COLUMN: Learning from a Ride-Along
E.C. County Board member gets close-up experience from squad car seat
While you were watching television or curled up with a good book on a recent Tuesday evening, I was doing a ride-along with a sergeant from the Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Department. This opportunity is offered to county board members and I jumped at the chance. I love police procedurals and a real ride-along is a dream come true.
One of my major learnings was that even on a quiet evening, there’s a lot going on. I got to observe:
- Driving around looking for a stolen car.
- A traffic stop that ended in a verbal warning.
- A fight involving several teens and a young adult (Calvin, my Seeing Eye dog, and I sat in the squad car and played Trivia Crack).
- Searching for a runaway juvenile who stole a car. (DO NOT LEAVE YOUR KEYS IN THE CAR!)
- Paperwork filed on the computer after all events.
We also had three hours to discuss subjects from how we got into our professions, dogs (we both enjoy Labs) and crime, rehab and punishment. Our views seemed pretty similar – his based on a dozen years in law enforcement and mine based on 30 years as a psychologist. I’m so glad this sergeant does training for new officers, of which there are a lot lately.
Eau Claire can be proud to have officers like this sergeant who love the community and protect and serve it 24/7. It’s not like a crime show where it’s all wrapped up in an hour – including commercials – but it is important work.
As he let me off to feed Calvin and go to bed, he was just beginning his night. He thanked me for riding along. I am so grateful that I could learn about his work, which involves technology, (computer, radio, body cam, guns, etc.), a lot of psychology, and a good bit of compassion for flawed human beings.
I’m praying that the runaway gets found unharmed and for safety for those who serve us in law enforcement.
Katherine Schneider is a retired clinical psychologist, an author, and member of the Eau Claire County Board. She blogs at kathiecomments.wordpress.com and can be reached at schneiks@uwec.edu.
