Ernie Laurin by: Bob Hardy

Everybody who knew Ernie Laurin didn’t know from week to week whether he was going to be on or off drinking or smoking. They were also well aware of his passion for catching burglars. Anyone on his shift who caught a burglar knew for sure his eval would be better than the last one. He would beckon his field sergeants to take over the WC’s Desk and he would set out from the station in a Detectives 1965 metallic green Olds 4 door with a red spotlight.

Right out of the Academy, I was assigned 4311 Daywatch for two months, (my training officer was Rick Miller who said “you better learn everything in 3 days because I’m going on vacation”) then off to Watch I (where I spent the next almost 3 1⁄2 years). This was God’s way and the Patrol Commander’s way of humbling you and bringing you along slowly so you didn’t get into any trouble. On the “E” plan there were five patrol areas and 27 stretched from RD 34 down the west side of the Back Bay to RD 41 & 42 (Balboa Is.) and you backed up 4332, the CDM unit. As a rookie’s luck would have it, 4332 happened to be the seasoned veteran of 6 mos., Al Doum. You will remember him as, ”I’m east bound out of the city in pursuit” (of course when he did that you had to follow up from RD 34) and “Oops I think I have a CPI, parking meter near Woody’s, maybe a Renault too, 901N Code 3”. (He hit the Renault and it flipped over into a meter.)

Back to Ernie, there had been noted occasions when he was successful in locating a burg or even one in progress, as in the case of a store near Marge’s bar. He almost single handedly handled the arrest and all the reports. He would, in fact, write the arrest report but the beat officer got the distinction of taking the burg report in that case.

We had been receiving reports of prowling and some minor (no cat) burglary reports in RD’s 27 & 28 along Santiago and Antiqua. At that time the area had not been completely built out and numerous vacant but graded home sites (lots if you will) were located along Galaxy Drive from Mariners north to Santiago Drive and a few remained on Antiqua Way.

During the prior shifts in my beat I had been able to traverse the terraced sites in my 67 Olds patrol car without a problem by doing it at sunrise, thus preventing boredom on those cool winter nights when there would be two radio calls all night for the shift.

One night or early morning, if you will, I was up in a home site on Galaxy when I saw the familiar green Olds approach the area with his lights out. I, in turn had mine out also and began to move site to site southbound cautiously (at that time we had a taillight kill switch on our console and I used it to my advantage). I wasn’t sure why he decided to come out onto the site or if he was just trying to catch me sleeping, but I didn’t want him catching up to me. He followed at about three sites behind. Then I lost track of his position by sliding in behind a bulldozer and waited for him to appear back on the paved surface of Galaxy.

After a short while, a familiar voice came on the radio, “4310 to 27 go to (channel) 2”. “On 2, yes sir.” He then stated, “You get back here and help me.” I asked what help he needed and the reply was “you know what”. I located the green stealth car about 5 lots back and high centered on one the berms, with a frustrated Lt. standing by. A few well timed bounces on the trunk lid were enough to dislodge the car and get the Lt. on his way.

A funny thing, I never had to worry about the Lt. following me anymore, it was just Bob Jelensky, he never gave up.

By Bob Hardy, 2013