Saturday, May 9, 2009

Police patrol ride-along

As a new City Councilor, I was invited to participate in the Citizens Police Academy. For 2+ hours over seven consecutive weeks, a dozen citizens are provided a behind-the-scenes look at our police and other emergency services. What an experience!

Last night (the eve of Minnesota's fishing opener), I had the chance to ride along with Sergeant Brent Bradley of the GRPD. Sergeant Bradley is a 23-year veteran of the department, and with that experience comes insight and perspective. For 2.5 hours we criss-crossed Grand Rapids. We listened as one of Brent's colleagues stopped a speeding car on Highway 2. We locked the gates of two public parks. We watched as fishermen vied for coveted spots along the Mississippi River on the River Road just before midnight and the official start of the fishing season. Mostly the evening was quiet, which Brent assumed would be disappointing.

As a resident, I hope every night is quiet for Brent and his colleagues as they patrol our streets. Of course, they aren't. Brent provided a couple of stories from the recent past : a rock thrown through a front door at 2:30 am; a break-in at the Pokegama Golf Course; apprehending a drunk driver who nearly killed an innocent teenage driver; breaking up a knife fight. Most of Brent's stories paint a picture of caring public servants who provide assistance to people in need. Thankfully, most of the stories don't make the headlines.

But the job that Sergeant Bradley and his colleagues perform daily comes with hazards. He cautioned me as I entered the car at the beginning of the evening: "If things get serious, I'll drop you off at a gas station or convenience store and pick you up later. Otherwise, don't get out of the car if we stop." Brent tapped the Lexan pane behind the driver's seat: "It's not bullet proof, but you won't be able to break it by hitting it, either." Brent's bullet-proof vest, a piece of his uniform he never leaves home without, adds several pounds, keeps him warm even when it's not necessary, and will also slow down a bullet. He knows his life could be in jeopardy every time he punches the time clock.

We'll be deciding as a City Council later this year how much of our budget to cut and just where those cuts should be made. The Police Department is being asked to look for ways to reduce costs, just as every City department is being asked. An evening ride-along with one of our outstanding police sergeants certainly provides a perspective that a budget document can't deliver.

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