Cigar staffer gets first-hand look at campus crimes
Hillary Brady
Issue date: 9/29/09 Section: Editorial/Opinion
09/29/09 - Much of my previous perception of police enforcement, admittedly, came from a strange amalgamation of reality television shows and gritty dramas.
As a result, I've created a strange, exaggerated stereotype of imaginary dark alleyways and drug deals, citizens resisting arrest and befuddled cops being duped by criminals. After spending a night in the front seat of a campus police car last Thursday, however, I discovered the duty of the University of Rhode Island police is a little less "NYPD Blue" and a little more "Reno 911!"
Officer Thomas Kent and I spent the night working the second shift - 10 p.m. until 2 a.m.
We started the evening by checking out a fraternity party, not quite in full swing, where a group of early girls mingled with lei-draped guys. Loud music pulsated throughout the still empty rooms and one couple danced provocatively in the corner, grinding against a smirking tiki wall hanging.
The majority of our night, however, was spent patrolling - driving around every dark corner of campus to see if anything questionable was going on.
Bright side-lights and a far-reaching front lights lit the way as our car, equipped with air horns and sirens, made its way around campus. The controls, which reside on a console in between the front seats, are labeled with buttons reading "wail," "yelp" and "air horn," like a professional version of the game Bop-It.
Usually, Kent said, the presence of the car and the aforementioned sirens are enough to keep students in check. However, intervention is often necessary - especially with freshmen.
"This [year's class] is more of a partier than others," Kent said.
Most of the trouble occurs in the beginning of the week during first semester, when the majority of students are back on campus from visits home.
"Once the third week hits, the freshmen realize how behind they are, and where the library is, " Kent said.
The first weeks of school are also the most tumultuous for young couples in relationships. The police are often called in to handle messy break-ups, where the jilted soon-to-be-ex comes back on campus to try and win over a reluctant boyfriend or girlfriend.
As a result, I've created a strange, exaggerated stereotype of imaginary dark alleyways and drug deals, citizens resisting arrest and befuddled cops being duped by criminals. After spending a night in the front seat of a campus police car last Thursday, however, I discovered the duty of the University of Rhode Island police is a little less "NYPD Blue" and a little more "Reno 911!"
Officer Thomas Kent and I spent the night working the second shift - 10 p.m. until 2 a.m.
We started the evening by checking out a fraternity party, not quite in full swing, where a group of early girls mingled with lei-draped guys. Loud music pulsated throughout the still empty rooms and one couple danced provocatively in the corner, grinding against a smirking tiki wall hanging.
The majority of our night, however, was spent patrolling - driving around every dark corner of campus to see if anything questionable was going on.
Bright side-lights and a far-reaching front lights lit the way as our car, equipped with air horns and sirens, made its way around campus. The controls, which reside on a console in between the front seats, are labeled with buttons reading "wail," "yelp" and "air horn," like a professional version of the game Bop-It.
Usually, Kent said, the presence of the car and the aforementioned sirens are enough to keep students in check. However, intervention is often necessary - especially with freshmen.
"This [year's class] is more of a partier than others," Kent said.
Most of the trouble occurs in the beginning of the week during first semester, when the majority of students are back on campus from visits home.
"Once the third week hits, the freshmen realize how behind they are, and where the library is, " Kent said.
The first weeks of school are also the most tumultuous for young couples in relationships. The police are often called in to handle messy break-ups, where the jilted soon-to-be-ex comes back on campus to try and win over a reluctant boyfriend or girlfriend.
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