine Corps training.
(06:16):
I was a crew chief in theMarine Corps.
I used to fly on helicopters,so I had a split second.
I grabbed my shoulders, tuckedmy chin, ejected, flew for quite
a while, rolled skid, luckilynever lost consciousness.
Some angel had stopped hisvehicle when he saw my bike
explode.
He stopped because he knew thatI'd be somewhere.
So he comes running over to mebecause I started screaming out
(06:39):
just to see if anybody hadstopped screaming for help.
And he comes over and he's likehey, I already called 911.
Don't worry, they're coming.
I know that California HighwayPatrol is the one who responds
to crashes and they're notalways very fast.
And I knew my leg was prettymessed up because I could just
tell.
So I told him.
I said hey, call 911 back and Iwant you to relay word for word
(07:01):
exactly what I tell you.
So he gets them back on theline.
I give them my police ID numberand I give them the code for
officer down 1199.
And he kind of went back andforth a couple of times hey,
they want to make sure you're anofficer, what's your ID number?
And say, hey, within seconds Istarted hearing sirens.
So which was good, because whatI didn't realize was I had
severed two arteries in my legbecause basically what had
(07:23):
happened is, when I ejected,everything crumpled up on my
left heel so I basically rippedmy heel off my foot.
I also have multiple compoundfractures all below the knee.
And then, so yeah, fire gottheir tourniquet on me.
All the cops arrived, got me inan ambulance and got me to the
hospital where they tried to dolimb salvage for about two weeks
(07:46):
, Told them from day one, it'snever going to work.
You know, I did multiple combattours.
I saw Marines getting blown up.
I knew what was good and whatwasn't good.
So I was at peace from day one.
Told my wife.
I said look, I'm not keepingthis foot.
I said at the end of the day,the only injuries I had were my
left leg, below the knee.
(08:07):
I had multiple compoundfractures.
My foot was just looked like itwent through a meat grinder.
And then I fractured my pelvisas well because I was carrying
my gun.
And when I hit my gun shatteredmy right side of my pelvis
where I was carrying it.
But other than that I was fine,no neck back, nothing.
So you know, very blessed, sofast forward.
That crash was the 13th ofMarch.
The 24th, they finallyamputated my leg, went home
(08:35):
three days later, unfortunately,got really infected, had to go
in for a revision surgery inApril.
But then that started afterlots of infection battling.
They thought I hadosteomyelitis so I did a lot of
IV antibiotics here at the house.
But July I got my leg startedwalking and rehabbing.
By the 1st of December I wasback at work full duty.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
So, what made you decide to stay on motorcycles
and not something else I've?
Speaker 3 (09:05):
been riding longer than I haven't been riding at
this point in my life.
So I started riding when I wasa drill instructor back in 2001.
I was living 80 miles from thefront gate of where I worked and
getting to and from you know itwas economic and it was a lot
faster, especially here inSouthern California.
So I started riding 2001 and itwas never looking back.
(09:28):
So since 2001, I've had one,and at times I had up to three
motorcycles, all Harleys, in mygarage.
So that was a good time.
I had a V-Rod, an Ultra Classicand a Rogue Lodge, all in my
garage, all in my name.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
So that's, amazing.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
So yeah, classic and a roguelite all in my garage all
in my name.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
That's amazing.
So, going through the process,how was your department when you
went through?
And first you were the oldestcadet, which I think is amazing.
Rock on, that's awesome,Grandpa and he goes and honor
grad.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
I was the honor grad at the same time.
Oh, good deal.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Did you get more support or more slack from some
of the other?
Speaker 3 (10:13):
No, my department has been absolutely amazing.
There's a lot of people whohave issues with the departments
they work for.
I'm the opposite.
They have been nothing butsupportive and amazing.
They've done everything theycould to help me succeed, even
when it was time for me to go onfull duty.
(10:34):
I brought a letter from mydoctor at the VA who cleared me
for full duty and they didn'teven question it.
They said do you believe you'reready?
And I was like, yeah, I'm ready.
Like and like you know, the, thechief of our department, was in
constant communication with meand my wife the whole time I was
in the hospital.
Like, especially coming fromthe Marine Corps, like we've
(10:55):
dealt with tragedies in theMarine Corps, like how we take
care of families.
And my wife will be the firstto admit like wasn't expecting
the, the support from the blueside.
Like, like what we got.
Like she's like wow, at timesit was a little overwhelming for
her.
She's like I need a minute tobreathe.
Like y'all need to, y'all needto.
Let me go for a minute.
But no, yeah, my department'sbeen nothing short of amazing.
(11:17):
And then, even when I told himI wanted to go out to the motors
Academy, they went out and theygot a thumb shifter for me that
they're like hey, we're goingto buy this and we're going to
outfit a couple of motorcyclesso that way it makes it easier
for you to shift.
Turns out it's not compatiblewith BMW.
So they found this out like aweek before the Academy was
(11:37):
supposed to start.
So they're like hey, man, sorry, we're trying to make this
accommodation for you, but it'sjust not going to work.
So do you want to wait to go tothe Academy until we find
something that works?
I was like no, how about you?
Just let me try to ride themotorcycle as it is.
They're like do you think youcan?
I was like let me get on it andfind out.
And there we went, we went on,we went on a ride, and they're
(11:57):
like he can actually do it.
I was like yeah, I can, it's allstate of mind yeah they were
cracking up because I had tomake some adjustments.
So I literally had an Allenwrench with me and we went and
rode for a little bit.
I was having problems.
So I popped the foot off andturned it in a little bit more
towards the foot peg, screwed itback on.
They're like that is so crazy.
I was like, all right, let'stry this.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
And through trial and error, we got it.
Has your prosthetic come off atall while you were riding?
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Not my work bike.
The day I was bringing my BMWhome because at that point I was
in suction suspension the wholetime and, for whatever reason,
I wasn't wearing the outersleeve the suspension sleeve
with it.
So I went down, got the bikeand I'm riding it home and of
course it's rush hour trafficand it's a back country road.
(12:47):
I went to reposition my foot onthe foot peg and the whole left
leg just slides off, boom fallsin the middle of the street and
the cars are just snakingaround it Like it's a dead dog
in the roadway and I'm sittingaround this brand new bike that
I just brought from a dealershipand I can't even.
It's like if I get off the bikeI'm gonna have to drop it
because I have no left leg toput the side stand down.
So luckily I was.
(13:07):
I flagged some people down.
They're like do you need help?
I'm like yes, can you bringthat to me, cause I can't get
off my bike?
I was like that's my leg, doyou need help putting it on?
I was like so it's a mechanicallock, it shouldn't fall off.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
Yes, I have kids that will look at me and I'll be
like I'm Captain Hook's sister.
They think that's really supercool.
Yes, that is super cool.
So you were only hospitalizedfor three days for your
amputation.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
No, I was in almost just short of two weeks because
I crashed on the 13th, I crashedon the 13th, I crashed on the
13th and the amputation was onthe 24th.
So I was every day, or everyother day I was going in for
another surgery.
I think I had close to 12surgeries.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
After your amputation how long was it until they took
you?
Speaker 3 (14:01):
Yeah, once I got the amputation, I was done, I was
out like I'm going to give you agood laugh.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
How long do you think I was in when I got my arm
amputated?
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Post-amputation Post Stop it.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
Whatever you're doing , stop it.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
A couple days?
I have no idea.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
Go ahead.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
That night.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
I got amputated and I went home that night and I took
off everything so I could seeit.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Nice.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
I actually took out all my own stitches.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
This is the curse of a redhead, I swear.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Yeah, I took out all my own stitches and my surgeon
is like, how do you take outyour own damn stitches with one
arm?
Because I mean, he's like I'veactually tried this and I don't
know how you do it, and I'm like, well, you have a heavy hand,
I'm not, I'll do it.
So I did it and I've nevertaken a single pain medication,
I've never got one pain med andnothing.
(15:00):
And so I was so excited when Iwas learning about you and it
was like your brain is what yourlimit is, like you know, you
can, you can do anything you putyour mind to.
And I was like I have got totalk to him because so many
people give you more likesympathy and they're like, oh,
you know, you can't do anythinganymore.
I tie my own shoes.
I open a bottle, you know, Iwipe my own ass.
(15:24):
Nice, I, I, you know, likeexactly my husband's, like who
tied, tied your shoes.
I did, you know, I I won't letit stop me.
It might slow me down a littlebit, but I'm still going to do
it.
I mean, where is?
How did you get to where youare in your mind, where it's
like it's limitless.
(15:44):
I can do what I want to do.
Cause so many people that I'vehad the pleasure of talking with
don't have the mentality thatyou do about you know this is,
this is my limit yeah, I credita lot of it to my Marine Corps
time.
Speaker 3 (15:57):
You know, uh, seeing seeing the Marines coming back
and seeing what they're doing,like I've got friends who are
are big with Wounded WarriorFoundation, a lot of the other
different veterans organizationsthat are out there, and I'm
seeing the stuff that these guysare doing and it's just like
you know, you got these guyswith no legs that are out
surfing and you're like how isthat even possible?
(16:19):
Like this is crazy.
So that's that's very first dayin the hospital.
That's what I told my wife.
I said if I want to go back towork, this will be the fastest
way.
Just cut it off, let me get agood prosthetic.
I was like and I'll be fine,like and that's been my
mentality ever since and a lot,you know a lot of people like oh
man, it's easy.
You know you make it look easyand I'm like, yeah, come see me
(16:41):
at two o'clock in the morningwhen I'm hopping my tail to the
bathroom.
50 year old man.
I said that's, that's whenbeing an amputee a leg amputee
sucks, cause you can't just getup and go.
You got to put a leg on her,you got to hop.
I said so there are downfalls,but you know, those aren't the
stories that I tell people allthe time.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
Yeah, did you ever go through phantom pain?
Yeah, I have it.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
Uh it again.
Not nearly as bad as some of myfriends have dealt with.
I quit taking all I.
When I left the hospital Iwasn't on any pain meds, even
after my revision surgery.
It was one of them.
Like I'm not a big medicationguy I never have been, so even I
was on.
What's funny is I Marine CorpsPTSD stuff.
(17:25):
I've been on gabapentin foryears for my insomnia, so it was
kind of funny.
I'm they're like oh, you'regoing to start taking gabapentin
for years for my insomnia.
So it was kind of funny.
I'm they're like oh, you'regoing to start taking gabapentin
for your phantom pains.
I'm like more, like how muchmore can I, can I be taken?
So I still.
I take it not as often nowbecause it doesn't even help
with insomnia anymore.
So it's one of them like everynow and then, like when I was
(17:45):
going through the motors Academy, I started having a lot of my
old medical issues popping upand that the Gabapentin helped
with that.
But again I haven't taken anyin two weeks.
So it's one of them Like I'mlucky.
Like my partner laughs, heknows when I'm having them,
cause I'll start banging my legoff the side of the patrol car
door, like cause I always drive.
So I'd be sitting there justbanging my leg just trying to
(18:07):
get those nerve endings, doingsomething other than making it
feel like my foot's on fire orsomething.
But yeah, not nearly as bad, soyeah.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
Can you feel?
Speaker 3 (18:16):
your toes.
Toes are.
It feels like a hot poker iseither going through my heel or
like my toes are being crushedby something.
Yeah, does the weather affect?
Speaker 1 (18:25):
you too.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
I'm in Southern California.
We don't get a whole lot ofweather change.
Okay, fair enough.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
I don't know, have they done either nerve
transposition, nerve transfers.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
None of that.
Nope, I had a nerve block putin for a couple of surgeries.
They did nerve blocks but thosewere gone after several hours.
See, yeah, that's what I've haddone.
No tens unit, or so I use it,not for the phantom pains, like
(19:00):
for all my other issues.
Yeah, like, I got a nice tensunit that I purchased years.
I used to be a marathon runner,so I used to run marathons
almost every single weekendbefore my crash, so it was like
the TENS unit has always beenpart of my rehab process for for
various ailments and issues.
So I mean I do use it, but I'vehonestly never even had it
hooked up to my residual limb atall.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
Have they never talked about implanting one?
Speaker 3 (19:27):
No, I get it because I've.
It's not one of those thingsLike when I go to, when I go see
my doctor, like he asks howeverything is, I'm like I'm fine
, like yeah, every now, and thenI get it, but it's nothing so
unbearable that I can't get togo away within a few minutes.
