Howdy Folks!
Long time no see! Been awhile since I done much in the way of metal detecting because I've been making radical changes in my life. So sit back, have a cup of coffee, and I'll fill you in.
Got a call from Snickerdoodle yesterday wondering what had befallen the Colorado Gold Slinger, hoping all was well. I believe she was took by surprise at my answer.
We've had some serious cold and snow around these parts, and my enthusiasm for enduring the elements ain't what it used to be prior to my tangle with blood thinners last year. I was not bothered by cold so much as I am now, despite having been off them for a year now. Still, the cold cuts through much worse than it did before that particular experience.
Somewhere around November, I got to reviewing my life thus far and wasn't happy with some aspects in general. Since then, I've lost 70 pounds and started training to become a Fugitive Recovery Agent. In Colorado, you must jump a few hurdles in order to be certified for this occupation, and I took up a course to gain certification. When time came to take the test, I passed with a 94. Then I had to get fingerprinted, background check through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (and they check the FBI as part of their investigation), and wait for the outcome. The shorter story is, I now am certified.
Next on the parade was to find a mentor in the business to further my learning of this business and I got me a real good one. He is an FRA with over 25 years of experience. I went over to meet with him for a meet and greet, get to know you, sort of interview to see how we'd match up. At least that's what I figured. Before 90 minutes had passed, we were rushing eastbound to meet with the team and commence the apprehension of a fugitive who has some nasty habits and badly needed accomodations at the county jail.
Since that first day I have participated in several arrests of wanted fugitives and I'm part of a terrific team of Fugitive Recovery Agents. My mentor is sharing his knowledge and experience so I can grow into the business and be successful while remaining safe and effective.
I will be going tomorrow to check out some martial arts training in Krav Maga, especially in the area of arrest and control techniques. The instructor for that works with law enforcement agencies to train police officers in those techniques in order to deal with combative bad guys.
The next Saturday, I'll be taking a course at Colorado Academy of Process Service, to add process serving to my portfolio of skills. The work of a process server and a fugitive recovery agent tend to blend very nicely, and the skills for both require similar ability. Among those skills are skip tracing, investigation, tailing, surveillance and a few others in the mix.
Meanwhile, I figure I can use my metal detector to perform surveillance of particular suspects. For example, if we believe a fugitive is holed up at a particular house, I can go into that neighborhood and ask folks whether I can metal detect their yards. While doing that, I can keep an eye on the suspect location. Once I get positive I.D. that our fugitive is indeed at such location, I can call in the troops to effect apprehension and arrest.
Once this snow melts and we get some warmer weather, I hope to get in some metal detecting and find some goodies to show off. But with all this training I've been doing for the past several months, it just ain't been easy to do any detecting for awhile.
So you see folks, I've decided to take my success with hunting with a metal detector to hunting men with a badge and gun! One way or another, I am still in the hunt.
Hemingway said: There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else!
Now that I've been out there, hunting down men (and women), I can tell you honestly that it is much to my liking!
Blessings,
M-Taliesin
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