Coun. Struchan Gilson told fellow councillors Monday night he had a greater appreciation for the work police officers do in town after going on a ride-along with Fort Frances OPP Cst. Greg Beazley earlier this month.
Coun. Gilson went out with Cst. Beazley at 7 p.m. on a Thursday for what he thought might be a few hours to get a taste of what the job entailed—and ended up accompanying him for eight hours.
“It was really interesting and informative,” enthused Coun. Gilson as he recounted his night, which included a 40-minute R.I.D.E. check in the bitter cold near Alexander MacKenize School (during which, stressed Coun. Gilson, Cst. Beazley remained friendly and courteous) as well as numerous traffic stops for offences like running red lights and speeding.
Coun. Gilson noted he found it particularly interesting that many drivers who were stopped also were charged with failing to have licences, registration, or insurance.
Coun. Gilson said he was impressed by how courteous Cst. Beazley was when dealing with those breaking the law. For instance, one woman was caught driving without a licence.
But since she couldn’t be allowed to drive home, Cst. Beazley tracked down her sister to come pick up the vehicle she was driving instead of leaving it there and having the offender deal with it on her own.
“There also was a drunk driving charge,” he recounted.
“What’s most interesting was how time-consuming the paper work was. Did you know it takes three hours of paperwork after they charge a drunk driver?” he marvelled.
Coun. Gilson also noted he “amazed at the activity on Scott Street after midnight,” and was informed by Cst. Beazley that he should come out and see how busy it is during the summer.
“At 3 a.m., I decided I’d seen enough and went home,” said Coun. Gilson. “But I feel walked away with a deeper understanding of what the OPP do in Fort Frances.
“It was an unforgettable experience.”
Coun. Gilson agreed to go on the ride-along after S/Sgt. Hugh Dennis offered any councillors to do so after delivering the 2003 year-end police activity report last month.
Coun. Gilson encouraged his fellow councillors to also take S/Sgt. Dennis up on his offer and find out for themselves.
(Fort Frances Times)
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