So I don't feel like it reallyimpacts me enough to have to
worry about pursuing anythingelse.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
How else has your life changed since you ended up
losing your leg?
Speaker 3 (19:51):
Honestly, it's only gotten for the good.
Like I've had so many coolthings happen because, like when
, after I went in for myrevision surgery, my wife was in
the waiting room and she saw anad for one of the local solar
companies out here and everyevery major hot, like 4th of
July, memorial Day, veterans Daythey gift a warranted veteran a
(20:14):
complete solar system.
They're like, oh so, just goonline and nominate whatever
veteran you think is worthy.
And my wife's like huh, soshe's sitting in the waiting
room waiting on me, she submitsthis thing and next thing, you
know, three days later, hey,we've selected your husband to
be the recipient for this year.
So, yeah, 4th of July that year, you know, I didn't even have a
(20:35):
leg yet.
They had a big old media crewout here and I got an 18 panel
solar system.
And you know it wasn't becauseof the crash.
But had it not been for thecrash, my wife would have never
seen it to nominate me for it.
Seen it to nominate me for it,stuff like that.
You know, the recognition bythe department for, for you know
, one coming back to full dutyand going back out on patrol and
(20:56):
then now completing the MotorsAcademy.
You know I've talked at ourprayer breakfast for the law
enforcement.
You know, told my story forthat.
Like I've met so many coolpeople and even where I go get
my prosthetics made, this guythe guy who makes my leg
specializes in very highactivity amputees.
So he deals with a lot ofmilitary, special forces,
(21:21):
foreign forces, like he's hadseveral Ukrainian soldiers come
over, soldiers from the Republicof Georgia coming over.
He deals with a lot ofParalympians and stuff like that
.
So like, and I'm meeting allthese people like just on a
regular basis, albert Lynn,who's on the National Geographic
channel, he goes, he goes to myprosthetist, met that guy.
(21:41):
Like I've met some cool peopleand they just reinforce that our
mind is our only limit and it'slike get out there and spread
the word to these people, likequit feeling sorry for yourself
and just get out there and dowhat you want to do.
You know, I've said it from dayone the only two things in life
we control are our attitude andour behavior, and those
directly impact everyone aroundus.
(22:03):
So why not try to findsomething positive you know that
you can focus on instead of thenegative, because the negative
stuff we can't control.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
So I want to ask you, help me here in regards to the
fact that I have the mostamazing soulmate ever.
Stop it.
The day I met him actually Iwas hazing him His FTO I knew
and he asked me if I'd haze himand I said, oh crap, the minute
I met him I knew I was aninstructor at the academy and I
(22:34):
knew I was in trouble.
And um, anyway, if you couldgive him some advice man to man,
former law enforcement,military everything because he
doesn't understand like I wantto sweep, and sweeping is one of
the hardest things for me inone hand.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
Right, I can't hear you.
Speaker 1 (22:52):
Like I want to do sweeping, like I want to sweep
the house, and my husband islike, let me do that and I'm
like I can do it Now.
It does take me quite a bitlonger, but I still want to do
it.
So if you could give my husbandsome advice man to man about
you know things that he wouldmaybe understand better.
(23:12):
What would you say to a spouseof someone who isn't an amputee?
Speaker 3 (23:19):
Let them figure out what they, what their limits,
are Like.
Let you know, until we makethat decision for ourselves,
we're going to want to do stuff.
You know, all like before Ieven got a leg, when we had that
whole production crew comingout, I was convinced I was going
to help to do stuff.
Before I even got a leg, whenwe had that whole production
crew coming out, I was convincedI was going to help my wife
clean, and it wasn't until I wasfalling flat on my face, busted
my face up.
She's like will you listen tome now?
(23:40):
Okay, yeah, but we still wantto.
You know, it's hard, though,because even my wife, she, she
helps people with special needson a regular basis.
They do independent livingservices for people with
disabilities to get them out ontheir like.
I don't, I say supportiveliving, and she corrects me
(24:01):
every time but that's not whatit is.
So, but she's built her careeroff of helping people and she's
oh, let me do this, let me dothat, and it's like time out,
let me figure it out.
You know, let me, let me dealwith it.
And that's where you know Idon't know me, cause I'm the guy
that it's easier for her to say, okay, you got it, whereas you
know cause, we are men, we wantto, we want to be fixtures.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
So right, you know, the thing is is like tying my
shoe.
I've learned to do it myself.
Sweeping is so challenging forme.
But he's like I'll do it andI'm like, no, let me do it.
It takes me a lot longer, yes,but there's certain things that
you know.
I tell him I've got to figureout how to do this.
Let me do this Like stirringyou can't hold the pan while you
(24:44):
stir.
There's just certain things youcan't do.
And I say that to and Iactually have.
I'm paralyzed on part of it andthe nerves are gone.
So I say to my husband you know, let me do this.
I love you with all my heartand soul.
But I don't think, because he'snever really got the chance to
talk to somebody else who is,you know, an amputee like we are
.
So for him to understand thatit we're learning how to do
(25:07):
things new, we have to learn howto do everything over that
we're learning how to do thingsnew.
We have to learn how to doeverything over Like I had to
learn how to do everything thatyou could imagine over again,
and I want to be able to say Ican.
I can do this.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
And that's where I say like my left foot, like the
heck do you, besides standingand walking, what else do you
need a left foot for?
Like that, exactly like I couldtell my friend Javi with the
with the arm issue like do, likea hand, that's, that's a whole
new lifestyle.
Like you really do have tolearn how to redo so many things
(25:41):
in life.
That's for so, like I say,being a leg amputee, it's, it's
nothing.
Like I won't say it's nothing,because we do have our
challenges, but it's not likelosing a hand.
I had surgery on my hand at onepoint and I remember the whole
time it was my dominant hand.
I'm in a cast Wiping your ownbutt.
(26:02):
Like I got to relearn this,like it was so awkward.
Now you're permanently likethat and it's like holy crap.
That's what I told him.
No pun intended Guy's hands downmuch harder than we have it.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
So I want to piggyback off that.
When you have on yourprosthetic okay I don't know if
a lot of folks know this, butwhen you're on a motorcycle, the
left side is your shifter,you've got gears that you
operate with your, basicallyyour toes, okay, the, the toe of
your boot, okay, and it's, it's.
(26:38):
It's more of a feeling, youknow, unless you hear the rpms,
like not every time you're goingto hit the gear, not, I mean,
I've been on so many motorcyclesover my years you're not going
to hit it every single time.
And when you hit that gas, thatthat accelerator, you hear the
RPM drop.
Oh, let me pull the clutch andthen pop it back into gear.
You cannot feel that, can you?
(27:01):
So you have to.
Speaker 3 (27:04):
Well, that's what's weird, especially with the
prosthetic is, as time goes on,I can feel when my foot so I
can't like there's no feelingdown there, but I can sense when
there's something under my toeor under my heel.
I can feel like the way thefoot is sitting on the foot peg,
(27:26):
and so what I have to do is Ican feel how it's sitting on the
foot peg, and just what I haveto do is I can feel how it's
sitting on the foot peg and justfrom, basically, muscle memory,
I know that where it's out onthe foot peg it's in a good
position to work.
When I so I basically lift upat my hip, so I lift, I lift my
whole leg up at once and that'show I shift it.
Just the sole of my bootcatches that gear shift and then
(27:48):
when I have to shift down, Ijust kind of clumsily just push
it down, just jam it down onthat shift peg and that's how I
do it.
But what's weird is I do havesome sort of feeling when it's
in the right spot or in thewrong spot, and it's all because
of how the prosthesis isfitting onto my residual limb.
It's so weird trying to explainthat to people who aren't
(28:10):
amputees.
They're like you can feel it.
I was like yes and no, like Ican sense that there's something
there.
You know, I don't know what itis, but I can tell you that
there's something there.
So it definitely helps, like mybrain is learning as time goes
on, all those little nuanceswith the prosthetic.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
Now one more thing here as nuances with the
prosthetic.
Now one more thing here as copsriding bikes.
We rode in tandem.
I don't know anybody else whorides in tandem.
Mirrors touching almost, that'sright.
How are other officers with youon that?
Is that 100% trust still there?
Speaker 3 (28:48):
Oh yeah, no, we went right after we took our final
riding exam.
We took a long ride and almosteveryone from the section went
with us and we went ridingthrough the mountains here in
Southern California.
It's very difficult and we wereside by side the majority of
the time and the guy who wasright behind me, uh, who's been
(29:10):
on, who's been in the motorsection for several years,
commented afterwards.
He's like hey, I only saw youmiss shift a couple times.
He goes, but he's like yourecovered every single time like
it was never a safety issue,because that's crazy.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
He's like welcome to the unit like right, wow, yeah,
it's awesome yeah, have you everworried about when you do like
a pullover, if somebody got outand gave chase?
Do you ever worry about how youwould proceed?
Speaker 3 (29:37):
No, because it's a lose-lose for that individual,
like I've.
Prior to going to the motors, Iyou know I was out on patrol
for two and a half years andI've been in some foot chases.
Like I said, it's a lose-lose.
If they outrun me, oh good foryou.
You outran the one-legged copand when I catch them it's bro,
(29:58):
you just got caught by aone-legged cop.
So it's a lose-lose for them.
They get taught crap too,regardless.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
When did they get in the block?
Oh, you got called by officer,right?
Speaker 3 (30:11):
Yeah, I had a 20-year-old kid a couple weeks
ago.
Matter of fact, this is theprosthetic I was wearing.
I don't know if the camera willshow it, but I've got a bunch
of scrapes on it.
Where's my camera?
A bunch of scrapes on it and Ihad the prosthetic for all of
like two days, but this20-year-old kid decides he wants
to fight me on these concretesteps.
Speaker 1 (30:32):
Oh no.
Speaker 3 (30:34):
So after I got him into handcuffs and in the back
of my patrol car, all the otherofficers are like bro, like you
just picked a fight withprobably the worst cop alive to
fight, like this dude did 25years in the Marine Corps, like
you're not going to win in afight just because he's just too
darn stupid to lose, I said.
And then we charge him withfelony vandalism for the damage
(30:55):
he did to my prosthetic.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
You just want to take it off and say you're an idiot.
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
I was like, bro, you just got beat by a 50-year-old
one-legged man.
Come on now, You're 20.
You should be ashamed ofyourself Like, come on now,
you're 20.
You should be ashamed ofyourself.
There's no shame in our game.
We will talk crap everypossible opportunity we can.
That's why I said if they runfrom me, it's a lose-lose for
them Right.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
Yeah, what do you think is going to be next for
you?
Because everything you've done,you're just soaring through it.
So what's next?
Speaker 3 (31:30):
Honestly, the motors unit was where I ultimately
wanted to go, because ourdepartment you're not forced to
go back to patrol after so manyyears.
We've got guys who have beenwith the motors unit for over 20
years.
Wow, and I don't want topromote.
I was a sergeant major in theMarine Corps, which is the
highest rank you can be.
Like I've been there, done that, got the t-shirt.
(31:51):
Now I just I just want to be apolice officer and if they're
going to pay me to ride amotorcycle, I'll do that until I
can retire and collect a secondretirement Because, like I said
, I'm 50, like fighting 20 yearold dudes, it hurts, like I talk
a lot of crap, but I was taking, I was rubbing some BioFreeze
for days afterwards.
(32:11):
Like body just don't hold uplike it used to.
Speaker 1 (32:17):
Yeah, yeah, I get that.
Speaker 2 (32:19):
I had a lot of fights myself when I was sheriff's
deputy.
Inside the jail you fight a lot.
Speaker 1 (32:24):
Oh yeah, I bet.
Speaker 2 (32:25):
Oh my God, and it's always the little guys.
You know, that was this kid.
Speaker 3 (32:32):
Like he weighs like 130 pounds, soaking wet.
Like come on, dude, I'm 200pounds and I got all my Batman
gear on me Like come on now, youain't never going to win, man.
Speaker 1 (32:45):
How do the kids react to you when they see you?
Speaker 3 (32:50):
A lot of them ask if I'm a real cop Like cause.
They can't believe that I'mcause I my my uniform.
The department allows me tohave my left leg cut off, so the
left pant leg of my uniform iscut off the majority of the time
I'm out there.
So my prosthetic everyone cansee it.
Speaker 1 (33:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (33:06):
And it's so.
