It’s a fair weather afternoon. Tonight the city’s going to be hopping with successful hard working folks. The kind of people who want to enjoy the fruits of their labor and take the family out to a nice eatery, and/or a show. This city, like many others across our nation will also be crawling with drunken drivers, thieves, rapists and other malcontents. It’s Friday, April 12. I’m Here and you’re There. Let me give you “just the facts” and some more.

It is 1400 hrs. at the K.P.D. East Precinct. The sign outside the room I’m in says Multipurpose Room. I am greeted by Patrol Officer Dennis Bible, who I’ll be riding with on this second shift. He shows me the ”East Sector” patrol beat map and explains how the areas are covered by different patrol units.

It’s time for role call. There are several officers in the room including Sgt. Sheri Uzzle. The Sgt. Begins her call of the role and gives the general assignments for her shift. This night brings something in addition to the regular duties of the beat officers. Tonight a concerted effort will target prostitution and associated illegal activities. I’ll bet you could tell me where the general target area was.

After I signed a release of liability, and Sgt. Uzzle gave orders and instructions, we were off to Officer Bible’s patrol car.

Our first stop is at what’s referred to as “the shop” located off Prosser Road. There we fueled the car, then rolled out to the first call of the shift, a 10-83 ( domestic disturbance). The next call was another 10-83. While typing the reports into the laptop computer mounted in the patrol car, Officer Bible spots a car passing dangerously on a double-yellow-lined section of Central Avenue Pike. He postpones completion of the reports in favor of pursuing the offending driver. She explains to the officer that she’s trying to keep up with her boyfriend. This doesn’t help and she is issued a citation. Upon checking the driver’s history it is revealed that she has a rather extensive background of accidents involving damage and injury to others and their property. This seasoned patrol officer isn’t surprised.

1530 hrs. A quick bite to eat at one of our fine fast food establishments and we’re back on the road.

1600 hrs. Back at the East Precinct the officers under the command of Sgt. Uzzle gather and plan the operation they will implement tonight. We’re off.

Over the next several hours I am in the patrol car and observe a professional and well orchestrated plan. I see officers putting themselves in positions of risk you or I probably wouldn’t consider. I see citations issued for picking up prostitutes; and in some cases a subsequent D.U.I. citation is issued.

I’m certainly not an expert in economics or police department funding or operations, but I do have eyes and ears. Having said that, I can tell you that the amount of resources, planning, and skill required to coordinate a good job are considerable. The officers I saw and spoke with during this shift have a genuine interest in their beats.

Thanks to the Knoxville Police Department for the job well done and the opportunity to witness first hand the reality of police work.

It ain’t as easy as it looks!