Volume 3, No. 4 November 22, 2002
Cops: Not as seen on TV By Gene Friedman Ever wonder what it’s like to be a police officer? Not too many people really want to be one but many are fascinated with it based on perceptions created by the media. The truth is that real policing is definitely not like anything seen in the movies or on TV. If TV shows are to be believed, crimes are committed, the case is solved and justice is rendered in 60 minutes, including commercials. If only life imitated art. For the average police officer, a typical shift consists of hours of boredom punctuated by moments of terror. Policing also holds the potential for great excitement. Most cops anxiously wait for that action and adventure all during their shifts. Actually, days can go by dealing with the most mundane, unglamorous incidents imaginable. More time is typically spent on calls for service than on responding to crimes. There usually are only one or two incidents a night that provide that adrenaline rush. Civilians have many misconceptions about police work which cannot be erased unless they have a first-hand look at the daily life of a cop. To really understand the pressures and complexities of the job, it is necessary to have actual experience doing it. Now, thanks to the Savannah Police Department, it is possible to do just that. Along with many other police departments, SPD realizes that to gain community support and understanding of their efforts, they must have a means of sharing this experience. Thus, SPD employs many initiatives to reach out to the community, one of which is a Citizens Police Academy. The CPA consists of a condensed version of subjects taught to police recruits and qualifies the participant for the SPD citizens volunteer program. Most popular of all community programs, though, is the ride-along. This initiative allows citizens to spend an eight-hour shift riding side-by-side with a patrol officer. Minimal requirements and paperwork are involved so that anyone who is interested can select a time and day of the week to do this. Typically, a criminal background check is done so that no bad guys get into the program and discover any "trade" secrets. A hold-harmless agreement is also required to release SPD from any claims of liability. Other than that, its sit down, buckle up, hold on and be prepared for what may or may not be a wild ride. For more information about the program, call 525-5080 or e-mail safety@scad.edu. Friedman is the director of campus safety.
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