I can, you know, clean, cleanmy my leg off when it's super
sweaty, add socks, as I need towhen my limb, uh, loses volume.
But a lot of times they're likeare you a real officer?
Like, yeah, like, yeah, that's.
Yeah, that's a real gun too.
Yeah, yeah.
Like they're like, how can thatbe?
Like, can you run?
I'm like, yeah, you want togive it a shot.
(33:28):
Like you want to see, but notfor the most part.
I get a lot of positive, mostlypositive comments, uh, because
they're like that's awesome.
You know, the department trustsyou to be able to be out here
and, like I said, it's atestament to the department for
for having that trust in me andunderstanding that yeah I can do
it so yeah that's amazing,because a lot of departments
(33:48):
aren't like that.
Speaker 2 (33:50):
So when I heard about you, Mark, I referenced the
movie A Few Good Men.
Speaker 1 (33:56):
No, it's not A Few Good Men, that's Tom.
Speaker 2 (33:58):
Cruise.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Speaker 1 (34:01):
Okay, I'm not going to tell you Cookie, give me my
12.
Speaker 2 (34:06):
Tell me the name.
Speaker 1 (34:07):
No, I'm not telling you.
Speaker 2 (34:08):
I'm 50 years old.
I forget Anyway, cuba GoodingJr, tell me the name.
No, I'm not, I'm old, I'm 50years old.
I forget.
Anyway, um, cuba good new jrhad to pick up, had to stand up
in that full suit.
Yeah, okay, as an officer as anofficer we have to learn how to
pick up our bikes correctly.
Yeah, okay, civilians don'tknow how to pick up a bike right
(34:28):
.
They'll immediately grab thehandle and try to.
You know these numbers, so wereyou required to pick up your
bike?
Speaker 3 (34:39):
Yeah, that's our pre-interview.
Before we were even able toschedule an interview, to even
think about coming over, theyput a bike down on both of its
sides.
You got to pick it up from bothsides all on your own.
Put it up on a center stand,walk it forward and backwards on
an incline and decline.
Show that you can just do thatminor stuff before you're even
(35:02):
able to go to the academy.
And then, of course, theacademy being what it is, bikes
went down a couple times andthere ain't no one there to help
you pick it back up so, andyou're talking about about a 600
pound bike, a little bit morethan yeah okay
Speaker 1 (35:17):
yeah, what do you do personally when you've had those
days of frustration?
We all get them.
So what do you do when you getto that point?
Speaker 3 (35:29):
I guess, honestly, I haven't had that many
frustrating days and I mean mybiggest frustrating days are the
people I couldn't help.
Like we had a, we had a lady,we got a multiple radio calls on
her.
Um, she was just acting superweird.
Like I said, we went, talked toher two different times and
both times we left she's.
(35:50):
I'm just going to bed, I'msorry.
Third time we went to the housewas because she jumped off a
seventh story, uh, balcony, sothat one that that's been my one
of my worst days out in thedepartment in over four years.
Because like, how'd we miss it?
Like what the heck?
I told my wife I was like thisI lost Marines in combat.
Like why is this one affectingme more than some of those
(36:12):
affected me?
Like super lucky, like I reallyhaven't had those bad days
because of this.
Like my bad days are stuff thatare completely out of my
control.
You know, couldn't get to acall fast enough or something
like that.
(36:33):
But you know, my wife, we thismonth will be 31 years married.
On the 30th is our 31 yearwedding anniversary.
We've been together since highschool Like we were the story.
We're the.
Jerry Spr've been togethersince high school Like we were
the.
We're the Jerry Springer storywith a happy ending.
Like no one she was 15 when Igot her pregnant.
Like we should not still betogether.
(36:54):
Yeah yeah, my first son wasborn while I was in bootcamp,
right out of high school, andhere we are.
You know, while I was in bootcamp, right out of high school,
and here we are, you know, 31years married later and four
kids that are adults they're alldoing good or four grandkids
now, and it's like we're stilltogether and we're still best
(37:14):
friends.
I mean honestly, like she hasreally helped me out, like
through all this, likephysically and mentally.
Like she knows what I wentthrough in the Marine Corps.
Like she saw me break downbecause of Julie that's, julie's
a bitch.
Like she's screwed me up in thehead, like every time, like
(37:35):
she'll, she knows all about it.
Like there's no such thing asoversharing with her, which has
really helped out.
Speaker 1 (37:41):
So yeah, how did the rest of your family react?
Like your kids.
Speaker 3 (37:47):
It's kind of funny.
I asked my wife.
I was like my kids took it veryhard, like because I got twin
daughters.
One of them lives in Houston,she's a dispatcher and her
boyfriend is Houston PD.
Well, they were in town becauseit was my birthday, so they
came to town.
Both of my sons live in Phoenix.
(38:10):
One of my younger son wasactually in town as well for my
birthday.
So after the crash, you're likeI'm stuck at the hospital and my
wife's driving back and forthand all my kids are like mom,
we're going to stay.
She's like no, you're not,y'all need to go home.
We need to figure this out.
But my kids took it really hard.
One of my sons ended upquitting his job in Phoenix and
(38:32):
moving back here with his family.
So like some tough love had tohappen.
Hey, dude, like we got tofigure out what our life is
going to be now.
Like we got to figure out whatour life is going to be now.
Like we got to figure out whatour new normal is.
Like we can't be doing thiswith you, like I got it.
(38:52):
You want to be here to help,but kind of like we said, here
we got to let us figure it outon our own.
Yeah, um, so it was.
It was rough, you know, uh, butlike I told my kids, like you
can't be more worried about thisthan I am, like I'm not, like
I'm going to make a fullrecovery, like get over it, like
this it sucks, but I'm going toyou'll, you'll.
I told him you'll see, likewe're going to be running the
turkey trot and in November,like we always do, and we did so
(39:16):
, and they're like, oh, great,now he's going to have one more
thing to hold over our heads.
Speaker 2 (39:20):
Like, oh, I did the turkey trot on one leg.
One thing I noticed thatbothered my wife in the very
beginning here and sometimes itstill gets to her is when these
individuals stare and they stareat her and you feel the
judgment coming from them.
(39:41):
Well, they also say reallyhurtful things, and that's why
kids today, or they saysomething, you know something
stupid, like in the grocery line.
Speaker 1 (39:48):
Oh, great you get behind the one person that's
going to take forever to unloadyour cart.
Speaker 2 (39:51):
And these are regularly aged people.
So, with your positive mindsetthat you have, you know what
would you say to?
You know new amputees out there.
They're going to go throughthis.
Speaker 3 (40:05):
So, just because of my mentality, I make a joke out
of everything.
I was in the grocery store.
I bought those sock liners withthe graphics on there.
One's like an alligator, itlooks like it's biting down on
my leg, and so you know, I'd becrutching through the grocery
(40:28):
store.
My, my dad actually, who livesin Louisville, kentucky, came
out here for a couple of weeksafterwards and, uh, we're just,
we're going through the grocerystore doing what we do, and all
you know, all these kids arestaring and looking.
I'd tell them hey, this is whathappens when you don't eat all
your fruits and vegetablesmortified, right, and that's you
know.
I one thing that I.
I try to come up with a newreason uh, uh you know people
like, oh, what happened?
(40:50):
one of my favorite ones was Icould tell someone was a not
trying to get political, buteveryone has their own stance on
the covid vaccine and I couldtell this person was very like
they're on their 15th shot.
I could tell that this personwas very like they're on their
15th shot.
I could tell so what happened?
I was like COVID vaccine, whatI was like, yeah, I took the
first dose and ended up losingmy leg because of it.
Oh my God.
(41:10):
I'm like I know it's likeyou're a terrible human being.
I'm like, yeah, well, you know,but so that's what I tell them.
I was like have, people aregoing to look, people are going
to stare, but screw them, theydon't know what's going on.
Don't let them control yourlife.
Speaker 1 (41:27):
I'm this person that I make light of everything
because I'm also deaf.
I'm like this is great, I canturn him off.
I don't have to hear him.
This is fantastic.
You go somewhere and it's likejust come up and ask me Can I
answer a question for you?
Most of my body's all scarredup from you know what I went
through?
And it's like hey, you can comeup and ask me and I'll talk to
you.
It's the adults that are worsethan the kids.
(41:47):
I was walking around a storeand this gorgeous little girl
was like what happened to yourarm?
And I said I lost it and shegoes mom, I'm going to help this
nice lady find her arm and itwas like if I could find it in
this store, I promise you I'mbuying you every toy the store
has to offer.
So I mean it was just the kidsare the greatest and it's just
the adults that are like just socrass and rude.
(42:08):
And you know they want to stareand it's like it's not going to
give you the plague or anythingif it touches you.
You know, you're okay.
It's just some people are justrelentless, I mean, and I always
make light of it.
It's like you know, like Ialways make this is unstoppable
so you can say whatever you want, we're not filtered.
But like when he would makecomments, I'm like no more
handouts for you.
Like you know, these are allcomments, you know, and no
(42:31):
matter how many people I dealwith, they're like I said you
don't understand it is.
Being an apg is tough.
I mean that's just tough.
But to lose your arm I actuallywas a martial arts instructor
and so to lose that and I taughtsign language to special needs,
so to both, I mean that waslike a huge double whammy for me
and it messes up your balance.
Yeah, so that was really hardand it's like people don't
(42:56):
understand that I have to makepeople laugh about everything,
because it makes me feel betterto see people smile at the same
time.
But my husband, bless his heart,he's all like, babe, no, I'll
carry it, give me that, no, youcan't carry that.
Or I'm like can't get the door,you know, or whatever the case
may be, and it's, I mean, I lovehim to death for it.
But people who haven't gonethrough something traumatic like
(43:16):
the loss of a limb doesn'tunderstand.
Like some people I've talkedwith Mark in the coalition, they
are just like they think theirlife is over.
And I'm like you're still here,you know you, you can still
function.
You just learn a different wayto do it you know, and so many
people don't carry thatmentality of life with them.
They think it's over becausethey lost that limb.
(43:38):
And it's totally not.
You get to do everything areally cool new way.
Speaker 3 (43:42):
Well, and that's why I tell people like you have to
check your emotions.
Like don't waste your emotionalenergy on stuff that is
completely out of your control.
Like I told you, my foot ain'tgoing to grow back, so why am I
going to sit there and continueto stress about it?
Like it don't matter how muchMiracle-Gro I put on that thing,
it ain't coming back.
(44:02):
Like I ain't Deadpool, I ain'tgoing to sprout some little nub
coming out of there.
You know as much as I thinkit'd be cool not going to happen
.
So how about I focus on what Ican control?
And that's how I'm going toreact to these different
situations.
Like the people at the stores,the adults you know hey, my eyes
are up here, I'm more than justa missing limb people Like I'll
(44:24):
call them out on it when I seethem.
I'm like, do you want you gotquestions?
Like I'll tell you whathappened.
Like oh, sorry, sorry, sorryman, just tag number.
Speaker 1 (44:32):
When are you going to be driving?
Speaker 3 (44:34):
Well, it's even my license plate.
So both of my vehicles I've got, I've got those digital license
plates where you can put yourown personalized stuff on there.
Like my truck says I'm on mylast leg, and then my car I got
a little sports car and it saysit only costs me a leg.
So you know, usually when I getout of her people start
cracking up like, oh, now itmakes sense.
So like, yeah, I'll make lightof it.
Speaker 1 (44:56):
You know, for my amputation I had them wearing
shirts that you know.
My wife said but yout warrior,and it was like it cost me an
arm and a leg, but I'm a greatnegotiator.
That's it.
For every christmas I dogingerbread cookies but they
have one arm missing because Ithink that's great.
You know you can't laugh aboutit.
You're not amputated.
What is wrong with you?
Go get a hug somewhere, right,just go get hugged.
(45:18):
Yeah, they need a hug and asmile.
Why are you laughing at me likethat?
See now, but you've heard itfrom someone else that we just
have to do our thing Until youfall flat on your face.
Speaker 3 (45:32):
I've got the ring video because I've got cameras
all around my house.
My wife comes out.
She looks at me.
I'm on crutches spraying downour concrete patio.
She's like what are you doing?
I'm like I'm going to help,okay.
Next thing, you know, thecrutch goes boom and I'm like
bam, right on my face.
She didn't even try to help.
She's like you good?
Speaker 1 (45:54):
I'm like, yeah, I'm just going to lay here for a
minute.
