CANDIDATE: Riding shotgun with MPD

This past Tuesday at the city council meeting, I expressed my thanks to Chief (Steve) Stahl, Lt. (Michael) Campbell and especially Officer Sean Marchese for the opportunity afforded me in a ride along March 25.

Having never ridden in a police car (neither the front nor back seat), I was privileged to accompany Officer Marchese on a ride along during his shift that day. I believe the experience gave me a better perspective on the sometimes difficult and dangerous job our police officers have. In addition to Officer Marchese, I met officers (Chris) Evans and (Meredith) McLean and observed them at work, as well.

While we didn’t respond to any major trauma (thankfully) or felony calls, the opportunity to get to know the officers both between and during the calls was a unique opportunity. These officers are busy. As I rode with Officer Marchese, aside from responding to his assigned calls, I could hear other officers responding to radio call after radio call (for half of the shift we didn’t have a computer – a common shortage apparently).

While, for the sake of privacy I won’t disclose the individual nature or details of the calls, their handling of difficult and sometimes emotional situations between parties are commendable. Not once did I see any example of what the news channels would highlight for the evening news. Where questions needed to be asked, each officer was polite and direct without being abrasive. Members of the public and suspects encountered were treated with the respect and dignity we all expect and deserve. When it came time to relate to the citizenry as human beings, these officers did their best. It is also encouraging and very satisfying to see that our officers treated every person they contacted with tact, politeness and discretion, including and especially those they placed under arrest.

I believe that Chief Stahl and his staff have turned this department around, and, based not only on my observations and experience, but from other persons I speak with, gone are the days when the average citizen viewed the police as brutes with badges. Every resident of Maricopa should take note that our officers on the street and those behind the scenes are doing the best job with the tools they have to work with. It’s a tough job, and these officers are working every day to make every contact a positive one.

Our police officers and department employees need and deserve our community’s support and I am happy that I had the chance to not only be a part of observing the officers in their duties, but also experience the interactions between the public and the officers. I can say that our officers put great effort into their jobs and are truly a very professional group.

From my heart, I am very proud not only to be a resident of Maricopa, but to have this department provide our law enforcement services. I feel blessed that we have a dedicated group of officers, employees and volunteers in our police department and truly hope that the council and public give them the support they need and deserve. I certainly do and will.