Former police officer learns lesson the hard way

Former police officer Bill Turner enjoys a morning at the park with his dog.

“When I was sworn in, the chief of police at the time said, ‘This badge is going to get you a lot of women. But it only takes one woman to get the badge.’ And sure enough … I was amazed to find out how women are attracted to men in uniform. I wasn’t prepared for that. I got caught in a trap.

“This woman had come on to me strongly, and I was weak. Then my wife found out about it. I quit the police department because I thought it might help save our marriage. We lasted a few more years before getting divorced. One day my wife confessed to me that she didn’t think she could ever trust me again. That dug deep. If you don’t have trust, you really can’t have a marriage.

“It also put a strain on my relationship with my two boys for a long time, especially my oldest. We were estranged for four years after it happened. He blamed me for breaking up the family.

“He served in the Army and did three tours in Iraq. One time he was sitting on some kind of military vehicle when a bomb exploded right next to it. That’s when he realized that he could die over there with us still being split. So he finally sent me a letter, kind of a reconciliation. When he came back home we got together, and everything’s cool now.

“But I’ve been heartbroken ever since for losing my wife. I screwed it up. It’s the biggest regret of my life. I’m still single. She was the best woman in the world for me. I haven’t found anyone since who’s even come close.”

— Bill Turner