My ego's over there, my leg isover there, she's like damn it.
Speaker 3 (46:00):
He's like.
I told you Like, yeah, I'llfigure it out we will, we'll get
it, we'll get it.
Speaker 2 (46:08):
I think he's a little tougher than you.
What yeah, mark?
She has probably had150-something surgeries Damn.
Due to past domestic violenceand medical foul-ups, she has a
titanium jaw.
Speaker 1 (46:25):
No, I have two titanium jaws, top and bottom.
Speaker 2 (46:28):
Shoulder replacement.
You know she's still got wiresin her arms in her side here.
You had something with your hipyou don't even know your wife.
Speaker 1 (46:41):
You've got everything .
Speaker 2 (46:42):
Yeah, so you know if she falls or something happens,
you know it's going to becatastrophic.
Yeah, it's going to be far moresurgery than what it would.
Speaker 1 (46:54):
My very empty brother .
Don't listen to this seriously.
Speaker 2 (46:58):
He took a bath tonight.
I heard something fall, youknow.
Speaker 1 (47:03):
He comes flying up the stairs.
Are you okay, are you?
Speaker 2 (47:05):
okay, what's going on ?
It was through the door, buddy.
Speaker 1 (47:08):
It was the shampoo bottle that fell.
Speaker 3 (47:13):
Well, that's my wife's biggest concern.
So after the amputation,getting in and out of the
bathtub realized that's probablygoing to be the most dangerous
thing I do every single day.
So we modified my shower now soit's a walk-in shower and
there's a bench in there withgrab bars.
(47:33):
But I'm still too stubborn.
I will balance myself on oneleg trying to shower.
She's just waiting for the day.
Knock on wood hasn't happenedyet.
She's just waiting.
She's wood hasn't happened yet.
She's just waiting.
She's like mm-hmm.
She's like I know it will.
She's like it's not going tofeel good because that's a tiny
spot.
You know, like you said, wejust cross that bridge when we
(47:55):
get to it.
Speaker 1 (47:57):
You know, like when I first drove, he's like how are
you doing the turn signal?
How are you doing this?
How are you doing that?
I do it.
I don't have any modifications,I got this.
You know they're like oh, doyou want the vehicle
modification where it's on this?
No, you know, do you want?
No, you know.
I mean it's like, don't treatme like I'm like a little glass
jar and your hands are full ofsoapy water, right, and that
(48:18):
you're afraid you're going todrop me because I'm tough.
I mean, you know, and I'm likehey, I all my replacement parts,
I'm all replaced, my parts arereplaced.
So I told him, when I get to belike 70 or 80, you just have to
send me through a like a carwash of WD40.
Like, you know, that's it.
That's all he has to worryabout.
(48:38):
And I'm like I don't have toworry about, you know, all my
parts are breaking of this orbreaking that, because it's
already been fixed.
Like I say a lot of it will beunder warranty.
Speaker 3 (48:48):
It'll just get replaced anyways.
Speaker 2 (48:51):
Let us know in the future if you decide to write a
book or you think we can help.
Speaker 1 (48:56):
Absolutely you should .
We would love to talk with you.
We have something called theStucco Squad and Stucco is my
service dog, my sweetheart, andwe have created the stucco squad
.
I'd love if, when we're notrecording, to send you some for
the department.
We have stickers and and wecame up with, uh, like bracelets
(49:18):
that, oh, he has his own, andso if you're in the hospital or
something happens, they can't,they're not going to make you
take it off, it's not metal, andit just reminds them how
amazing they are, just kids ingeneral.
We do classes for them but andit's all free, there's, there's
no cost to any, to anybody, butit reminds them that they are
amazing.
And you know, and when you go toa call the domestic, which is
(49:40):
the most dangerous call to go on, but you know anything
involving a kid you know it's soscary for them as it is, and
then we give them a bracelet, wegive them a VIP Stucco Squad
membership card where they'rejust automatically in there.
They have their own privateFacebook group and it's a place
for kids to feel valued, heardand welcomed and loved.
And you know we have a bunch ofother organizations that
(50:02):
incorporate it and we would love, you know to to talk with you
off of the recording.
Get that out there for yourdepartment too, because these
kids really need to learn,especially in today's time with
everything that's going on.
It's, it's crazy.
It's crazy.
I mean, have you had to dealwith any school shootings
personally?
Speaker 3 (50:21):
Thank God, no.
Yeah, Thank God, no.
We get a lot of threats wherewe're going.
We work very closely,especially my last assigned area
, my last service area that Ihad.
We had several schools and theywere pretty rough schools for
downtown San Diego, pretty roughschools for downtown San Diego.
(50:47):
So lots of mental healthprofessionals being called in
talking to these kids, gettingthem, you know, psychiatric
evaluations, but luckily nothinghas occurred that they got to
Knock on wood.
Speaker 1 (50:59):
Why do you think there's so much more violence
today from a law enforcementpoint of view than there was
when we were all in school?
Speaker 3 (51:06):
I think it's the lack of respect just for our fellow
humans.
You know I don't want to bethat 50 year old guy, aren't you
stinking video games?
But we're desensitized toviolence.
You know, 100 were all thesegames and the music and the
movies.
We are so desensitized.
(51:28):
You know that that was part ofour training in the marine corps
was the desensitization to allthis violence.
And now it's like we don't haveto do that anymore because
we're already desensitized to it, like there is no value for
human life anymore and it's it'sholy crap.
Speaker 1 (51:42):
Like what the heck is wrong with people right, it's
awful, and I mean they,literally kids are playing 20
hours a day, and when they'renot playing, they the reality of
our life is not their reality,like to them.
In their mind, their real worldis video games like they don't
comprehend the real world oflife.
Like and I've been dealing withthis one family we talked about
(52:04):
off air and they have kids thatare under the age of seven, who
have phones that they'readdicted to and if their their
phone dies, like the world stops.
I have to get my charger.
Why isn't my phone working?
I have to get back on the phone.
I don't and I'm like, why doyou have a phone and you're
seven?
Like, why are you on an?
Why are you playing video gamesthat involve killing and these
(52:27):
brutal things?
You see people justdismembering body parts on these
games and these kids love itand it's like, and you wonder
why the violence level is whereit is.
Speaker 2 (52:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (52:39):
Yeah, I mean, I 100% agree, like I said we are so I
100% agree, like I said, we areso desensitized.
But that's, you know, it's theworld we live in now and it's
unfortunate, like just yesterday, watching all the Oklahoma City
bombing stuff, like that stuffdidn't happen, like that's why
(53:01):
that was tragic in and of itself.
But now it's like somethinglike that would happen today.
We wouldn't be surprised, likewe were back then.
No we would just be like yeah,it's like holy crap, Terrible.
Speaker 1 (53:15):
Yeah, and it's horrible.
I mean, I really think andwe've even seen where school now
are carrying bulletproofbackpacks and it's like when did
you ever think we would get tothat point?
Speaker 3 (53:27):
yeah, I was my partner.
We got because we how longwe've been out of the department
we got issued new vests and hewas all excited he was using his
old ballistic panels as insertsfor his kids backpacks.
I was like that is so crazy tothink like that.
That's the world we live inthese days.
Speaker 1 (53:43):
It's like go on and then when you see resource
officers that are running awayand not going in to help these
kids and teachers.
Speaker 3 (53:54):
Or, in our case, they're being cut from the
schools.
Speaker 2 (53:59):
So they're not even there to begin with.
Wow.
Speaker 3 (54:02):
Yeah, you know, at one point they didn't want any
police.
You know I grew up with metaldetectors in my school just
because of where I grew up,cause it was.
It was a very high crime areawhere I grew up outside of
Chicago so I mean I was used tohaving uniformed police officers
.
You know we were gettingscanned like bad stuff happened
at school, but that's justbecause of where we lived.
Now I mean it's at a whole newlevel now where these kids it's
(54:28):
like shoot.
Just because of that Floridashooting the other day that
deputy the adult kid had accessto mom's gun.
Speaker 2 (54:40):
It's like holy crap.
Speaker 1 (54:43):
They verify where all my stuff's actually locked up,
you know yeah, over on the eastcoast over here, there actually
was where, uh, a kindergartnershut somebody at school and it's
just like, are you serious?
Like that's just.
I can't fathom that.
That's the world that we're in,that's crazy.
Speaker 2 (55:05):
Mark, I want to thank you for your time coming on our
show today.
My pleasure, thanks for theinvite.
Speaker 1 (55:10):
I would love to have you come back, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (55:14):
I just hang out at my house if I'm not working.
I got a six-month-old grandbabyhere.
Speaker 2 (55:19):
Oh.
Speaker 3 (55:24):
My wife's loving this right now, because she gets her
all to herself.
Speaker 2 (55:30):
Everyone here the contagious smile.
Thanks Mark Wright for comingon the show.
Senior.
Speaker 1 (55:35):
And for all of his dedication for what he has done
for this wonderful countrythat's losing hope and changing
for the worse.
Speaker 2 (55:44):
That's right.
Speaker 3 (55:46):
Thank you all for having me.
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (55:48):
I really do appreciate everything and we
will make sure that if you wantus to put any links or anything
out there for people to be ableto get a hold of, you make sure
that I get those and I'll putthem in the notes for everybody
as well.
Speaker 3 (55:59):
Feel free Put my social media stuff out there.
Like I said, I already get hitup by people out here, and if I
could be a resource for someonestruggling in another part of
the country, I'm all about it.
I'm part of our department'speer support program for a
reason because I do want to dothis to help people.
Speaker 1 (56:20):
Absolutely Well.
Stay by one second while wewrap this up.
Everybody again for listeningand we will see you.
Speaker 2 (56:29):
Bye y'all.
Good evening and welcome to another episode of
Unstoppable.
I am Victoria with my amazing,wonderful husband.
It's like the redhead and theredneck.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Howdy y'all.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
I'm so happy to have another amputee with me on this
episode tonight because myhusband, mark, makes fun of me
and says some of the meanestthings.
I'll wait till you're notdrinking because I don't want
you to.
He'll say stuff like we'll playcards and he'll say something
like oh, you lost your handRight, or I didn't want to go
(00:38):
out to a store or anything rightafter and I like lifted up my
nub and he goes is it half off?
I mean, these are you know and.
I have the best sense of humorbecause, like, right before I go
in for any of my operations, Ialways tell my doctor you're
going to leave me in stitches,but you're going to get on my
nerves, right, and I mean theseare things that I do.
(01:00):
But to have another fellowamputee with me who is amazing,
I'm so excited to have mark withus.
His name is mark wright, senior.
He is the first and only I'm soexcited he can motorcycle
officer ever in the unitedstates like this is just amazing
.
I was so excited when I foundhim.
You can tell I'm a littleexcited because I was like oh,
(01:22):
brother, and all of us have lawenforcement background you were
a Marine.
Thank you for your service.
My husband was Air Force andit's just to know that I have
you coming on here.
Congratulations on not givingup, for reaching your goal, for
doing all that you do.
I am just so glad you're here.
(01:44):
I guess he's glad too, butthank you so much for being here
with us tonight.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Oh, it's my pleasure Whatever I can do to get the
word out there that our mindsare only limit.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
There, you go.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
You hear, that, did you hear that.
That is a great book, titleAwesome.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
So you started on your book.
No no not, I'm a dumb jarheadman.
There ain't no writing unlessit's in crayon.
Hey, that might be.
Uh, you know, put in greatcrayon.
See how many jarheads read iteven broken crayons make
beautiful pictures.
Yes, absolutely so I spent, uh,13 and a half years in law
(02:20):
enforcement work.
Um, I was a police officer outright out of the Air Force and
then I went to become a privatedetective, sheriff's deputy
inside the jail and then finallya K-9 officer.
During my police officer yearssix years there I got an
opportunity to.
One of my part-time jobs was toescort funerals, and of course,
(02:42):
you do that on a motorcycle.
So you buy your motorcycleHarley Davidson, of course and
then you start training.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
How do you know he has a Harley?
You don't know.
I know whether he does or not,but you don't know if he has a
Harley.
No self-respecting officerwould have anything to add,
because how do you know?
He has a Harley.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
You have a Harley, don't you?
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Not anymore.
I recently sold it and bought anew one.
Not yet I actually sold it tobuy a BMW because I've only
ridden Harleys my entire life,so I actually crashed.
That's how I lost my leg, wasin a motorcycle crash.
