Saving strangers

This was the first thing I noticed that helps people fill the role of being the guardians of our cities, institutions, and freedoms is the ability to create small talk. We weren’t even thirty minutes into the ride along when the sirens were flipped on and we were after a car that was going forty-six miles per hour in a thirty mile per hour zone. As we pull the lady over, Larson radios in the stop and then tells me, “Here is my mic volume control. Turn it up when I leave the car and you’ll hear everything I say.” As I turn up the volume he is already at the red sedan.  As the window rolls down I hear him say “Hello ma’am how are you today?” He quickly gets to the point, and tells her about the speeding. After a while explaining to her where the thirty miles per hour law is enforce, he sees a toddler in the back without a booster chair. Once learning that she is four years old, he inquires why she doesn’t have a booster, and she explains that she was driving her daughter’s car. It also was just cleaned and she was in a hurry to get somewhere. As Larson says thank you and walks back to the car to get print off a citation, he decides to cut her some slack. With the citation in hand, he tells her that he’s going to give her a warning (Which is recorded in the online database so that other officers can be more strict once they see a warning has already been given) on the speeding but he is going to have to give her a citation for driving with a toddler not in a booster seat. He then reassures her that if she calls the number on the ticket and explains to them her predicament that they may be willing to write it off and she won’t have to pay as much. After she puts her hand on his arm and says “thank you for your kindness” Larson continues talking to her about where she can buy another booster if she wants and then talks a little bit about where she was going. After the chat was done, he sent her on her way and jumps back in the squad car. This empathy and caring wasn’t seen in just one situation, but over and over again as we continued on our ride along. We arrived with a sheriff’s deputy in the middle of the country when a 911 call was made out for a white van following a man walking down the road. Once we arrived we met up with the man, and talked about the situation. While we were waiting for other police to catch up with the van, Officer Larson started talking to the man (That he’s had to deal with once or twice before) about his life. He learned that he was going to soon go up to Brainerd and get a job painting houses. Even though he knows this man by name and all the problems he’s caused the county, he still talks with him like he’s an average citizen.

But many people don’t know this side of the police. When the Sheriff’s deputy walked up, I noticed how intimidating it could be to meet an officer. Larson and the Deputy both had their shades on, stood at least five feet eight inches tall, and Larson looked like he could catch a cheetah while the deputy could wrestle a gorilla. However beneath the oakley sunglasses are caring eyes for the community.

“It’s tough working a night shift when you haven’t met, let alone talked to anyone for four hours.” Larson said. This opportunity for talking is an integral part of what makes an officer tick. “One of my favorite parts of my job is the human interaction. Face to face, not in a cubicle or on a phone marketing.” After the situation was resolved, Larson started talking with the Deputy, and finally said he would have to make his way back to the ‘unlawful city’. After a quick laugh they say goodbye and head back to their cars. Two uniforms – the tan county and the dark blue city – both working together and caring for not only each other, but for the community. It was a reassuring moment and one that makes a heart content.