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Officer Stan Brinkley grabbed his fishing gear and kissed his wife goodbye. “I’ll see you later, honey. I’ll be back before 7. I promise.”
“Enjoy fishing. Are you going to the usual spot, darling?”
“Yep. I would’ve gone out earlier, but it’s too darn hot to go midday.”
He jumped into his pickup truck, which had a small fishing boat attached to it. He traveled to the Everglades every weekend for peace and quiet. He would sit on his boat fishing for hours at a time. It helped him relax and enabled him to think about life. Officer Brinkley called his fishing spots his oasis. He used to tell other new officers, “You need to find a hobby. I have known too many corrections officers drinking to cope with stress. This job can really get to you over time. Join a gym or get involved in charit