I was on my road glide, so Ihad a new bike before I had a
new leg.
In a motorcycle crash, I was onmy road glide, so I had a new
bike before I had a new leg.
(03:27):
Bought a brand new cvo roadglide.
It was beautiful, rode it forabout a year and that's where I
was like I didn't want to go tothe motors academy but our
department only uses bmws.
So I actually got rid of myharley, got a bmw, so that's
what I've ever ride my.
I got an adventure bike, so Igot that.
But my wife has said it's onlya matter of time now before I
(03:49):
get rid of this and put a Harleyback in my garage.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
She knows.
Can we talk about the day thatthis happened?
Yeah, so you were coming homefrom work and you were obviously
in an accident.
Can you kind of tell everyonewhat happened?
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Yeah.
So it was actually a crazy dayWorking second watch where I'm
supposed to be off at midnightbut of course we don't control
what calls we go to and we had areport of a traffic collision
where there were small childrenthat had popped out of the trunk
of this car.
So we all respond.
Turns out the driver of thevehicle was the children's
(04:30):
father, who had overdosed.
Right after telling his kids itwas okay for them to hide in
the trunk because they weregoing to surprise mom.
They were picking mom up andthey were going to surprise him.
So kids got in the trunk.
He took some sort of drug thatOD'd.
He went across a couple lanesof traffic, crashed, kids popped
out.
They were uninjured, thankgoodness.
(04:50):
So we we long story short.
We were going to arrest him forDUI child endangerment in the
whole nine yards, but because ofthe crash and the OD he was
going to be stuck in thehospital for a long time.
So my leadership decided hey,just we'll do a notify warrant,
we'll arrest them later.
Just go ahead and come back anddeal with the paperwork.
We'll take care of all theother stuff tomorrow.
(05:12):
So get back, finally get out ofwork at three o'clock in the
morning.
Jump on my Harley.
It's my personal bike, I'vebeen riding for years and years
and years.
Jump on my bike, start headinghome.
I live about 55 miles away fromwhere I work and it's mostly
interstate, so I jump on theinterstate doing interstate
(05:32):
speeds.
Next thing, you know, I'm goingaround a dark corner, going
through what I thought was fog,because we're right here on the
coast in Southern California weget a lot of fog from the ocean.
Well, as I'm going through itthrough this turn, I started
realizing I'm smelling coolant.
What I was smelling was thecoolant from a car that had
wrecked out and right when itclicked what it was, I saw out
(05:55):
of the corner of my eye piecesof the car and I was able to
look through the fog debris thatI was going through.
That's when I noticed theoutline of the car, realized it
was too late, impacted the carbroadside, basically because it
had no lights on.
I couldn't see it.
So I hit it.
I was moving.
Pretty good Hit it, but luckilymy Marine Corps training.
(06:16):
I was a crew chief in theMarine Corps.
I used to fly on helicopters,so I had a split second.
I grabbed my shoulders, tuckedmy chin, ejected, flew for quite
a while, rolled skid, luckilynever lost consciousness.
Some angel had stopped hisvehicle when he saw my bike
explode.
He stopped because he knew thatI'd be somewhere.
So he comes running over to mebecause I started screaming out
(06:39):
just to see if anybody hadstopped screaming for help.
And he comes over and he's likehey, I already called 911.
Don't worry, they're coming.
I know that California HighwayPatrol is the one who responds
to crashes and they're notalways very fast.
And I knew my leg was prettymessed up because I could just
tell.
So I told him.
I said hey, call 911 back and Iwant you to relay word for word
(07:01):
exactly what I tell you.
So he gets them back on theline.
I give them my police ID numberand I give them the code for
officer down 1199.
And he kind of went back andforth a couple of times hey,
they want to make sure you're anofficer, what's your ID number?
And say, hey, within seconds Istarted hearing sirens.
So which was good, because whatI didn't realize was I had
severed two arteries in my legbecause basically what had
(07:23):
happened is, when I ejected,everything crumpled up on my
left heel so I basically rippedmy heel off my foot.
I also have multiple compoundfractures all below the knee.
And then, so yeah, fire gottheir tourniquet on me.
All the cops arrived, got me inan ambulance and got me to the
hospital where they tried to dolimb salvage for about two weeks
(07:46):
, Told them from day one, it'snever going to work.
You know, I did multiple combattours.
I saw Marines getting blown up.
I knew what was good and whatwasn't good.
So I was at peace from day one.
Told my wife.
I said look, I'm not keepingthis foot.
I said at the end of the day,the only injuries I had were my
left leg, below the knee.
(08:07):
I had multiple compoundfractures.
My foot was just looked like itwent through a meat grinder.
And then I fractured my pelvisas well because I was carrying
my gun.
And when I hit my gun shatteredmy right side of my pelvis
where I was carrying it.
But other than that I was fine,no neck back, nothing.
So you know, very blessed, sofast forward.
That crash was the 13th ofMarch.
The 24th, they finallyamputated my leg, went home
(08:35):
three days later, unfortunately,got really infected, had to go
in for a revision surgery inApril.
But then that started afterlots of infection battling.
They thought I hadosteomyelitis so I did a lot of
IV antibiotics here at the house.
But July I got my leg startedwalking and rehabbing.
By the 1st of December I wasback at work full duty.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
So, what made you decide to stay on motorcycles
and not something else I've?
Speaker 3 (09:05):
been riding longer than I haven't been riding at
this point in my life.
So I started riding when I wasa drill instructor back in 2001.
I was living 80 miles from thefront gate of where I worked and
getting to and from you know itwas economic and it was a lot
faster, especially here inSouthern California.
So I started riding 2001 and itwas never looking back.
(09:28):
So since 2001, I've had one,and at times I had up to three
motorcycles, all Harleys, in mygarage.
So that was a good time.
I had a V-Rod, an Ultra Classicand a Rogue Lodge, all in my
garage, all in my name.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
So that's, amazing.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
So yeah, classic and a roguelite all in my garage all
in my name.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
That's amazing.
So, going through the process,how was your department when you
went through?
And first you were the oldestcadet, which I think is amazing.
Rock on, that's awesome,Grandpa and he goes and honor
grad.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
I was the honor grad at the same time.
Oh, good deal.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Did you get more support or more slack from some
of the other?
Speaker 3 (10:13):
No, my department has been absolutely amazing.
There's a lot of people whohave issues with the departments
they work for.
I'm the opposite.
They have been nothing butsupportive and amazing.
They've done everything theycould to help me succeed, even
when it was time for me to go onfull duty.
(10:34):
I brought a letter from mydoctor at the VA who cleared me
for full duty and they didn'teven question it.
They said do you believe you'reready?
And I was like, yeah, I'm ready.
Like and like you know, the, thechief of our department, was in
constant communication with meand my wife the whole time I was
in the hospital.
Like, especially coming fromthe Marine Corps, like we've
(10:55):
dealt with tragedies in theMarine Corps, like how we take
care of families.
And my wife will be the firstto admit like wasn't expecting
the, the support from the blueside.
Like, like what we got.
Like she's like wow, at timesit was a little overwhelming for
her.
She's like I need a minute tobreathe.
Like y'all need to, y'all needto.
Let me go for a minute.
But no, yeah, my department'sbeen nothing short of amazing.
(11:17):
And then, even when I told himI wanted to go out to the motors
Academy, they went out and theygot a thumb shifter for me that
they're like hey, we're goingto buy this and we're going to
outfit a couple of motorcyclesso that way it makes it easier
for you to shift.
Turns out it's not compatiblewith BMW.
So they found this out like aweek before the Academy was
(11:37):
supposed to start.
So they're like hey, man, sorry, we're trying to make this
accommodation for you, but it'sjust not going to work.
So do you want to wait to go tothe Academy until we find
something that works?
I was like no, how about you?
Just let me try to ride themotorcycle as it is.
They're like do you think youcan?
I was like let me get on it andfind out.
And there we went, we went on,we went on a ride, and they're
(11:57):
like he can actually do it.
I was like yeah, I can, it's allstate of mind yeah they were
cracking up because I had tomake some adjustments.
So I literally had an Allenwrench with me and we went and
rode for a little bit.
I was having problems.
So I popped the foot off andturned it in a little bit more
towards the foot peg, screwed itback on.
They're like that is so crazy.
I was like, all right, let'stry this.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
And through trial and error, we got it.
Has your prosthetic come off atall while you were riding?
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Not my work bike.
The day I was bringing my BMWhome because at that point I was
in suction suspension the wholetime and, for whatever reason,
I wasn't wearing the outersleeve the suspension sleeve
with it.
So I went down, got the bikeand I'm riding it home and of
course it's rush hour trafficand it's a back country road.
(12:47):
I went to reposition my foot onthe foot peg and the whole left
leg just slides off, boom fallsin the middle of the street and
the cars are just snakingaround it Like it's a dead dog
in the roadway and I'm sittingaround this brand new bike that
I just brought from a dealershipand I can't even.
It's like if I get off the bikeI'm gonna have to drop it
because I have no left leg toput the side stand down.
So luckily I was.
(13:07):
I flagged some people down.
They're like do you need help?
I'm like yes, can you bringthat to me, cause I can't get
off my bike?
I was like that's my leg, doyou need help putting it on?
I was like so it's a mechanicallock, it shouldn't fall off.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
Yes, I have kids that will look at me and I'll be
like I'm Captain Hook's sister.
They think that's really supercool.
Yes, that is super cool.
So you were only hospitalizedfor three days for your
amputation.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
No, I was in almost just short of two weeks because
I crashed on the 13th, I crashedon the 13th, I crashed on the
13th and the amputation was onthe 24th.
So I was every day, or everyother day I was going in for
another surgery.
I think I had close to 12surgeries.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
After your amputation how long was it until they took
you?
Speaker 3 (14:01):
Yeah, once I got the amputation, I was done, I was
out like I'm going to give you agood laugh.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
How long do you think I was in when I got my arm
amputated?
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Post-amputation Post Stop it.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
Whatever you're doing , stop it.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
A couple days?
I have no idea.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
Go ahead.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
That night.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
I got amputated and I went home that night and I took
off everything so I could seeit.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Nice.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
I actually took out all my own stitches.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
This is the curse of a redhead, I swear.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Yeah, I took out all my own stitches and my surgeon
is like, how do you take outyour own damn stitches with one
arm?
Because I mean, he's like I'veactually tried this and I don't
know how you do it, and I'm like, well, you have a heavy hand,
I'm not, I'll do it.
So I did it and I've nevertaken a single pain medication,
I've never got one pain med andnothing.
(15:00):
And so I was so excited when Iwas learning about you and it
was like your brain is what yourlimit is, like you know, you
can, you can do anything you putyour mind to.
And I was like I have got totalk to him because so many
people give you more likesympathy and they're like, oh,
you know, you can't do anythinganymore.
I tie my own shoes.
I open a bottle, you know, Iwipe my own ass.
(15:24):
Nice, I, I, you know, likeexactly my husband's, like who
tied, tied your shoes.
I did, you know, I I won't letit stop me.
It might slow me down a littlebit, but I'm still going to do
it.
I mean, where is?
How did you get to where youare in your mind, where it's
like it's limitless.
(15:44):
I can do what I want to do.
Cause so many people that I'vehad the pleasure of talking with
don't have the mentality thatyou do about you know this is,
this is my limit yeah, I credita lot of it to my Marine Corps
time.
Speaker 3 (15:57):
You know, uh, seeing seeing the Marines coming back
and seeing what they're doing,like I've got friends who are
are big with Wounded WarriorFoundation, a lot of the other
different veterans organizationsthat are out there, and I'm
seeing the stuff that these guysare doing and it's just like
you know, you got these guyswith no legs that are out
surfing and you're like how isthat even possible?
(16:19):
Like this is crazy.
So that's that's very first dayin the hospital.
That's what I told my wife.
I said if I want to go back towork, this will be the fastest
way.
Just cut it off, let me get agood prosthetic.
I was like and I'll be fine,like and that's been my
mentality ever since and a lot,you know a lot of people like oh
man, it's easy.
You know you make it look easyand I'm like, yeah, come see me
(16:41):
at two o'clock in the morningwhen I'm hopping my tail to the
bathroom.
50 year old man.
I said that's, that's whenbeing an amputee a leg amputee
sucks, cause you can't just getup and go.
You got to put a leg on her,you got to hop.
