Early in the morning, while Tim Jamieson sat in his motel room after a shower, Sheriff John called to discuss Tim’s background. Sheriff John said he had found online that Tim received a lifesaving commendation in 2017 and was Sarasota PD’s Sworn Officer of the Year in 2018, noting these were not on Tim’s application. He asked if Tim had simply forgotten them.

Tim admitted he had applied on impulse and had not listed them, then described the incident behind the lifesaving commendation. He recounted responding to a call at a private golf course where an 11- or 12-year-old had climbed a tree above a small, mostly lethargic alligator. Tim borrowed a five-iron from the boy’s father and struck the alligator until it retreated to the water hazard, allowing the boy to climb down; the minor event nevertheless made the evening news.

When asked about the Officer of the Year award, Tim initially deflected with modesty, which Sheriff John challenged as either excessive modesty or low self-esteem. Realizing the job offer hinged on his response, Tim affirmed that he had earned the award and said he carried the citation in his duffel.

Satisfied, Sheriff John said Tim was overqualified but offered him the Night Knocker position beginning at 11 p.m., with a shift from 11 to 6. He instructed Tim to stop by around noon for a brief rundown from Officer Gullickson.

Sheriff John emphasized that Tim would not be a sworn deputy and was not authorized to carry a firearm. He ordered Tim to radio the station if he encountered danger and warned that carrying a gun would mean immediate dismissal.

Tim accepted the terms, thanked the sheriff, and, after the call ended, darkened his room, set his phone, and went back to sleep to prepare for becoming “a creature of the night.”