Learning police procedure

     Thursday nights have become the pinnacle of the week for students as they flood downtown to celebrate the week’s end, but it is also a busy night for the local authorities.
     Last Thursday night, GCSU police teamed with the Baldwin County Sheriff’s department and police officers from 12 different Georgia agencies in a joint effort to enforce highway safety.
     The 53 officers emplaced a traffic checkpoint at the 441 bypass that crosses Allen Memorial Drive, intercepting drivers headed to and from Milledgeville. 
     At night’s end, officers had issued 36 citations, arrested 17 people, apprehended one fugitive, four misdemeanor drug charges, one felony drug charge, and four DUIs—all in a night’s work for local law enforcement.
     “You never know what you’re going to have on these nights,” GCSU detective Robert Butler said.  “This is a major state route where many arrests often take place.”
     Sgt. Rex Morris of Walton County Sheriff’s Department also agreed that each night on the job is unpredictable.
     “Out here, you don’t know what you’re going to encounter,” Morris said.
      First timer
     “If he’s on something, his eyes will move like this.” Justin Gaines illustrated his point using a specialized flashlight. Jamal Hicks listened intently, then proceeded to assist his partner question the pulled over driver.
     Thursday was Hicks’ third day on the job.  Previously, Hicks served for eight years in the U.S. Army before graduating from the police academy on September 14, 2007.  Now a GCSU Policeman, Hicks will begin his undergraduate studies in criminal justice next January.
     “Tonight [Thursday] was pretty exciting,” Hicks said.  “But, being new, learning everything is kind of frustrating.”
     As a student, Hicks will study the laws he is sworn to protect as a GCSU police officer.
     Gaines, like most officers, appreciates people showing honesty when they’re pulled over.
     “When people are straight with you, you try to give them a break,” Gaines said.  “Honesty always goes a long way.”
     GCSU police hosted and organized the road check, the first time they have ever done so.  Middle Georgia police enforce a road check once a month.
     GCSU police Lt. Joe Grant was undaunted by Thursday night’s task.
     “I think the roadblock was great success,” Grant said. “At least for the night, we made Baldwin County’s roads a safer place.”
     Prior to hitting the street, the officers ate dinner together and received a word of encouragement from Ken Vance.  Vance, who previously served as GCSU’s director of Public Safety, is now the executive director of the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council.
     “It’s your duty to uphold the honor of your badge,” Vance said. 
     Seldom do police from separate agencies work together at such a scale.  It’s a unique opportunity for officers to build camaraderie and observe different styles of law enforcement.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Sep 28 2007. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry