A WARRINGTON police officer and his wife had a holiday with a difference when, on a trip to the US, they took advantage of the New York Police Department’s Community Ride Along scheme.
PC Mike Thompson and his wife, Liz, also a police officer stationed in Halton, were able to see at first hand what New York police offers have to contend with on a typical tour of duty.
The scheme allows residents and law enforcement personnel to ride with officers in a patrol car for 3-4 hours.
Law enforcement officers from abroad are particularly welcome on the scheme and Mike and Liz were able to go on a tour of the 34th Precinct – the uppermost part of Manhattan Island – on a Saturday evening shift.
The precinct is in Washington Heights and located on Broadway. It covers an area of approximately two square miles with 500 acres of parkland. However, Mike and Liz quickly realised that this part of Broadway was not the Broadway made famous by movies or theatres.
Mike said: “In comparison to the glitz and lights of the theatre district and Times Square, the area is quite deprived. There are no skyscrapers here. It is mainly rows of tenement buildings, flats, small houses and local businesses, with most of the streets laid out in the familiar New York grid formation.”
The couple were issued with bullet-proof vests for the tour but were made very welcome by the two officers they accompanied.
They found similarities to policing Cheshire than differences.
There were Neighbourhood Policing Units and officers were assigned to areas within precinct boundaries, crossing to other beats only for serious incidents.
But of course, US officers are armed and can take their guns home with them and carry them off duty.
Mike’s final comment was: “It may not have been like the movies, but to be honest, I did not really think it would be. However, it was a great experience, a great addition to the holiday and I would recommend it to anyone in law enforcement.”
Pictured: Mike and Liz with the New York officers they accompanied on their beat.
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About Author
Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
