Southeast DC - Cop Ride Along

My friend, Kristen, is volunteering for an organization that helps the victims of domestic violence in SE and NE DC. Part of her training included riding along in a cop car for a couple of hours to see how the cops deal with domestic violence (DV) calls. Brandy and I came along for the experience and emotional support.

First off, we got there at 6pm, but waited 1.5 hours before actually getting into a cop car. I guess you could say that the city is not running the most efficient operation possible. Our cop was white, 28ish and lived in Arlington. Basically, he was just like us. He cussed alot, had a dry sense of humor and found us entertaining in spite of himself.

Our first radio call was a couple of teenagers on mopeds crusing through the neighborhood causing a ruckus. We found them, followed them for a bit and left. The officer explained that he can't chase them, because if he did, and they got into an accident, he would be held liable. So we cruised around for a bit and circled back to see if we could find them again. They were gone; hopefully we scared them and they went home.

Our second call was a DV call. We pulled up to the address, and waited for another cop to arrive as backup. Kristen asked, "Should we just stay in the car?" to which he replied "Oh no! You girls are coming into to see what this is really like." We were terrified. We had no idea what to expect. The two cops walked up to the door and the three of us followed. The cops knocked on the door and Kristen smartly moved behind the cops instead of in plain view. Brandy and I quickly followed. A man answered the door, pretending that he had no idea that the cops would be coming to his house. He said, "Are you sure you have the right address? I'm just sitting here watching the game. My wife went to the grocery store a while ago. I don't even have a home phone to call you guys. You can double check." The cops checked out the apartment, found that the woman was not there and we left. Once we got into the car, the cop told us that he had been to that apartment before for a DV call. Unfortunately, if the victim is not there, or chooses not to press charges or does not have any visable marks, it is difficult for the cops to make a case against the attacker.

So, after this, we cruised around the various neighborhoods. It felt as though we were in a fishbowl. People looked at the cop car with disgust and anger in their eyes. A 10 year old boy even 'fronted' with me by lifting his chin as if to say, 'You want some of this'. It's unfortunate that the kids in this part of the city have hatred instead of respect for the cops.

We decided to check out one of the hospitals that has an intake center for DV victims. This was the most depressing hospital I have ever seen. It looked like it belonged in the third world, not the United States of America. It was pretty desolate except for a few staff members. The ER was a large room with beds along the walls, curtains in between and stacks of paper work on a desk in the middle. This area is so dangerous that this hospital has a hard time keeping doctors. It makes me so sad to think that if you are poor or don't have health insurance then this is the only healthcare you have available to you. I'm not sure what the solution is, but it is definately an issue.

Anyways, while we were at the hospital, we got a call on the radio. Someone had been hit by a car. We hurried back to the cop car, put on our seatbelts and the sirens and speed through DC to get to the scene. We arrived and there was an off duty cop on the scene already as well as several witnesses. A women with a baby stroller and two small babies had been walking across the street when a man in a parked car pulled out. He did not see her and the car hit the stroller. A fire truck, ambulance, and several more cops all arrived on the scene. The babies were checked by the paramedics and they were fine. Our cop was giving the man in the car a ticket for not looking before moving his vehicle. The mother of the babies started screaming 'I can't believe you are letting this man get away with this! He could have hurt my babies! He needs to pay attention! I'm calling my sister who is a lawyer! This is NOT right! He needs to be punished more than simply getting a ticket!' Once the cop got back in the car he told us that one of the witnesses heard the mother tell the man 'You give me $300 and this will all go away.' So, I think his car DID hit the stroller, but she was going to capitalize on this opportunity.

After these 3 calls, the cop needed to go back to the station to fill out some paperwork, so our ride along was over. It was definately an eye opening experience about human nature and the way cops are treated. I'm so happy that people in this world are willing to be cops, because I don't think I am one of them.

Well, that's all for now.

Cheers,