• Home
  • Contact
  • About Us
  • Authors
  • Advertise
  • Categories
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
No Result
View All Result
Law Officer
Law Officer
No Result
View All Result

My Dad Was Nearly Killed When I Was 9-Years-Old … This Is My Story

June 15, 2019
GuestbyGuest
in Uncategorized
nearly killed

Jim and Jordan McNeff (courtesy McNeff family)

447
SHARES
1.9k
VIEWS
Share and speak up for justice, law & order...

My Dad is a cop. He was nearly killed when I was 9-years-old. My story begins the night we received the phone call.

Mom left earlier in the day for an out of town work conference. Dad was assigned to day watch at the time, which meant he’d typically be home about 6:00 p.m. if all went well.

I have two older siblings, a brother who was 11-years-old, and sister who was 13 at the time. Since Mom left earlier in the day, and Dad wouldn’t arrive home until after “1800” as they call it, we had a teenage friend hanging out with us.

nearly killed
This is me playing the drums when I was 9-years-old. (Photo courtesy McNeff family)

Father in Uniform

There is something cool about having a father who is a cop. The badges, uniform, police car, guns; it’s all pretty sweet. I loved visiting him at work. He let us play with his handcuffs and SWAT gear. On occasion he’d put us in the back of his police car, or a jail cell when taking friends on a tour of the police department. It was a little creepy, but I never worried when my dad was around.

Retirement
These were the badges worn by my dad during his career. (Photo courtesy McNeff family)

The Phone Call

And then the phone call came about 7:00 p.m.

I’m unsure what my dad said to our babysitter, but we had to turn off the TV and wait. He told her that he would be home really late … way after we should be in bed, and that Mom was on her way home.

He wanted us to know he was all right, but wouldn’t be able to see us until the next day.

The sequence of events wasn’t at all unusual … at least the part about coming home late. But I knew if my mom was driving home from her event about three hours away, something was up.

Fatigue

When we awoke the next morning, Dad was there. His sleepless eyes, and fatigued body told me he had probably been up all night, something we saw on occasion. But when he saw us rumble downstairs, he managed a week smile and hugged each one of us.

Did You Catch the Bad Guys?

My mom was now home, so we asked if he “caught all the bad guys.”

“You bet I did,” were his words as he gave each of us a high-five. “One of them tried to hurt me real bad yesterday, but God chose me for victory, and I won.”

Hmmm, curious words … although we are a family of faith in God and attend church regularly, his explanation caught me off guard.

Of course God chose you to win, I thought. You always win. You’re invincible!

When we pressed for more of the story, he simply said, “God chose me to win and the bad guy died. That is all you need to know for now.”

Okay … sweet … just as I thought, my dad is a superhero.  

Conversations Not Meant for 9-Year-Old Ears

Yet over the course of the next few days, I overheard conversations that were not meant for me. Everyone wanted to talk to my “pops.” And whether he was on the phone, or in another room, the words from his loud voice floated through the air so I began to piece things together.

“Large double-headed lumberjack style axe” … 

“Nearly split me in half” … 

“Broken ribs … detached labrum” … 

“It’s a miracle the axe didn’t dislodge my weapon” … 

“Easily could have been my last day” … 

“The round that saved my life” … 

“One shot in the head” … 

“Severed the brain stem and he dropped like an accordion” … 

And then words that would paralyze me for several months:

“My kids nearly lost their dad. This would probably have been the day of my funeral.”

Yikes! I’m not sure what’s going on, but I don’t like any of this. Since I wasn’t supposed to hear these conversations, my 9-year-old mind didn’t know what to do with the information.

So I stuffed it … I buried it deep … so far down that I couldn’t tell people where it was or how to get there.

All I knew was my mom and dad were never going to leave my sight. … NEVER AGAIN.

Separation Anxiety

Without explanation, whenever they tried to drop me off at school or church, I went into a panic attack. My body trembled and tears began to flow. I grabbed their arms and legs and was not about to let go. This was separation anxiety in its’ truest form.

