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If you recall from my previous post (Peacekeeping), I’m currently attending the Mobile Citizens Police Academy. It’s equal parts research to equal parts curiosity as my stories are dealing with the Mobile Police Department a hundred years ago, but I live in the now.

This past Sunday night (Memorial Weekend), I rode a twelve-hour patrol in MPD’s 2nd Precinct. During the course of the 6:30pm-6:30am shift, I was with three different officers on the east side of the precinct. Being with different officers rather than the same one all night offered me extra insight into how officers rely on each other as I was able to ride with both sides of a traditional backup team—and then some.

Overall, I was in the vehicles for about twenty interactions/calls that put me in contact with six of the officers in the precinct—plus one from third who came to see if assistance was needed with a traffic stop when we were on the edge of the area.

The officers responded to calls including child abuse, domestic fights, vehicle in a ditch, noise disturbance, eviction issues, and a 911 hang-up. And that was in between traffic stops and a few investigations into suspicious activity while on patrol. They acted as mediators, security, and counselors. One job, but more responsibilities than you can imagine.

My top take aways:

1. Increased respect for police officers. Seeing the work in action verses hearing about it in the classroom makes a difference. Yes, they deserve raises.
2. Admiration for the maturity even the youngest of the officers display when dealing with tough situations.
3. Do not waste the police department’s time with calls they can do nothing about–like coyote sightings. They will come out, but there is nothing they can physically do about it. And they are desperately needed elsewhere.

I’ll repeat what I said in my previous post–I recommend taking a Citizens Police Academy course if it is offered in your area. The above link is for the one in Mobile, Alabama.

Have you ever done a ride-along with the police? If so, did it change your perspective?