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Bob Joseph/WNBF News [file][/caption]Most people never see the world from the front seat of a police car. It's a perspective usually afforded only to law enforcement officers. But many police agencies do allow those who are interested to participate in a ride-along program.

As a journalist in the Binghamton area for more than three decades, I've gone on several ride-alongs with local officers.

My first opportunity was about 30 years ago at the invitation of an Endicott police officer. He suggested it would be useful to spend some time in a village patrol car to learn some of what officers experience.

The ride-along was during the holiday season in December. It was fascinating to find out about the procedures and policies of the police department. The few hours on patrol proved to be unsually quiet. As I recall, the highlight was looking for deer while checking out the village-owned Tri-Cities Airport.

The officer who was my "partner" on that ride-along has since retired. But he did call the Binghamton Now program not too long ago to recommend I schedule another ride-along to appreciate how things have changed. Other police officers and those with an interest in law enforcement also encouraged me to experience "a view from inside the patrol car."

This year, I contacted several police chiefs, the Broome County sheriff and the commander of New York State Police Troop C in Sidney to set up ride-alongs with their agencies. The Vestal Police Department was the one agency that currently was not permitting ride-alongs because of liability concerns.

In 2015, I've rode along with eight law enforcement officers, including a sheriff's deputy and a state trooper. Each experience was unique and important to me. I did two ride-alongs each with different officers in Binghamton, Johnson City and Endicott.

Inside the Johnson City Police station following last Sunday night's ride-along.
Inside the Johnson City Police station following last Sunday night's ride-along.
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This year's series of ride-alongs demonstrated how drastically different conditions in Broome County are now compared to three decades ago. Unlike my first experience in the mid-eighties, on most of my recent tours, I wore a bullet-resistant vest.

Officers today are faced with a growing level of poverty and the problems associated with substance abuse. In many cases, they also are dealing with people who distrust the police.

The police in Broome County are constantly facing the challenge of restoring peace when they respond to all types of disturbances.

In the aftermath of the 2014 on-duty deaths of Johnson City Police Officer David W. Smith Jr. and New York State Trooper Christopher Skinner, area residents learned how dangerous things can be for those in law enforcement.

The officers I spent time with this year often spoke how a "routine call" can suddenly go bad. They are very much aware that serious trouble can occur in situations where it's least expected.

During my most recent ride-along last Sunday evening, there was silence in the Johnson City police patrol car as we slowly drove south on Harrison Street past the site where Officer Smith had been mortally wounded just over 20 months ago. He died after responding to a seemingly-routine report of a disturbance on a Monday morning.
Trooper Skinner died less than two months later during a traffic stop on Interstate 81 just north of Binghamton.

Both line-of-duty deaths shocked Twin Tiers residents. Both happened during situations that are played out several times a day in Broome County year-round.

I observed many situations during my eight "shifts" with local police agencies this year. I witnessed many cases where officers used their training and experience to restore the peace when tempers were raw.

In Broome County, police officers quickly get to know many of the people on their post and become familiar with ongoing situations that cannot be resolved. They know that after they've managed to calm things down for the moment, there's a good chance they'll be called back to do it all over again.

There was a certain sadness while riding through some of the county's most-impoverished neighborhood last weekend, less than two weeks before Christmas. In one patrol car, holiday music played in the background as the dispatcher sent us to a dispute that had the potential to escalate.

After officers interviewed the primary participants and several witnesses, the matter was settled with no arrests. But once back in the car, the officer with whom I was riding predicted it won't be long before they were called back.

The reality is that almost all of the calls handled by the police never make the news. Even when arrests are made, they are viewed as so routine that they won't make any headlines.

Officers are handling these complaints around-the-clock, 365 days a year. Everything must be carefully documented and reports must be completed even when there is no arrest. The work on the reports is perhaps the most tedious aspect of the job but it's as vital as everything else officers do.

Police in this area do encounter people with very negative views of law enforcement and how officers approach the job. They hear plenty of comments that would not be fit for broadcast. Many officers I've spoken with are resigned to facing hostility in some neighborhoods while realizing some of those who are most vocal in criticizing the police are very happy to see them when they need help.

While the negativity from some may appear overwhelming at times, police officers also do hear positive remarks and encouragement. They also rely on citizens who are willing to assist them with information about what's really going on. Those tips from people who help to serve as additional sets of eyes and ears often prove to be very useful for proactive policing and in solving criminal investigations.

As the Binghamton area has undergone significant changes as major businesses have closed or moved in recent years, law enforcement agencies have worked to adjust to the new realities. Agencies are equipping officers with new technologies designed to protect both the police and the public when they interact.

With the heroin epidemic showing no sign of ending, area police officers have saved dozens of lives by administering naloxone over the past couple of years.

Faced with a seemingly-endless supply of bad news, most of the officers I've spent time with this year strive to avoid becoming overwhelmed by the challenges they're facing on the job. One noted that with police work, one sees it all. The happy, the sad, the funny and the tragic - sometimes during the same shift.

Over the years, I've reported from hundreds of crime scenes and spoken with many officers, investigators and supervisors. But none of that could equal the education and insight provided by each ride-along experience.

I'm grateful to the officers and their supervisors who extended their courtesy and shared their thoughts with me this year. It's helped to give me a better appreciation and understanding of the work they do for our community.

For breaking news or late developments, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.

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