Editor spends third shift with campus police

By: Christopher Barrett

Posted: 3/30/05

03/30/05 - Editors' note: Last Friday the University of Rhode Island Campus Police Department allowed Cigar News Editor Christopher Barrett to ride along with an officer. During his four hours on patrol, Barrett witnessed traffic stops, an intoxicated woman assault police and officers break up a party. Below is the recount of his night. The officers asked their first names not be used.

8:49 p.m. Dispatch

I reported at the dispatch station near the Memorial Union to see Dispatcher Cervone. Sitting behind the dispatch desk flanked by television monitors, computers and radios, Cervone will oversee campus security operations for the next eight hours.

"We do pretty much everything here," Cervone tells me. "Dispatch is the hub ... especially afterhours, everything comes here."

During the night, Cervone monitors 64 cameras spread throughout campus, various building alarms flickering on a computer screen and the crackle of radio communications. He maintains the log, answers three phones and coordinates the SafeRide program.

"I see it right here and it's nuts," Cervone says.

Cervone then radios for campus police officer Gentile to report to the station. A clean-cut officer walks in, shakes my hand and hands me a liability waiver form. I sign it and my night begins.

9:05 p.m. Patrol

I join Gentile in patrol car No. 2, one of the new ones with the Ram logo that looks like it's chasing after you. We zip out of the parking lot and join two other cars on routine patrol.

Gentile tells me he looks for "anything a regular police department looks for ... I just do a lot of random stuff. People have no idea what we do."

He says he uses the car's spotlight to point out parked cars without valid registration tags, check on abandoned buildings and uses a radar gun to check the speeds of passing cars.

9:08 p.m. Traffic stop

Gentile makes a sudden U-turn and steps on the gas. He explains a car that just passed us has illegal green lights on the windshield. Gentile radios in the license plate for a vehicle check and flips on his lights.

After the car stops, Gentile approaches slowly; he later informs me that the most dangerous time during a traffic stop is when the officer approaches the vehicle.

Returning a moment later with the driver's license and registration, Gentile radios in the information.

"Everything came back, he's got no priors so I'm going to give him a break and keep it that way," Gentile said.

Gentile returns the license and tells the driver to remove the lights.

9:30 p.m. Speed trap

Since it is a slow night, Gentile decides to setup a speed trap for Flagg Road.

"There are a million traffic laws you can be stopped for," Gentile says.

Gentile looks for cars with broken lights, drivers failing to use turn signals or who view stop signs as optional and of course, speeders.

9:40 p.m. Traffic stop

As Gentile flips on his lights to stop a car with a broken headlight, a call comes in reporting a domestic dispute by the Ryan Center. Another officer requests backup.

"I've gotta make this quick," Gentile shouts as he runs out of the car, tells the driver to fix his light and hops back in the driver's seat.

9:41 p.m. Respond to request for backup

Gentile flips on the siren and steps on the gas. As we approach a long line of cars exiting the Ryan Center's parking lots, Gentile goes into the left lane.

9:43 p.m. Backup arrives

Capt. Carey, who is working traffic detail, directs us to officer Vieira who is in a parking lot nearby and hands Gentile car keys.

9:44 p.m. Arrest

Gentile tells me to "stay in the car." I see him approach Vieira, a woman and a man accompanied by two children. As the woman loudly demands her keys, the man informs Gentile and Vieira that his girlfriend, Donna Hutchinson, 37 of Ashaway, R.I., is drunk. Patrolman Brasil arrives.

The man tells the officers he doesn't want Hutchinson driving so he gave the keys to Carey.

As the officers separate Hutchinson from her boyfriend, they warn her she faces arrest if she continues to make a scene.

Hutchinson again demands her keys and physically threatens the officers. Gentile spins her around and handcuffs her.

"Now she's a threat not only to us but to the community," Vieira says.

The officers pat her down, take her to a cruiser and charge her with assault on a police officer. The officers tell me later that Hutchinson also attempted to kick out its window.

"We're not just dealing with students," Gentile notes. "A good portion of our arrests are not students."

9:59 p.m. Lockup

We follow Vieira back to the police station and both Gentile and Vieira literally "drag" Hutchinson into a cell, Gentile said.

10:15 p.m. Paperwork

The officers return Vieira's handcuffs, file a report and oversee Hutchinson's confinement.

10:18 p.m. EMS

Cervone calls URI Emergency Medical Services when Hutchinson passes out. With the help of medical personnel, she recovers a few minutes later and returns to shouting profanities at the officers.

10:20 p.m. Dispatch 101

As I watch on a television monitor, the officers read Hutchinson her rights. Cervone teaches me Dispatch 101. Sitting behind a desk might sound boring to some, but Cervone says he is "glad I'm not out there sometimes."

One of Cervone's most important jobs is to provide officers with background checks. Using the Rhode Island Law Enforcement Telecommunications System, Cervone can pull up the criminal background of virtually any person.

The system is connected to a national database, so URI officers might know about a DUI or arrest that a student has.

11:45 p.m. Illegal party

Gentile has spent the last hour helping book an uncooperative Hutchinson and is now back out on patrol. As we drive by the Terrace Apartments, loud noise coming from an apartment raises Gentile's suspicions. He turns off his lights and observes (a side tip to party hosts, when holding a party, ensure guests do not shout "more beer, more beer" loudly out a window.)

As Gentile radios for backup, I watch from afar as the officers bang on the door and the room goes silent.

The officers check IDs before searching the room and finding alcohol. Even though some of the partygoers were underage, the officers tell them all to go home after checking that those who drank alcohol will not be driving.

"It doesn't always happen that way ... they were very, very cooperative," Gentile explains. "If I started getting people with attitude, things would be different."

12:06 a.m. Traffic stop

Back on the streets, Gentile stops a car for driving through a stop sign and not having a lighted license plate. Since the driver has no priors and is cooperative, Gentile lets him go with a warning.

12:22 a.m. Suspicious people

Gentile slows down as he notices a group of young people in shorts and T-shirts walking away from Burnside. I'm confused but Gentile explains something just doesn't appear right and questions why anyone would be wearing T-shirts in 30-degree weather.

"I wouldn't make an assumption [about what they are going to do], I assess the situation," he says.

As Gentile assesses the situation from a distance, a tow truck driver requests directions and Gentile loses the group.

"You can't win 'em all," he says after searching unsuccessfully for them.

12:31 a.m. Backup

Gentile hears a call from a fellow officer pulling over a suspicious vehicle. He does a U-turn and goes to assist.

"We try and back each other up on the road," he says.

After the incident outside the Ryan Center, the officers seem somewhat edgy and eager to assist each other.

12:45 a.m. Traffic stop

Same drill, but I get to turn on the lights.

12:57 a.m. Sign out

Gentile returns to the station to file a supplement to Vieira's report. I salute Gentile goodbye and thank him for his time.