I said so there are downfalls,but you know, those aren't the
stories that I tell people allthe time.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
Yeah, did you ever go through phantom pain?
Yeah, I have it.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
Uh it again.
Not nearly as bad as some of myfriends have dealt with.
I quit taking all I.
When I left the hospital Iwasn't on any pain meds, even
after my revision surgery.
It was one of them.
Like I'm not a big medicationguy I never have been, so even I
was on.
What's funny is I Marine CorpsPTSD stuff.
(17:25):
I've been on gabapentin foryears for my insomnia, so it was
kind of funny.
I'm they're like oh, you'regoing to start taking gabapentin
for years for my insomnia.
So it was kind of funny.
I'm they're like oh, you'regoing to start taking gabapentin
for your phantom pains.
I'm like more, like how muchmore can I, can I be taken?
So I still.
I take it not as often nowbecause it doesn't even help
with insomnia anymore.
So it's one of them like everynow and then, like when I was
(17:45):
going through the motors Academy, I started having a lot of my
old medical issues popping upand that the Gabapentin helped
with that.
But again I haven't taken anyin two weeks.
So it's one of them Like I'mlucky.
Like my partner laughs, heknows when I'm having them,
cause I'll start banging my legoff the side of the patrol car
door, like cause I always drive.
So I'd be sitting there justbanging my leg just trying to
(18:07):
get those nerve endings, doingsomething other than making it
feel like my foot's on fire orsomething.
But yeah, not nearly as bad, soyeah.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
Can you feel?
Speaker 3 (18:16):
your toes.
Toes are.
It feels like a hot poker iseither going through my heel or
like my toes are being crushedby something.
Yeah, does the weather affect?
Speaker 1 (18:25):
you too.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
I'm in Southern California.
We don't get a whole lot ofweather change.
Okay, fair enough.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
I don't know, have they done either nerve
transposition, nerve transfers.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
None of that.
Nope, I had a nerve block putin for a couple of surgeries.
They did nerve blocks but thosewere gone after several hours.
See, yeah, that's what I've haddone.
No tens unit, or so I use it,not for the phantom pains, like
(19:00):
for all my other issues.
Yeah, like, I got a nice tensunit that I purchased years.
I used to be a marathon runner,so I used to run marathons
almost every single weekendbefore my crash, so it was like
the TENS unit has always beenpart of my rehab process for for
various ailments and issues.
So I mean I do use it, but I'vehonestly never even had it
hooked up to my residual limb atall.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
Have they never talked about implanting one?
Speaker 3 (19:27):
No, I get it because I've.
It's not one of those thingsLike when I go to, when I go see
my doctor, like he asks howeverything is, I'm like I'm fine
, like yeah, every now, and thenI get it, but it's nothing so
unbearable that I can't get togo away within a few minutes.
So I don't feel like it reallyimpacts me enough to have to
worry about pursuing anythingelse.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
How else has your life changed since you ended up
losing your leg?
Speaker 3 (19:51):
Honestly, it's only gotten for the good.
Like I've had so many coolthings happen because, like when
, after I went in for myrevision surgery, my wife was in
the waiting room and she saw anad for one of the local solar
companies out here and everyevery major hot, like 4th of
July, memorial Day, veterans Daythey gift a warranted veteran a
(20:14):
complete solar system.
They're like, oh so, just goonline and nominate whatever
veteran you think is worthy.
And my wife's like huh, soshe's sitting in the waiting
room waiting on me, she submitsthis thing and next thing, you
know, three days later, hey,we've selected your husband to
be the recipient for this year.
So, yeah, 4th of July that year, you know, I didn't even have a
(20:35):
leg yet.
They had a big old media crewout here and I got an 18 panel
solar system.
And you know it wasn't becauseof the crash.
But had it not been for thecrash, my wife would have never
seen it to nominate me for it.
Seen it to nominate me for it,stuff like that.
You know, the recognition bythe department for, for you know
, one coming back to full dutyand going back out on patrol and
(20:56):
then now completing the MotorsAcademy.
You know I've talked at ourprayer breakfast for the law
enforcement.
You know, told my story forthat.
Like I've met so many coolpeople and even where I go get
my prosthetics made, this guythe guy who makes my leg
specializes in very highactivity amputees.
So he deals with a lot ofmilitary, special forces,
(21:21):
foreign forces, like he's hadseveral Ukrainian soldiers come
over, soldiers from the Republicof Georgia coming over.
He deals with a lot ofParalympians and stuff like that
.
So like, and I'm meeting allthese people like just on a
regular basis, albert Lynn,who's on the National Geographic
channel, he goes, he goes to myprosthetist, met that guy.
(21:41):
Like I've met some cool peopleand they just reinforce that our
mind is our only limit and it'slike get out there and spread
the word to these people, likequit feeling sorry for yourself
and just get out there and dowhat you want to do.
You know, I've said it from dayone the only two things in life
we control are our attitude andour behavior, and those
directly impact everyone aroundus.
(22:03):
So why not try to findsomething positive you know that
you can focus on instead of thenegative, because the negative
stuff we can't control.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
So I want to ask you, help me here in regards to the
fact that I have the mostamazing soulmate ever.
Stop it.
The day I met him actually Iwas hazing him His FTO I knew
and he asked me if I'd haze himand I said, oh crap, the minute
I met him I knew I was aninstructor at the academy and I
(22:34):
knew I was in trouble.
And um, anyway, if you couldgive him some advice man to man,
former law enforcement,military everything because he
doesn't understand like I wantto sweep, and sweeping is one of
the hardest things for me inone hand.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
Right, I can't hear you.
Speaker 1 (22:52):
Like I want to do sweeping, like I want to sweep
the house, and my husband islike, let me do that and I'm
like I can do it Now.
It does take me quite a bitlonger, but I still want to do
it.
So if you could give my husbandsome advice man to man about
you know things that he wouldmaybe understand better.
(23:12):
What would you say to a spouseof someone who isn't an amputee?
Speaker 3 (23:19):
Let them figure out what they, what their limits,
are Like.
Let you know, until we makethat decision for ourselves,
we're going to want to do stuff.
You know, all like before Ieven got a leg, when we had that
whole production crew comingout, I was convinced I was going
to help to do stuff.
Before I even got a leg, whenwe had that whole production
crew coming out, I was convincedI was going to help my wife
clean, and it wasn't until I wasfalling flat on my face, busted
my face up.
She's like will you listen tome now?
(23:40):
Okay, yeah, but we still wantto.
You know, it's hard, though,because even my wife, she, she
helps people with special needson a regular basis.
They do independent livingservices for people with
disabilities to get them out ontheir like.
I don't, I say supportiveliving, and she corrects me
(24:01):
every time but that's not whatit is.
So, but she's built her careeroff of helping people and she's
oh, let me do this, let me dothat, and it's like time out,
let me figure it out.
You know, let me, let me dealwith it.
And that's where you know Idon't know me, cause I'm the guy
that it's easier for her to say, okay, you got it, whereas you
know cause, we are men, we wantto, we want to be fixtures.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
So right, you know, the thing is is like tying my
shoe.
I've learned to do it myself.
Sweeping is so challenging forme.
But he's like I'll do it andI'm like, no, let me do it.
It takes me a lot longer, yes,but there's certain things that
you know.
I tell him I've got to figureout how to do this.
Let me do this Like stirringyou can't hold the pan while you
(24:44):
stir.
There's just certain things youcan't do.
And I say that to and Iactually have.
I'm paralyzed on part of it andthe nerves are gone.
So I say to my husband you know, let me do this.
I love you with all my heartand soul.
But I don't think, because he'snever really got the chance to
talk to somebody else who is,you know, an amputee like we are
.
So for him to understand thatit we're learning how to do
(25:07):
things new, we have to learn howto do everything over that
we're learning how to do thingsnew.
We have to learn how to doeverything over Like I had to
learn how to do everything thatyou could imagine over again,
and I want to be able to say Ican.
I can do this.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
And that's where I say like my left foot, like the
heck do you, besides standingand walking, what else do you
need a left foot for?
Like that, exactly like I couldtell my friend Javi with the
with the arm issue like do, likea hand, that's, that's a whole
new lifestyle.
Like you really do have tolearn how to redo so many things
(25:41):
in life.
That's for so, like I say,being a leg amputee, it's, it's
nothing.
Like I won't say it's nothing,because we do have our
challenges, but it's not likelosing a hand.
I had surgery on my hand at onepoint and I remember the whole
time it was my dominant hand.
I'm in a cast Wiping your ownbutt.
(26:02):
Like I got to relearn this,like it was so awkward.
Now you're permanently likethat and it's like holy crap.
That's what I told him.
No pun intended Guy's hands downmuch harder than we have it.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
So I want to piggyback off that.
When you have on yourprosthetic okay I don't know if
a lot of folks know this, butwhen you're on a motorcycle, the
left side is your shifter,you've got gears that you
operate with your, basicallyyour toes, okay, the, the toe of
your boot, okay, and it's, it's.
(26:38):
It's more of a feeling, youknow, unless you hear the rpms,
like not every time you're goingto hit the gear, not, I mean,
I've been on so many motorcyclesover my years you're not going
to hit it every single time.
And when you hit that gas, thatthat accelerator, you hear the
RPM drop.
Oh, let me pull the clutch andthen pop it back into gear.
You cannot feel that, can you?
(27:01):
So you have to.
Speaker 3 (27:04):
Well, that's what's weird, especially with the
prosthetic is, as time goes on,I can feel when my foot so I
can't like there's no feelingdown there, but I can sense when
there's something under my toeor under my heel.
I can feel like the way thefoot is sitting on the foot peg,
(27:26):
and so what I have to do is Ican feel how it's sitting on the
foot peg, and just what I haveto do is I can feel how it's
sitting on the foot peg and justfrom, basically, muscle memory,
I know that where it's out onthe foot peg it's in a good
position to work.
When I so I basically lift upat my hip, so I lift, I lift my
whole leg up at once and that'show I shift it.
Just the sole of my bootcatches that gear shift and then
(27:48):
when I have to shift down, Ijust kind of clumsily just push
it down, just jam it down onthat shift peg and that's how I
do it.
But what's weird is I do havesome sort of feeling when it's
in the right spot or in thewrong spot, and it's all because
of how the prosthesis isfitting onto my residual limb.
It's so weird trying to explainthat to people who aren't
(28:10):
amputees.
They're like you can feel it.
I was like yes and no, like Ican sense that there's something
there.
You know, I don't know what itis, but I can tell you that
there's something there.
So it definitely helps, like mybrain is learning as time goes
on, all those little nuanceswith the prosthetic.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
Now one more thing here as nuances with the
prosthetic.
Now one more thing here as copsriding bikes.
We rode in tandem.
I don't know anybody else whorides in tandem.
Mirrors touching almost, that'sright.
How are other officers with youon that?
Is that 100% trust still there?
Speaker 3 (28:48):
Oh yeah, no, we went right after we took our final
riding exam.
We took a long ride and almosteveryone from the section went
with us and we went ridingthrough the mountains here in
Southern California.
It's very difficult and we wereside by side the majority of
the time and the guy who wasright behind me, uh, who's been
(29:10):
on, who's been in the motorsection for several years,
commented afterwards.
He's like hey, I only saw youmiss shift a couple times.
He goes, but he's like yourecovered every single time like
it was never a safety issue,because that's crazy.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
He's like welcome to the unit like right, wow, yeah,
it's awesome yeah, have you everworried about when you do like
a pullover, if somebody got outand gave chase?
Do you ever worry about how youwould proceed?
Speaker 3 (29:37):
No, because it's a lose-lose for that individual,
like I've.
Prior to going to the motors, Iyou know I was out on patrol
for two and a half years andI've been in some foot chases.
Like I said, it's a lose-lose.
If they outrun me, oh good foryou.
You outran the one-legged copand when I catch them it's bro,
(29:58):
you just got caught by aone-legged cop.
So it's a lose-lose for them.
They get taught crap too,regardless.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
When did they get in the block?
Oh, you got called by officer,right?
Speaker 3 (30:11):
Yeah, I had a 20-year-old kid a couple weeks
ago.
Matter of fact, this is theprosthetic I was wearing.
I don't know if the camera willshow it, but I've got a bunch
of scrapes on it.
Where's my camera?
A bunch of scrapes on it and Ihad the prosthetic for all of
like two days, but this20-year-old kid decides he wants
to fight me on these concretesteps.
