City politicians should take a ride-along with Sarnia police to understand the job better, says police services board member Kelly Ash.
“I thought I knew what the police do out there, but until you experience it, you really have no idea,” said Ash during a presentation to the board Thursday about tagging along for two shifts in a cruiser with Const. Brandon Johnson. The first was a Wednesday afternoon shift on Aug. 30 and the second was a Saturday night shift on Oct. 21.
“They are so busy and have no idea what they are going to from call to call; it’s such a mixed bag,” Ash said. “We didn’t even have time to eat.” She said calls varied from unwanted persons and a wellness check to a sudden death and a mental health crisis.
“Both shifts were just go, go, go.”
“The wellness check was called in by a social services worker and my heart was pounding because you don’t know what to expect. Thankfully that one ended well,” said Ash. But another call came in from a tenant who reported a foul smell. That ended in officers locating a deceased person.
“Then we got the call about (gun) shots in Rainbow Park,” Ash said. “That one was intense. In the middle of arresting a perpetrator for a home invasion, we were outside, not far from Rainbow Park, and could hear the shots. “I thought they were fireworks. The officers said, no, and we were in Rainbow Park within three minutes.”
Ash said she realized she didn’t appreciate the pace and intensity of a shift for Sarnia Police until she experienced one and believes the city’s politicians should do the same. “They are determining the budget and, if they are going to make those decisions, they should know what’s going on out there,” Ash said.
She said she is frustrated by social media comments that criticize police when two cruisers are seen side-by-side while officers are having a discussion. “You have no idea what just happened and what they just experienced,” she said. “You might assume they are just having a coffee, and maybe they are. Most people take coffee breaks. “But what they deal with can be brutal and we need to stop judging.
“Let’s stop being armchair quarterbacks.”
Ash said she witnessed officers conducting themselves with compassion and dedication to the job.
“Our members are amazing and I encourage the police board and city council to do a ride-along and see for themselves.”