WHAT WE DO FOR THOSE FOLKS

While I have never had any desire to wear a uniform or carry a gun
I have always admired police men and women. And we have offered
our opinion on this page on more than one occasion that they should
be paid at a level that corresponds with the job we asked them to do.
For a number of reasons, none of which are valid I don't think, we do
not pay them enough.

I've seen first hand what these men and women do to protect our homes
and improve the quality of life in our community. It is no easy task
for them. The dangers and stress are great.

Sitting in the folding chair in the back of the U-Haul truck, it
wasn't long before I began squirming under the weight of the
bullet-proof vest that had by that point become very hot. Dressed in
casual shorts and shirt and baseball cap looking nothing like the
Hammond police and Tangipahoa Parish sheriff's department men and
women that made up the Mobile Operations Team in Our Neighbor-hood, I
was out of my element to say the least.

On this particular night, the U-Haul truck was our "cover"and our task
was to sweep through various neighborhoods and known drug areas in an
attempt to get drugs off the streets. A police officer driving the
truck would communicate with the 13 of us in the back that there was
action ahead.

Just prior to stopping the truck, she would indicate, "on your left"
or "on your right" and as the truck pulled to a stop the back door
would be flung open and into the dark night these men and women would
jump from the truck surprising the alleged perpetrators.

The efforts on this night would be relatively productive. Nineteen
arrests for offenses ranging from possession of marijuana, a white
powder presumably cocaine, public drunkenness and resisting arrest.
According to one of the officers, it was just another night on the
streets.

Armed with nothing more than a camera, for good reason, I would follow
closely behind taking in all that occurred, thankfully shooting
nothing more than a few photos and basically trying to stay out of the
way. It was never far from my mind the reason why I was wearing the
bullet-proof vest.

I had asked to ride with the MOTIONS team to see first hand the job
that these men and women do every day. I also wanted to see that side
of life that unfortunately is a part of our community that most of us
would just as soon ignore and not think about.

I asked one of the officers what would happen to a particular person
arrested for procession of pot. "Oh, just a slap on the wrist at the
worst. He might even be out on the streets before the end of our shift
if he can post bond."

Thinking about the frustration that the police must face knowing that
their efforts are having at best, a minimal impact on the drug problem
I asked him if it bothered him.

"Oh sure" he said. "But you know, for every person we arrest, there
are twenty good people, who just want to live in a safe neighborhood
and not bother anyone."

"We do what we do for those folks."

The truck groaned and creaked as we drove through the streets of
Hammond heading for the next neighborhood corner where drugs are used
and sold. Alarmingly these are street corners not far from your home.
Some much closer than you think.

The banter in the booking room was lighthearted and turned from
coaching little league football to how to make the best "gravy" for
meatballs and spaghetti. Full of goodhearted teasing and with the
obvious camaraderie of good friends, these men and women are just like
you and me. They are wives and husbands, sons and daughters, little
league coaches, and parents. And, yes, it is true some of them even
like doughnuts.

The difference is they strap on a gun, pull the bullet-proof vest
tight and go into the dark night with their game face on trying to
keep the streets safe. Unfortunately, they don't always get much
encouragement from us.

It was my pleasure that they allowed me to join them. I plan to do so
again, and I hope to share with you a little about their exploits
because what they do is so important. They are truly community heroes
and we should never forget that.

After all, they do what they do for us.