In patient frustration, they tried to figure out what was going on. After all, from their perspective, I was unaware of the violent details that nearly claimed my dad’s life, so that wasn’t the problem. Right?

But what was?

They asked every conceivable question trying to figure out what was wrong. Was it Mom returning to work? … a bully? … the shooting? … No, no, no I told them. Yet I really didn’t have the answers.

My Dad went into full-on-detective-mode. He thought someone must’ve molested me, so we went through the list of potential suspects and conversations about keeping secrets. “No, that isn’t it” I exclaimed in exasperation.

But like most children who are unable to voice their anxiety, I finally put it in the form of art.

Art Project

I had a fourth-grade art project that asked how I would help Native Americans had I been one of the original Pilgrims. Easy! I’d help them plant corn, water their crops, hunt for food, erect teepees, … SHOOT THEM IN THE HEAD!

Yep, that is what I included several pages into my report. After all, my dad helps people and he had to shoot someone in the head. So while I cannot psychologically explain my thought process that is how it played out.

Open House

When my parents visited open house at school a few weeks later, my dad was scrolling through the report when he came upon this page.

He showed it to my mom, and the riddle was finally solved. It wasn’t the shooting that left me catatonic, but the thought of losing my dad.

My Dad Was Nearly Killed

They had a chat with my teacher who already knew something mysterious was going on. But she was unaware of the fatal shooting that saved my dad’s life. Yet now the cause of my turmoil had been discovered and we were able to treat it.

My parents have a friend who is a therapist. She came to our house and worked with me over the course of several weeks. Moreover, my parents prayed that God would simply erase my memory.

marriage snared
My parents at the Medal of Valor ceremony in 2002. (Photo courtesy McNeff family)

Root Cause of Anxiety

Once we worked through the root cause of my anxiety, I quickly returned to the normal kid I had been prior to overhearing the devastating news.

About a year later, my dad began preparing for a promotional exam. As a result, he studied during times we normally spent together, and I felt left out. Although I always referred to him as “Dad,” and never by his first name, suddenly I felt compelled to action.

Yellow Post-It Notes

I wrote about 15 yellow post-it notes referring to him by his first name. In each note I asked him not to promote. If the promotion took my dad away, I wasn’t interested.

nearly killed
(Courtesy McNeff family)

A child psychologist later told us by using his first name was my way of trying to enter his adult world. After all, that is how other adults referred to him, so that is how my childhood brain tried to get his attention.

The perspective I have shared is that of a 9-year-old. I continued in childhood as a good student in school and played baseball, football, and soccer. In high school I academically excelled while playing volleyball and wrestling.

Fast Forward 17 Years

Moreover, I went to college and graduated with a degree in English. I now live in the world of a 26-year-old man who teaches and ministers to children. Furthermore, I was married to a beautiful woman, Erice, a few years ago.

nearly killed
Here I am walking the beach with my new bride in 2017. (Dillon Phommasa Photo courtesy McNeff family)
Dad
This is a family pic at my 2017 wedding. Since it was held at the beach, Pops (old guy with gray hair, third from the left) was able to wear informal attire. (Courtesy McNeff family)

Finally, while I have expressed the perspective of a young boy, honestly it is not my own. While this is a true story, I don’t remember anything more than scant details regarding the post-it notes. I have chronicled the events as they’ve been pieced together for me as an adult. Even though my dad kept one of the notes in his locker for the duration of his career, my memory is vague. And yes, my mom still has my fourth-grade Native American project. But my parent’s prayers were answered. I don’t remember any of the details that brought anxiety or caused me to tremble before marching into the world of a 9-year-old.

———

Jordan McNeff is the son of a retired police lieutenant, author, and Law Officer managing editor, Jim McNeff. Jordan graduated from Vanguard University with a bachelor’s degree in English. He currently works in ministry at Mariners Church in Southern California.

———

(Dillon Phommasa Photo courtesy McNeff family. Feature image is Jim and Jordan McNeff at Jordan’s wedding in 2017.) 

