I have a great deal of respect for
members of the Police Departments, here locally and across our country. They
get to work interesting hours, and although they know what time their shift
starts, depending on what might be happening several hours later, they aren’t
always sure of what time they might get to sign out and head home.
Recently
I thought it might be interesting to spend a few hours on patrol in the
neighborhood of the church where I’m a pastor, so I reached out to the local
Police Department. Diana Lopez, the Community Outreach Coordinator, was able to
make the arrangements. Thanks, Diana! Last weekend, Officer Ken Huckaby was
kind enough to let me spend a few hours riding with him. And a couple of hours
into the shift, we realized that we work in the same area of Ogden, and we’re also
neighbors where we live.
I’m not
a big believer in coincidences, but there are a lot of “God-Moments” in my
life. Shortly after Diana had arranged this ride-along, a blog post appeared in
my inbox. The author listed 14 ways to better understand the community in which
you’re doing ministry, and one of those 14 things was “Ride with a Police
Officer or Firefighter”. Police officers and firefighters tend to be great
resources when it comes to learning about the community. And Officer Ken was no
exception—more later on that.
There
are always some conditions: you have to agree to some things ahead of
time…nothing out of the ordinary, just things to keep you safe. And signing
that waiver was just the first of the paperwork I saw that evening. And by the
way, that was the only paper work actually done on paper. Computers can make
life easier, help with a quicker response—and save trees.
When I
walked into the Francom Public Safety Building, there was a man in a wheelchair
on my side of the window. He said something to me, but he was looking down, and
I couldn’t hear him very well, so I assumed that he was talking on the phone.
It was only when I sat down to wait for someone to escort me back to fill out
the waiver, that I realized that he was talking to me. His motorized chair
needed to be charged and he couldn’t get home, so he stopped in to use an
outlet. I don’t know if that’s the norm,
but it was gratifying to see that this man’s needs were being met. His appearance and mumbling might have made
him a persona non-grata in many
places. He wasn’t hurting anything, or
bothering anyone, he just needed enough charge on his battery to get home. And
as we talked, the discussion turned to faith. An answer to prayer: “Lord, bring
me to people who want to hear about Jesus”. A friend of mine qualifies that
when he says that he can make small talk all day long, but he’d rather talk
about God's Kingdom.
It was
a slow start as my Ride had paperwork to finish from calls during the first
part of his shift. As he worked, we chatted about a number of things happening
in the community. Some of the biggest problems were no surprise. Mental health issues, gangs, and overcrowding
in the jail system all contribute to the problems on the streets. Add in drugs
and alcohol, and it’s no surprise that the Police Department keeps busy.
(Except on this shift. Officer Ken said it was a boring evening, and I should
try again some other time. Note to self: try to get a repeat ride)
How
long does it take to become so aware of what’s going on? I thought that I was
pretty observant, but it didn’t take long to figure out that situational
awareness is a strong point for those who patrol our streets. I could barely
make out what the dispatcher was saying, and Ken was responding. After one call
in particular we left Ken’s area, and there were several other patrol cars
heading the same way. I was pretty amazed at how, without any obvious
coordination, each of the responding officers could determine in which
direction he needed to head. Ken recognized the person who had called in for
assistance, and stopped her to get some more information about her call. It’s
interesting how some people who have a lot of contact with the police have a
lot of contact with the police!
Has
your car been reported stolen? The oncoming shift is told about it, and as they
patrol, they’re looking for it. Concerned about loved ones with whom you can’t
get in touch? Someone might be dispatched to check on them. Something suspicious going on in the
neighborhood? The patrol officer might just be driving by, see it, and stop to
make sure everything is all right. Something missing and presumed stolen from
your apartment? You guessed it, the officer on shift will be sent to
investigate and take your statement.
Of
course, there’s a shortage of officers in most departments across the country,
there’s a shortage of jail beds, a shortage of funding, and even though mental
health issues rank high on the list of problems that an officer might see
during any given shift, there aren’t enough Psych hospitals or beds to handle
the magnitude of the problem. There is a lot of latitude given when it comes to
dealing with issues. Sometimes, usually, a ticket is a much better option than
a trip to the 12th street jail.
What
did I learn about police? If Officer Huckaby is any indicator, most police
officers are a lot more like Jamie Reagan on Blue Bloods than they are like Hank Voight on Chicago PD. Ogden is lucky
to have officers on the job who care about the community and the people they
serve. And a lot of those serving the community have also served their country
by spending time in the Armed Forces.
I’m retired from the Air Force, and frequently people tell me “thank you
for your service”. It’s about time
members of our Police Departments (and Fire Departments) get the same measure
of respect.
So,
what did I learn about my community? A
lot had to do with the people. Seems like the people who show up at homeless
shelters and churches aren’t always strangers to the police. And then there are
the gangs. I’ve heard of a few of them, but the list is longer than I thought.
There are also some places in the neighborhood that are more prone to trouble
than others. Interestingly enough a couple of the areas which were pointed out
to me, are areas where I’ve recently done prayer walks. Some people might think
they should stay away from those areas. I’m thinking I should up my Situational
Awareness quotient, and spend more time in those dark areas, praying for God's
light to shine there even more brightly.
And I’m
off to pray for a couple of streets in my neighborhood, and for the officers
that patrol those streets!
