IN THE PIPELINE: Expectation of police professionalism

“We’d better head over there,” the 26-year law enforcement veteran says calmly about midnight. And with that, Huntington Beach Police Officer Mike Kelly guns his vehicle out on Beach Boulevard toward Huntington Beach Hospital, where an emergency room patient, brought in for public drunkenness, has supposedly yanked the IV from his arm and is attempting an aggressive escape.

Just another night in Surf City, where the men and women of the HBPD deal with an endless flow of challenges that stretch from the mundane to the most malicious. Earlier in the day I’d driven myself on this same stretch of road, but it’s a much different experience from this perspective. All of a sudden, the concept of truly not knowing what you’re walking into is made clear — the dangers officers face every moment they’re on duty are coming to life right in front of me. This is why I wanted to go on a ride along with a local officer, to get a firsthand sense of the incredible job they do.

Earlier in the evening I was sitting at police headquarters with Kelly and his boss, Lt. C.A. Bryant. During our meeting, Bryant fielded a steady stream of calls related to crimes in progress, dealing with all the facts on the phone clearly and succinctly without missing a beat of our discussion.

The lieutenant describes the grim realities of a society where drugs and alcohol are responsible for the majority of crimes officers respond to today.

“When people commit robberies, most of the time it’s so they can get drug money. The physical altercations, parties that go out of control, violent behavior — most of it is fueled by alcohol,” he says.

He goes on to explain how the breakdown of so many families puts a whole new pressure on the department in that now many calls come in connected to custody disputes gone violent.

“There’s a lot of dysfunction today and so we also end up with many parents not knowing where their kids are at night, and that’s a problem. More and more there’s a lack of responsibility taking place not just with the kids, but with the parents especially,” Bryant says.

And, of course, there’s the Internet to contend with.

“We’ve had to deal with online stalking and predator cases and teenagers who will even post photos of their vandalism on their MySpace pages,” Bryant tells me. “But by far the worst thing with the Internet is how it facilitates identity theft, and those cases have exploded over the last few years.”

As we talk, other officers are gathering, preparing for the night shift. Then, Bryant tells Kelly to get out and start “burning some gas,” and with that, we’re off.

Kelly, like many other Huntington Beach cops, rides solo. Before we hit the street, he runs me through a series of safety-related issues inherent in this kind of ride-along. He also demonstrates the computerized dispatch/communication system, which is his tether to other units and the 911 hub where emergency calls emanate from.

Then it’s time to go, and as he pulls out on Main Street, he begins a seamless evening monologue, for the next several hours describing the nuances, philosophies and belief system he lives by as a member of the HBPD. Kelly is a Huntington Beach native, married, and the father of two young boys. He works 11 ½ hour shifts up to four times a week, and he’s been a cop on this force for 20 years. He loves the department because, as he describes it, there’s a greater expectation of professionalism in Huntington Beach compared to other cities. Officers are given the responsibility to do what they do best, which is to preserve order in a city that, especially during the summer, can be a handful.

On the computer screen in the car, cold-fact reports come in describing myriad problems.

“Loud party.” “Public drunkenness.” Then, something more serious. “Deceased male.” That will be our first stop this evening.

Next week — The midnight ride continues.

Several months ago I wrote a column about local teacher Jay DuVal, who helped create the Yosemite program at several local schools. I got word that there will be a reunion Saturday of all EWC/MGM/GATE students who took part in these trips (as well as other events) over the years. The party starts at 10 a.m. at Central Park, on the east side of Edwards Street, just south of Inlet Drive and north of Ellis Avenue. Former students will meet at the picnic tables and lunch is being brought in. Donations will be taken. For information call Lana Miller at (714) 915-0774.