 


Share and speak up for justice, law & order...
Tags: 9-year-old boycareer copFamilyfatal encountersfatal shootingJim McNeffJordan McNeffoisuniform
Guest

Guest

Law Officer Badge Blue

Donate & Help Support Law Officer

Donate now and help support justice, law & order
Your donation is tax-deductible.

Related Posts

rifle

Woman armed with rifle fatally shot by police; man with lacerated neck found dead in home

April 3, 2021
2.6k
Nashville woman

Nashville woman shot after attacking officer with pick axe and baseball bat

March 21, 2021
5.5k
LAPD

LAPD involved in 5 shootings this week in crime-ridden city

March 20, 2021
2k
Utah officers

Utah officer fatally shoots armed suspect

March 1, 2021
5.3k
Suicidal man

Suicidal man with a knife fatally shot by Seattle police

February 19, 2021
2.2k
teen killers

America’s teen killers on the rise—and getting younger

January 28, 2021
1.9k
Load More
Book: The Courageous Police Leader

Latest Articles

forensic pathologist

Forensic pathologist takes stand in Chauvin’s defense

April 14, 2021
1.5k
Brooklyn Center mayor

Brooklyn Center mayor absurdly claims police do not need guns on traffic stops

April 14, 2021
1.5k
USAF veteran

DOJ will not pursue charges against Capitol police officer involved in Ashli Babbitt’s death

April 14, 2021
1.9k

Police union leader speaks unpopular truth: Duante Wright shares blame in his own death

April 14, 2021
6.7k
Source: Hodgenville Police Department, Facebook

Exclusive–Vehicle Thefts Increase After Dropping 50 Percent

April 14, 2021
1.2k
Brooklyn Center

Brooklyn Center officer arrested, faces manslaughter charge in death of Daunte Wright

April 14, 2021
2.6k
Load More

Liberty University offers affordable tuition and a 25% discount for law officers and first responders.

Follow your Law Officer Local Network:

  • Illinois
  • Minneapolis, MN
  • New York, NY
  • Tulsa, OK
  • Wauwatosa, WI

More coming soon. Follow the news related justice, law, and order in your local area—and stand up and speak out.


Please donate and help support Law Officer

Must Read

Officer expresses shock

Officer expresses shock after shooting combative suspect with firearm instead of Taser

April 12, 2021
12.3k
Texas police sergeant

Qualified immunity is an endangered species

April 2, 2021
2.3k
sedition charges

DOJ quietly acknowledges there was no sedition at the US Capitol

March 30, 2021
150k
Source: Tito Texidor III, unsplash

Duping the ‘woke’—a new kind of criminality in America

March 26, 2021
4.3k
Source: bantersnaps, unsplash

Are Asian-Americans victims of ‘white terror’—or the media?

March 21, 2021
4.4k
Load More

Stand up & speak out!

Gab with us—fight censorship!

Most Popular

Nashville officer

Graphic video shows deadly encounter between Nashville officer and Tennessee woman

March 15, 2021
221k
New Mexico State Police

New Mexico State Police release horrifying video of officer’s murder

April 11, 2021
51.5k
sedition charges

DOJ quietly acknowledges there was no sedition at the US Capitol

March 30, 2021
150k
ears

Florida man reportedly pulled out human ears when questioned about grandfather’s murder

March 15, 2021
71.3k

Journalist: Derek Chauvin ‘will be acquitted’; alleged drug dealer invokes the Fifth Amendment

April 1, 2021
85.3k

More from Law Officer

  • Archives (12,812)
  • Chaplain (74)
  • Chauvin Trial (12)
  • Community (128)
  • Cop Humor (15)
  • Crime & Controversy (127)
  • Editorial (458)
  • Gear & Technology (64)
  • Investigations (2,429)
  • Laws & Legal (1,314)
  • Leadership (477)
  • News (5,991)
  • Officer Down (804)
  • On Duty (88)
  • Op-ed (600)
  • Reference (1)
  • Tactics (405)

LA Police Gear

Law Officer

© 2021 LawOfficer.com

LawOfficer.com

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact

Speak up for justice, law & order

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Law Officer Networks
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • NYC Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
    • Join the Network!

© 2021 LawOfficer.com