Billy was a railroad security guard. His company was one of the largest in the country. He knew the rail yard well. He also knew of all the dangers that come from working around trains. He also knew of the danger from all the low lifes that hung around the yard. Sometimes he had a vehicle but usually made his patrol by foot.

He encountered all sorts of characters on his daily routes. He had been trained not to apprehend them. The exception was, if they were interfering with the company business. Most of them were there to catch a quick nap. He usually just woke them up and urged them to move off railway property.

Most of them willingly complied. Every once in a while he would he would exchange a few heated words with them. Most of the time they just obeyed his orders and left.

He knew that he would probably see them again later that day or the next day. He knew most of them by face. He also knew which ones would be most resistive.

There was nothing he could do except try to persuade them to leave railway property. The company did not want to start detaining large numbers of vagrants.

One day while on routine patrol he came across a man sleeping in the middle of a train track. He thought man this guy must be crazy. He could not see his face, so he assumed it was just one of the regulars.

He woke the guy up to keep him from getting hurt by a train. He pushed the guy with his baton. The guy quickly jumped up. Beneath his long shabby hair his face slowly appeared. Billy had never seen this guy before.

He had a crazed look in his eyes. Billy had seen that look before and knew this guy was on Methamphetamine, a cheap illegal drug. Billy knew he had to be cautious.

Meth addicts had a tendency to explode violently if agitated. Billy asked the man to leave railway property, but the man just stood there. He demanded the man leave rail property again.

The man started slowing moving straight toward Billy. Billy knew there was going to be trouble. He prepared to defend himself. It was rail yard policy not to allow them to carry guns.

The only weapon he had was his nightstick. The man was unarmed, but Billy had heard about the incredible strength these guys have when they are on drugs. He did not want to take any chances, so he prepared to defend himself.

The guy kept moving toward Billy and reached out to grab him. Billy swung his club one time and hit the guy on the arm. The guy did not budge. It did not phase him. Billy knew it was time to get out of there.

He pushed his panic button and started running. In a few seconds a truck with armed security showed up. After a brief struggle they detained the guy for local authorities. Billy was shaken up but otherwise all right.

After that incident patrol guards were allowed to carry a more variety of nonlethal weapons. They included things that could stop an attacker no matter what their condition. From that day on, Billy was prepared to defend himself if necessary.