Karen Bune
Victimology Contributor
Officer.com
Those of us who are professionals in the criminal justice system but who are not sworn law enforcement officers interact with cops frequently and some of us do so on a daily basis. Cops become not only our colleagues but, in many cases, our close and treasured friends. We come to understand their frustrations, their challenges, their stressors, and the obstacles they face in dealing with the public who looks at them from different eyes and with a different slant on how they conduct their duties. It is not uncommon for individual officers—and even entire departments—to be criticized for their approaches and strategies, and the outcomes that may ensue as a result of them. Moreover, heaven forbid if a citizen gets injured—or even killed by a cop—the instantaneous response, more often than not, is to lay blame directly on the individual officer and the department as a whole before the real facts are determined.
For professionals, like myself, who work in law enforcement agencies, it is critical to maintain a strong awareness of these issues as well as to retain a keen perspective of life on the street. Though we can, oftentimes, perceive it through the lens of a police report, the mouth of a police officer, and court testimony, it is wise to experience it hands on. Every professional within the system—victim service providers, judges, attorneys, prosecutors, legal assistants, among others—need to get out and ride patrol on a regular basis and for an entire shift. Engaging in a ride-along is a most valuable experience and one that affords a realistic view of life on the street and finely tunes the already acquired possession of street savvy that is indispensible for anyone in the system to do their job with the highest level of effective productivity.
Throughout my career, I have made a point to ride with the police and believe it is critically important. Historically, I rode many hours with the Arlington County Virginia Police Department and, as a result, I developed productive and rewarding working relationships with the officers with whom I dealt with on a daily basis during my tenure of employment in that jurisdiction. The rapport we built and the relationships we established professionally were immeasurable.
Most recently, I had the opportunity to ride with the Prince George’s County Maryland Police Department and, specifically, Officer Donald Rickert of the Hyattsville substation. Though this police department may have had a somewhat tarnished image in the historical past, such an impression is certainly antiquated based on what I observed in my ride-along with Officer Rickert. He was, in all respects, very professional, sensitive to the needs of victims, highly responsive to citizens, and proactive in assisting and backing up his fellow officers. He demonstrated effective communication skills and his level of street savvy, for a young officer with 4 years on the department, was sophisticated and more maturely developed than customary.
The other officers we came in contact with provided me a warm reception and seemed genuinely pleased to see me out on the street which was a voluntary action on my part and on my own time. Importantly, the bond between us all, both as individuals and colleagues, along with that of our agencies, was strengthened as a result of that experience. Our time together also provided an opportunity to exchange ideas about our roles in public safety and our common goals. At the same time, my own street smarts were sharpened, once again, and the ride-along with Officer Rickert proved to be a positive and productive experience.
The importance of agencies promoting the concept of professionals engaging in a regular and consistent police ride-along cannot be emphasized enough. Though citizens are encouraged to ride and get a taste of what law enforcement does to protect them, it important for professionals who work in the system to be interactive with one another and to continue to retain a level of acumen that is vital to them performing effectively in their respective positions.
