Carl Black is a police officer in Houston, Texas, and has been for 20 years. During that entire time he's worn badge number 666 in honor of his grandfather, who wore the same number years earlier. And, apparently, it scares the crap out of criminals.

Though he wasn't even aware of the palindromic digits' connection to the devil (according to the Book of Revelation) when he requested it, the number sometimes has an effect on those who see it.

Black says he recalls a time 17 years ago when he was squaring off against a 280-lb., 6-foot-6 suspect who was giving him trouble when the man suddenly gave up and dropped to his knees.

"I ain't fighting the devil," the man said, apparently not too concerned with the devil putting him in cuffs and taking him away, or pondering why exactly Houston PD had Beelzebub on payroll.

While it's been helpful in apprehending the odd suspect, Black has apparently also been asked to leave churches in his day as well. Of course, he's also been shot at more than once and never hit, so maybe he does have a guardian devil on his shoulder.