University of Richmond Athletics
London's Calling: From Cop To Coach
09/01/2009 | Football
Sept. 1, 2009
RICHMOND (by Les Carpenter) - In an alley, on the south side of town, Mike London is sure he is about to die.
It is the late 1980s, and for three years, London has been a detective on the Richmond Police Department's street crimes unit, hunting the Southside Strangler and chasing drug dealers. At a time when the city's murder rate climbed as high as third in the nation, the former University of Richmond defensive back has proven particularly adept at running down criminals in neighborhoods of broken lives and sputtering gunfire. His sergeant has noted that he has a brilliant future with the police.
But on this night something is wrong. The van he is pursuing -- containing suspects in the robbery of a fast food restaurant -- has whipped into an alley that London does not recognize. After trapping the van with his car, London climbs out holding his badge aloft. Suddenly the van's driver attempts to break away, sending the van lurching toward London. Instinctively, he runs to the van's window and reaches in to turn off the ignition.
This is when London sees the gun in the driver's hand. It is pointed at his head.
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