Speaker 1 (30:32):
Oh no.
Speaker 3 (30:34):
So after I got him into handcuffs and in the back
of my patrol car, all the otherofficers are like bro, like you
just picked a fight withprobably the worst cop alive to
fight, like this dude did 25years in the Marine Corps, like
you're not going to win in afight just because he's just too
darn stupid to lose, I said.
And then we charge him withfelony vandalism for the damage
(30:55):
he did to my prosthetic.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
You just want to take it off and say you're an idiot.
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
I was like, bro, you just got beat by a 50-year-old
one-legged man.
Come on now, You're 20.
You should be ashamed ofyourself Like, come on now,
you're 20.
You should be ashamed ofyourself.
There's no shame in our game.
We will talk crap everypossible opportunity we can.
That's why I said if they runfrom me, it's a lose-lose for
them Right.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
Yeah, what do you think is going to be next for
you?
Because everything you've done,you're just soaring through it.
So what's next?
Speaker 3 (31:30):
Honestly, the motors unit was where I ultimately
wanted to go, because ourdepartment you're not forced to
go back to patrol after so manyyears.
We've got guys who have beenwith the motors unit for over 20
years.
Wow, and I don't want topromote.
I was a sergeant major in theMarine Corps, which is the
highest rank you can be.
Like I've been there, done that, got the t-shirt.
(31:51):
Now I just I just want to be apolice officer and if they're
going to pay me to ride amotorcycle, I'll do that until I
can retire and collect a secondretirement Because, like I said
, I'm 50, like fighting 20 yearold dudes, it hurts, like I talk
a lot of crap, but I was taking, I was rubbing some BioFreeze
for days afterwards.
(32:11):
Like body just don't hold uplike it used to.
Speaker 1 (32:17):
Yeah, yeah, I get that.
Speaker 2 (32:19):
I had a lot of fights myself when I was sheriff's
deputy.
Inside the jail you fight a lot.
Speaker 1 (32:24):
Oh yeah, I bet.
Speaker 2 (32:25):
Oh my God, and it's always the little guys.
You know, that was this kid.
Speaker 3 (32:32):
Like he weighs like 130 pounds, soaking wet.
Like come on, dude, I'm 200pounds and I got all my Batman
gear on me Like come on now, youain't never going to win, man.
Speaker 1 (32:45):
How do the kids react to you when they see you?
Speaker 3 (32:50):
A lot of them ask if I'm a real cop Like cause.
They can't believe that I'mcause I my my uniform.
The department allows me tohave my left leg cut off, so the
left pant leg of my uniform iscut off the majority of the time
I'm out there.
So my prosthetic everyone cansee it.
Speaker 1 (33:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (33:06):
And it's so.
I can, you know, clean, cleanmy my leg off when it's super
sweaty, add socks, as I need towhen my limb, uh, loses volume.
But a lot of times they're likeare you a real officer?
Like, yeah, like, yeah, that's.
Yeah, that's a real gun too.
Yeah, yeah.
Like they're like, how can thatbe?
Like, can you run?
I'm like, yeah, you want togive it a shot.
(33:28):
Like you want to see, but notfor the most part.
I get a lot of positive, mostlypositive comments, uh, because
they're like that's awesome.
You know, the department trustsyou to be able to be out here
and, like I said, it's atestament to the department for
for having that trust in me andunderstanding that yeah I can do
it so yeah that's amazing,because a lot of departments
(33:48):
aren't like that.
Speaker 2 (33:50):
So when I heard about you, Mark, I referenced the
movie A Few Good Men.
Speaker 1 (33:56):
No, it's not A Few Good Men, that's Tom.
Speaker 2 (33:58):
Cruise.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Speaker 1 (34:01):
Okay, I'm not going to tell you Cookie, give me my
12.
Speaker 2 (34:06):
Tell me the name.
Speaker 1 (34:07):
No, I'm not telling you.
Speaker 2 (34:08):
I'm 50 years old.
I forget Anyway, cuba GoodingJr, tell me the name.
No, I'm not, I'm old, I'm 50years old.
I forget.
Anyway, um, cuba good new jrhad to pick up, had to stand up
in that full suit.
Yeah, okay, as an officer as anofficer we have to learn how to
pick up our bikes correctly.
Yeah, okay, civilians don'tknow how to pick up a bike right
(34:28):
.
They'll immediately grab thehandle and try to.
You know these numbers, so wereyou required to pick up your
bike?
Speaker 3 (34:39):
Yeah, that's our pre-interview.
Before we were even able toschedule an interview, to even
think about coming over, theyput a bike down on both of its
sides.
You got to pick it up from bothsides all on your own.
Put it up on a center stand,walk it forward and backwards on
an incline and decline.
Show that you can just do thatminor stuff before you're even
(35:02):
able to go to the academy.
And then, of course, theacademy being what it is, bikes
went down a couple times andthere ain't no one there to help
you pick it back up so, andyou're talking about about a 600
pound bike, a little bit morethan yeah okay
Speaker 1 (35:17):
yeah, what do you do personally when you've had those
days of frustration?
We all get them.
So what do you do when you getto that point?
Speaker 3 (35:29):
I guess, honestly, I haven't had that many
frustrating days and I mean mybiggest frustrating days are the
people I couldn't help.
Like we had a, we had a lady,we got a multiple radio calls on
her.
Um, she was just acting superweird.
Like I said, we went, talked toher two different times and
both times we left she's.
(35:50):
I'm just going to bed, I'msorry.
Third time we went to the housewas because she jumped off a
seventh story, uh, balcony, sothat one that that's been my one
of my worst days out in thedepartment in over four years.
Because like, how'd we miss it?
Like what the heck?
I told my wife I was like thisI lost Marines in combat.
Like why is this one affectingme more than some of those
(36:12):
affected me?
Like super lucky, like I reallyhaven't had those bad days
because of this.
Like my bad days are stuff thatare completely out of my
control.
You know, couldn't get to acall fast enough or something
like that.
(36:33):
But you know, my wife, we thismonth will be 31 years married.
On the 30th is our 31 yearwedding anniversary.
We've been together since highschool Like we were the story.
We're the.
Jerry Spr've been togethersince high school Like we were
the.
We're the Jerry Springer storywith a happy ending.
Like no one she was 15 when Igot her pregnant.
Like we should not still betogether.
(36:54):
Yeah yeah, my first son wasborn while I was in bootcamp,
right out of high school, andhere we are.
You know, while I was in bootcamp, right out of high school,
and here we are, you know, 31years married later and four
kids that are adults they're alldoing good or four grandkids
now, and it's like we're stilltogether and we're still best
(37:14):
friends.
I mean honestly, like she hasreally helped me out, like
through all this, likephysically and mentally.
Like she knows what I wentthrough in the Marine Corps.
Like she saw me break downbecause of Julie that's, julie's
a bitch.
Like she's screwed me up in thehead, like every time, like
(37:35):
she'll, she knows all about it.
Like there's no such thing asoversharing with her, which has
really helped out.
Speaker 1 (37:41):
So yeah, how did the rest of your family react?
Like your kids.
Speaker 3 (37:47):
It's kind of funny.
I asked my wife.
I was like my kids took it veryhard, like because I got twin
daughters.
One of them lives in Houston,she's a dispatcher and her
boyfriend is Houston PD.
Well, they were in town becauseit was my birthday, so they
came to town.
Both of my sons live in Phoenix.
(38:10):
One of my younger son wasactually in town as well for my
birthday.
So after the crash, you're likeI'm stuck at the hospital and my
wife's driving back and forthand all my kids are like mom,
we're going to stay.
She's like no, you're not,y'all need to go home.
We need to figure this out.
But my kids took it really hard.
One of my sons ended upquitting his job in Phoenix and
(38:32):
moving back here with his family.
So like some tough love had tohappen.
Hey, dude, like we got tofigure out what our life is
going to be now.
Like we got to figure out whatour life is going to be now.
Like we got to figure out whatour new normal is.
Like we can't be doing thiswith you, like I got it.
(38:52):
You want to be here to help,but kind of like we said, here
we got to let us figure it outon our own.
Yeah, um, so it was.
It was rough, you know, uh, butlike I told my kids, like you
can't be more worried about thisthan I am, like I'm not, like
I'm going to make a fullrecovery, like get over it, like
this it sucks, but I'm going toyou'll, you'll.
I told him you'll see, likewe're going to be running the
turkey trot and in November,like we always do, and we did so
(39:16):
, and they're like, oh, great,now he's going to have one more
thing to hold over our heads.
Speaker 2 (39:20):
Like, oh, I did the turkey trot on one leg.
One thing I noticed thatbothered my wife in the very
beginning here and sometimes itstill gets to her is when these
individuals stare and they stareat her and you feel the
judgment coming from them.
(39:41):
Well, they also say reallyhurtful things, and that's why
kids today, or they saysomething, you know something
stupid, like in the grocery line.
Speaker 1 (39:48):
Oh, great you get behind the one person that's
going to take forever to unloadyour cart.
Speaker 2 (39:51):
And these are regularly aged people.
So, with your positive mindsetthat you have, you know what
would you say to?
You know new amputees out there.
They're going to go throughthis.
Speaker 3 (40:05):
So, just because of my mentality, I make a joke out
of everything.
I was in the grocery store.
I bought those sock liners withthe graphics on there.
One's like an alligator, itlooks like it's biting down on
my leg, and so you know, I'd becrutching through the grocery
(40:28):
store.
My, my dad actually, who livesin Louisville, kentucky, came
out here for a couple of weeksafterwards and, uh, we're just,
we're going through the grocerystore doing what we do, and all
you know, all these kids arestaring and looking.
I'd tell them hey, this is whathappens when you don't eat all
your fruits and vegetablesmortified, right, and that's you
know.
I one thing that I.
I try to come up with a newreason uh, uh you know people
like, oh, what happened?
(40:50):
one of my favorite ones was Icould tell someone was a not
trying to get political, buteveryone has their own stance on
the covid vaccine and I couldtell this person was very like
they're on their 15th shot.
I could tell that this personwas very like they're on their
15th shot.
I could tell so what happened?
I was like COVID vaccine, whatI was like, yeah, I took the
first dose and ended up losingmy leg because of it.
Oh my God.
(41:10):
I'm like I know it's likeyou're a terrible human being.
I'm like, yeah, well, you know,but so that's what I tell them.
I was like have, people aregoing to look, people are going
to stare, but screw them, theydon't know what's going on.
Don't let them control yourlife.
Speaker 1 (41:27):
I'm this person that I make light of everything
because I'm also deaf.
I'm like this is great, I canturn him off.
I don't have to hear him.
This is fantastic.
You go somewhere and it's likejust come up and ask me Can I
answer a question for you?
Most of my body's all scarredup from you know what I went
through?
And it's like hey, you can comeup and ask me and I'll talk to
you.
It's the adults that are worsethan the kids.
(41:47):
I was walking around a storeand this gorgeous little girl
was like what happened to yourarm?
And I said I lost it and shegoes mom, I'm going to help this
nice lady find her arm and itwas like if I could find it in
this store, I promise you I'mbuying you every toy the store
has to offer.
So I mean it was just the kidsare the greatest and it's just
the adults that are like just socrass and rude.
(42:08):
And you know they want to stareand it's like it's not going to
give you the plague or anythingif it touches you.
You know, you're okay.
It's just some people are justrelentless, I mean, and I always
make light of it.
It's like you know, like Ialways make this is unstoppable
so you can say whatever you want, we're not filtered.
But like when he would makecomments, I'm like no more
handouts for you.
Like you know, these are allcomments, you know, and no
(42:31):
matter how many people I dealwith, they're like I said you
don't understand it is.
Being an apg is tough.
I mean that's just tough.
But to lose your arm I actuallywas a martial arts instructor
and so to lose that and I taughtsign language to special needs,
so to both, I mean that waslike a huge double whammy for me
and it messes up your balance.
Yeah, so that was really hardand it's like people don't
(42:56):
understand that I have to makepeople laugh about everything,
because it makes me feel betterto see people smile at the same
time.
But my husband, bless his heart,he's all like, babe, no, I'll
carry it, give me that, no, youcan't carry that.
Or I'm like can't get the door,you know, or whatever the case
may be, and it's, I mean, I lovehim to death for it.
But people who haven't gonethrough something traumatic like
(43:16):
the loss of a limb doesn'tunderstand.
