I’m wondering if this is going to be my second time calling 911 from the ER

I

like the color blue. The sky is blue. Yitzy’s eyes are blue.

And so are police uniforms.

They’re a relatively common sight in the ER. You won’t hear much of the “Defund the Police” nonsense here. The men in blue are the ones who keep us safe when our work becomes dangerous. They bring in the people from the streets who are drunk, violent, and ill. They accompany the ambulance personnel when they have a tough or threatening patient. And sometimes they bring in criminals — either from jail or before going to jail — to be treated for anxiety or whatnot. Other times, we diagnose these “patients” as malingerers who need to get back behind bars.

It’s a relationship of mutual respect, and I’ve come to recognize many of Chicago’s finest over the past two and a half years.

I’ve only had to call them once before, but I think tonight’s case might end up as the second.