Community helpers: Police officers

[Music] reported vehicular puring in Grand inju unknown on a call this time 1604 [Music] here's a site you've probably seen many times a police car speeding past with its lights flashing and a siren wailing haven't you often wondered where the police officer was going going in such a hurry have you sometimes wished you could ride along to find out what it's like to be a police officer well here's your chance I'm officer Stark sorry I can't shake hands right now but as you can see I'm kind of busy I've been a police officer for almost 6 years now I work the second shift we sometimes call it watch from 4:00 to midnight no matter what hours you work being a police officer is hard work and sometimes dangerous but I like it one reason is every day is different you never know what's going to happen next here's an example a traffic accident we first find out if anyone is hurt anybody hurt no I'm all right see your driver's license please hey I was coming down this hill can I see your driver's license please we'll get around to the store here just I want to get the license and get you situated vehicle okay we gather all the information we can from the people who were driving the cars and from Witnesses I wasn't watching them I was coming down this hill here and I was turning just a second Mr you folks see any the accident happened okay thank you very much we try to find out what caused the accident whose fault it was and whether or not anyone broke the law we always write all the information down that way we have all the facts in case we have to testify in court hey Mr Dart would you like to tell me first what happened please as a police officer it's my job to uphold the law and to protect life and property in the community we spend much of our time helping people in different ways yes I was turning right and he turned left right in front of me into my lane okay what color was it light for you ma'am it was green and for you sir green green absolutely I had a green light fine you sure you couldn't change this into a warning no sir I'm sorry is that all you want yes sir you're free to go okay ma'am I'm going to need a toe okay fine any particular handling accidents is just one of many ways police officers help people we'll have one air thank you I don't know what's how long you been laying 5 minutes I sometimes police are called to give emergency comp to people who suddenly become sick such as this heart attack victim police officers have saved many lives by knowing what to do at times like this sometimes we Save a Life by rushing through town to take medicine or blood to someone who's sick or injured of course police officers help people in a lot of usual ways too we direct traffic so you can get where you're going safely we give directions so people can find their way around an unfamiliar part of town TR National Bank is at 1125 Grand go up here one block make a right and go down one block it's right on the corner 12 and Grand thank you very much you're welcome we return little lost children to their parents I believe Sarah belongs to you she told me that you got got lost from her oh thank you so that's okay she was over there she was worried she was looking for you we provide special police escorts at night we watch over stores and shops making sure doors are locked and no prowers are around besides helping people in all these ways police officers also enforced the laws of the community the rules which tell people how to live together in peace and safety some of these laws have to do with the use of cars trucks and other Motor Vehicles police officers write tickets that remind people not to break the parking laws and block traffic using special radar equipment police officers spot speeding cars and stop them before they cause a serious accident good morning sir mat see your driver's license you were just checked on radar at 43 mph and a post 30 mph speed 43 yes sir no one likes to pay for a speeding ticket but sometimes people need this reminder to drive safely and obey the traffic laws it may even save someone's life of course we police officers know that most people try to obey the law at all times oh sure they may make a mistake and get a traffic ticket or a parking ticket once in a while but they would never break the law by committing a serious crime such as robbery burglary or murder that bread cost $25 John oh come on I got a traffic but sad to say there are always a few people who will commit such crimes like that5 bucks yeah well if you have any left come back put the money in a sack fast okay come on hurry up Hur come you're Bill too come on hurry up now down on the floor don't move for 2 [Music] minutes hello I want want to report a robbery when someone calls the police to report any kind of trouble an officer gets all the information from the caller no he's gone he he left did you see any type of vehicle uh a fell here said it was in in a white van with brown Stripes did you get a license number did you get the license number no no no he didn't get any license number yeah it just happened just just a couple minutes ago the dispatcher calls the patrol car nearest the scene of the crime report of an armed robbery at the market Gregory and Oak calling car 867 Gregory and Rock 8867 make the call from Gregory and Rock Hill suspect Vehicles report to be a white van with a brown stripe sometimes a police helicopter will be sent out to try and locate the criminals from the [Music] air okay could you tell me what happened sir when a serious crime has occurred it's the police officer's job to get all the information which could lead to the criminals arrest anything here we question the victim and any witnesses to find out exactly what happened we get a description of the criminal okay fine about how tall do you think uh this fellow was uh and we always write everything down so we can make a full report no I didn't see what happened in here I was outside later on other police officers will search for additional evidence such as fingerprints I'm detective standard this is Detective and detectives plain closed policemen who are skilled in investigating crimes will try to find other clues that could lead to the criminal's arrest did you Happ to see anything which resembl that uh yeah I think man I did there was a there was a white van really went burning around the the gunman who robbed this store may have gotten away but a lot of police officers will be looking for him brown stripe on it and okay robberies are still on the increase so keep an eye on you open businesses incidentally we got a pick up on that hold up it occurred yesterday at gregory no write this down we're looking for a white Ford van with a brown stripe another day and this is how it begins roll call the sergeant makes sure we're all here and then gives us any special instructions soon we're back in the job patrolling our assigned area or beat of course we couldn't do our job without the help of many other people the mechanics who keep our cars and motorcycles in top shape 1320 technicians who keep our radios and other communication equipment working properly the scientists who do important work in the police laboratory and the many clerks and secretaries that handle the paperwork of a police force the investigator must be able to identify the physical evidence have you ever wondered how someone gets to be a police officer well believe me it's not easy it takes several months of hard work and training one of the ways we do this is that we properly Mark the evidence trainees study the laws they will uph as police officers means of marking evidence they learn about first aid you know when you tie it off tie it off on on the sides breathe for quick breaths and other ways of saving lives by the victim's mouth to feel and listen for air you want to search traines also learn how to deal with troublemakers take your right hand put it in the middle of the subject's back that way if he does move you can feel it the block will be done same manner and how to defend themselves and others from Attack stopping the attack either a high kick or a low kick unless we go to work and try that is stance and of course every police officer must know how to use his or her revolver four basic fundamentals must be present to shoot a well- aimed well-placed shot although they rarely if ever have to fire their guns in the line of duty police officers know they must be ready just in case that's why all police officers practice from time to time officer Steven L young the new graduates of the police academy or training school are called rookies at last they're police officers cops entr officers by the way the nickname cop comes from the Copper Star some policeman wore many years ago well that gives you some idea about how you get where I am today and what being a police officer is all about I could tell you more but right now that van could be the one used in yesterday's armed robbery I better check it out thanks for riding with me [Music]