Like some people I've talkedwith Mark in the coalition, they
are just like they think theirlife is over.
And I'm like you're still here,you know you, you can still
function.
You just learn a different wayto do it you know, and so many
people don't carry thatmentality of life with them.
They think it's over becausethey lost that limb.
(43:38):
And it's totally not.
You get to do everything areally cool new way.
Speaker 3 (43:42):
Well, and that's why I tell people like you have to
check your emotions.
Like don't waste your emotionalenergy on stuff that is
completely out of your control.
Like I told you, my foot ain'tgoing to grow back, so why am I
going to sit there and continueto stress about it?
Like it don't matter how muchMiracle-Gro I put on that thing,
it ain't coming back.
(44:02):
Like I ain't Deadpool, I ain'tgoing to sprout some little nub
coming out of there.
You know as much as I thinkit'd be cool not going to happen
.
So how about I focus on what Ican control?
And that's how I'm going toreact to these different
situations.
Like the people at the stores,the adults you know hey, my eyes
are up here, I'm more than justa missing limb people Like I'll
(44:24):
call them out on it when I seethem.
I'm like, do you want you gotquestions?
Like I'll tell you whathappened.
Like oh, sorry, sorry, sorryman, just tag number.
Speaker 1 (44:32):
When are you going to be driving?
Speaker 3 (44:34):
Well, it's even my license plate.
So both of my vehicles I've got, I've got those digital license
plates where you can put yourown personalized stuff on there.
Like my truck says I'm on mylast leg, and then my car I got
a little sports car and it saysit only costs me a leg.
So you know, usually when I getout of her people start
cracking up like, oh, now itmakes sense.
So like, yeah, I'll make lightof it.
Speaker 1 (44:56):
You know, for my amputation I had them wearing
shirts that you know.
My wife said but yout warrior,and it was like it cost me an
arm and a leg, but I'm a greatnegotiator.
That's it.
For every christmas I dogingerbread cookies but they
have one arm missing because Ithink that's great.
You know you can't laugh aboutit.
You're not amputated.
What is wrong with you?
Go get a hug somewhere, right,just go get hugged.
(45:18):
Yeah, they need a hug and asmile.
Why are you laughing at me likethat?
See now, but you've heard itfrom someone else that we just
have to do our thing Until youfall flat on your face.
Speaker 3 (45:32):
I've got the ring video because I've got cameras
all around my house.
My wife comes out.
She looks at me.
I'm on crutches spraying downour concrete patio.
She's like what are you doing?
I'm like I'm going to help,okay.
Next thing, you know, thecrutch goes boom and I'm like
bam, right on my face.
She didn't even try to help.
She's like you good?
Speaker 1 (45:54):
I'm like, yeah, I'm just going to lay here for a
minute.
My ego's over there, my leg isover there, she's like damn it.
Speaker 3 (46:00):
He's like.
I told you Like, yeah, I'llfigure it out we will, we'll get
it, we'll get it.
Speaker 2 (46:08):
I think he's a little tougher than you.
What yeah, mark?
She has probably had150-something surgeries Damn.
Due to past domestic violenceand medical foul-ups, she has a
titanium jaw.
Speaker 1 (46:25):
No, I have two titanium jaws, top and bottom.
Speaker 2 (46:28):
Shoulder replacement.
You know she's still got wiresin her arms in her side here.
You had something with your hipyou don't even know your wife.
Speaker 1 (46:41):
You've got everything .
Speaker 2 (46:42):
Yeah, so you know if she falls or something happens,
you know it's going to becatastrophic.
Yeah, it's going to be far moresurgery than what it would.
Speaker 1 (46:54):
My very empty brother .
Don't listen to this seriously.
Speaker 2 (46:58):
He took a bath tonight.
I heard something fall, youknow.
Speaker 1 (47:03):
He comes flying up the stairs.
Are you okay, are you?
Speaker 2 (47:05):
okay, what's going on ?
It was through the door, buddy.
Speaker 1 (47:08):
It was the shampoo bottle that fell.
Speaker 3 (47:13):
Well, that's my wife's biggest concern.
So after the amputation,getting in and out of the
bathtub realized that's probablygoing to be the most dangerous
thing I do every single day.
So we modified my shower now soit's a walk-in shower and
there's a bench in there withgrab bars.
(47:33):
But I'm still too stubborn.
I will balance myself on oneleg trying to shower.
She's just waiting for the day.
Knock on wood hasn't happenedyet.
She's just waiting.
She's wood hasn't happened yet.
She's just waiting.
She's like mm-hmm.
She's like I know it will.
She's like it's not going tofeel good because that's a tiny
spot.
You know, like you said, wejust cross that bridge when we
(47:55):
get to it.
Speaker 1 (47:57):
You know, like when I first drove, he's like how are
you doing the turn signal?
How are you doing this?
How are you doing that?
I do it.
I don't have any modifications,I got this.
You know they're like oh, doyou want the vehicle
modification where it's on this?
No, you know, do you want?
No, you know.
I mean it's like, don't treatme like I'm like a little glass
jar and your hands are full ofsoapy water, right, and that
(48:18):
you're afraid you're going todrop me because I'm tough.
I mean, you know, and I'm likehey, I all my replacement parts,
I'm all replaced, my parts arereplaced.
So I told him, when I get to belike 70 or 80, you just have to
send me through a like a carwash of WD40.
Like, you know, that's it.
That's all he has to worryabout.
(48:38):
And I'm like I don't have toworry about, you know, all my
parts are breaking of this orbreaking that, because it's
already been fixed.
Like I say a lot of it will beunder warranty.
Speaker 3 (48:48):
It'll just get replaced anyways.
Speaker 2 (48:51):
Let us know in the future if you decide to write a
book or you think we can help.
Speaker 1 (48:56):
Absolutely you should .
We would love to talk with you.
We have something called theStucco Squad and Stucco is my
service dog, my sweetheart, andwe have created the stucco squad
.
I'd love if, when we're notrecording, to send you some for
the department.
We have stickers and and wecame up with, uh, like bracelets
(49:18):
that, oh, he has his own, andso if you're in the hospital or
something happens, they can't,they're not going to make you
take it off, it's not metal, andit just reminds them how
amazing they are, just kids ingeneral.
We do classes for them but andit's all free, there's, there's
no cost to any, to anybody, butit reminds them that they are
amazing.
And you know, and when you go toa call the domestic, which is
(49:40):
the most dangerous call to go on, but you know anything
involving a kid you know it's soscary for them as it is, and
then we give them a bracelet, wegive them a VIP Stucco Squad
membership card where they'rejust automatically in there.
They have their own privateFacebook group and it's a place
for kids to feel valued, heardand welcomed and loved.
And you know we have a bunch ofother organizations that
(50:02):
incorporate it and we would love, you know to to talk with you
off of the recording.
Get that out there for yourdepartment too, because these
kids really need to learn,especially in today's time with
everything that's going on.
It's, it's crazy.
It's crazy.
I mean, have you had to dealwith any school shootings
personally?
Speaker 3 (50:21):
Thank God, no.
Yeah, Thank God, no.
We get a lot of threats wherewe're going.
We work very closely,especially my last assigned area
, my last service area that Ihad.
We had several schools and theywere pretty rough schools for
downtown San Diego, pretty roughschools for downtown San Diego.
(50:47):
So lots of mental healthprofessionals being called in
talking to these kids, gettingthem, you know, psychiatric
evaluations, but luckily nothinghas occurred that they got to
Knock on wood.
Speaker 1 (50:59):
Why do you think there's so much more violence
today from a law enforcementpoint of view than there was
when we were all in school?
Speaker 3 (51:06):
I think it's the lack of respect just for our fellow
humans.
You know I don't want to bethat 50 year old guy, aren't you
stinking video games?
But we're desensitized toviolence.
You know, 100 were all thesegames and the music and the
movies.
We are so desensitized.
(51:28):
You know that that was part ofour training in the marine corps
was the desensitization to allthis violence.
And now it's like we don't haveto do that anymore because
we're already desensitized to it, like there is no value for
human life anymore and it's it'sholy crap.
Speaker 1 (51:42):
Like what the heck is wrong with people right, it's
awful, and I mean they,literally kids are playing 20
hours a day, and when they'renot playing, they the reality of
our life is not their reality,like to them.
In their mind, their real worldis video games like they don't
comprehend the real world oflife.
Like and I've been dealing withthis one family we talked about
(52:04):
off air and they have kids thatare under the age of seven, who
have phones that they'readdicted to and if their their
phone dies, like the world stops.
I have to get my charger.
Why isn't my phone working?
I have to get back on the phone.
I don't and I'm like, why doyou have a phone and you're
seven?
Like, why are you on an?
Why are you playing video gamesthat involve killing and these
(52:27):
brutal things?
You see people justdismembering body parts on these
games and these kids love itand it's like, and you wonder
why the violence level is whereit is.
Speaker 2 (52:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (52:39):
Yeah, I mean, I 100% agree, like I said we are so I
100% agree, like I said, we areso desensitized.
But that's, you know, it's theworld we live in now and it's
unfortunate, like just yesterday, watching all the Oklahoma City
bombing stuff, like that stuffdidn't happen, like that's why
(53:01):
that was tragic in and of itself.
But now it's like somethinglike that would happen today.
We wouldn't be surprised, likewe were back then.
No we would just be like yeah,it's like holy crap, Terrible.
Speaker 1 (53:15):
Yeah, and it's horrible.
I mean, I really think andwe've even seen where school now
are carrying bulletproofbackpacks and it's like when did
you ever think we would get tothat point?
Speaker 3 (53:27):
yeah, I was my partner.
We got because we how longwe've been out of the department
we got issued new vests and hewas all excited he was using his
old ballistic panels as insertsfor his kids backpacks.
I was like that is so crazy tothink like that.
That's the world we live inthese days.
Speaker 1 (53:43):
It's like go on and then when you see resource
officers that are running awayand not going in to help these
kids and teachers.
Speaker 3 (53:54):
Or, in our case, they're being cut from the
schools.
Speaker 2 (53:59):
So they're not even there to begin with.
Wow.
Speaker 3 (54:02):
Yeah, you know, at one point they didn't want any
police.
You know I grew up with metaldetectors in my school just
because of where I grew up,cause it was.
It was a very high crime areawhere I grew up outside of
Chicago so I mean I was used tohaving uniformed police officers
.
You know we were gettingscanned like bad stuff happened
at school, but that's justbecause of where we lived.
Now I mean it's at a whole newlevel now where these kids it's
(54:28):
like shoot.
Just because of that Floridashooting the other day that
deputy the adult kid had accessto mom's gun.
Speaker 2 (54:40):
It's like holy crap.
Speaker 1 (54:43):
They verify where all my stuff's actually locked up,
you know yeah, over on the eastcoast over here, there actually
was where, uh, a kindergartnershut somebody at school and it's
just like, are you serious?
Like that's just.
I can't fathom that.
That's the world that we're in,that's crazy.
Speaker 2 (55:05):
Mark, I want to thank you for your time coming on our
show today.
My pleasure, thanks for theinvite.
Speaker 1 (55:10):
I would love to have you come back, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (55:14):
I just hang out at my house if I'm not working.
I got a six-month-old grandbabyhere.
Speaker 2 (55:19):
Oh.
Speaker 3 (55:24):
My wife's loving this right now, because she gets her
all to herself.
Speaker 2 (55:30):
Everyone here the contagious smile.
Thanks Mark Wright for comingon the show.
Senior.
Speaker 1 (55:35):
And for all of his dedication for what he has done
for this wonderful countrythat's losing hope and changing
for the worse.
Speaker 2 (55:44):
That's right.
Speaker 3 (55:46):
Thank you all for having me.
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (55:48):
I really do appreciate everything and we
will make sure that if you wantus to put any links or anything
out there for people to be ableto get a hold of, you make sure
that I get those and I'll putthem in the notes for everybody
as well.
Speaker 3 (55:59):
Feel free Put my social media stuff out there.
Like I said, I already get hitup by people out here, and if I
could be a resource for someonestruggling in another part of
the country, I'm all about it.
I'm part of our department'speer support program for a
reason because I do want to dothis to help people.
Speaker 1 (56:20):
Absolutely Well.
Stay by one second while wewrap this up.
Everybody again for listeningand we will see you.
Speaker 2 (56:29):
Bye y'all.
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