From the Backseat I settled myself in the car that was parked in front of the police station. Its old back seat was worn and as soft as a blueberry muffin from being sat on by numerous criminals. I was not in trouble, though. I was just there for the experience: it was a part of the county's Youth Police Academy.I struggled for a couple of seconds with the button that makes the window go up and down, but the officer driving me said that they don't work from the back seat. Nothing works from the back seat. A quick thought ran through my mind that I was now trapped in this car. The thought that the officer was the only one who could control my movement was slightly creepy, but the feeling passed quickly. It took me a second to actually remember that these precautions were used to keep criminals in the car. The car moved on and the officer and I exchanged conversation on various topics like why he became a police officer and when he knew what he wanted to do it. All of a sudden, the radio cracked to life, stating that a woman was having trouble breathing, and we needed to assist. Automatically, the officer changed direction and headed towards the lady's address, which popped up on the car's computer screen. We could hear sirens coming from the paramedics who were quickly catching up to us. The lights from the vehicle behind us easily penetrated the glass window of the police car and filled it with quick flashes of blue and red. My heart sped up, knowing that I was going on my first "assignment." It felt like a scene taken right out of COPS. The only difference was that I was involved instead of watching it on my TV from the safety of my room. We reached the house to see an ambulance and another police car already there. I looked around, taking in all that was happening until the officer turned around in his seat to look at me and said, "Do you want to come in?" I stared at him for a second or two, not believing that he was actually asking me this. Finally, after I snapped out of my trance, I smiled and nodded. I felt very important, going into that house with my navy blue Youth Police Academy shirt and hat, although the officer who had gotten there before us had already taken care of everything. I stood there, just outside the garage, while the two officers spoke briefly to each other. I stared at the flashing lights of the emergency vehicles and wondered if it would be like this when I become a police officer. After the call, we got back into our car and drove around the various towns in our area. Stores that I had just visited the day before went by in a blur. Seeing familiar places was strange from the back windows of a police car. I realized then that I am very lucky to go to a good school and have friends who would never pressure me into doing anything I didn't want to do. I took a couple of pictures, not wanting to forget this incredible moment and was upset when the clock on the computer screen read 5:30. The officer drove me back to my house and opened my side window so I could open the door for myself. After waving to him as he pulled out of the driveway, I couldn't believe the adventure that I had just been on. I will never forget it. I know now that I want to have a career in the front seat of a police car and never end up in the back seat of one again. Article provided by View more articles | Information provided by collegeanduniversity.net |
