“Do you want a bulletproof vest,” Westfield Police Sergeant Jeff Baillargeon asked me.
I never met Baillargeon before and that was a rather odd way to say “hello.” I was going to be riding along with him on the 4 p.m. to midnight shift on a Friday, which is traditionally an action-packed shift.
This was now my second ride-along with Westfield Police, since the first one was rather tame. And for officer Seth Florek—who was my guide that first day—it was a good day because every quiet day is a good one for police. For me though, I wanted a little more action.
Notice that I said a little more—not so much that I need a bulletproof vest.
Guns that officers carry in their vehicles
Anyway, after the unsuccessful ride-along with Florek I was invited to ride along with his commander, Baillargeon, to try and get a real experience of what it is like for an officer on the street. And there could have been a need for a bulletproof vest for me with either men, since both are part of the Special Response Team (SRT) in Westfield, which is essentially a SWAT team. At any moment a highly-volatile situation could erupt, such as an active shooter or drug bust, and the SRT would have to assemble and respond. They always carry their equipment in their vehicles just in case for situations like that.
It isn’t just in Westfield that they respond, either. Baillargeon said that the SRT responded recently to an incident in Huntington where an armed suicidal man barricaded himself in his house. They were able to evacuate the man and no injuries or casualties were suffered.
So, there was that threat looming at all times while I rode along with them. Still, I declined the bulletproof vest.
However, these men do need their vests. Every day could lead to another statistic involving an officer injured or shot on duty. Whether it’s in Boston, Dallas or San Diego, the violence against cops is growing it seems. And the men and women of Westfield Police respond to about 45,000 calls a year, or approximately 123 per day, in spite of the city’s sleepy status. There may not be a lot of murders or violent acts, but there are enough to keep the police busy and worried about their own lives day in and day out.
A lot of what Westfield Police encounter though, are incidents that require community service more than police work. A majority of their time, Baillargeon said, is spent servicing citizens who have disputes or who just aren’t sure who else to call.
“We’re service oriented,” Baillargeon said. “We work for the people of Westfield. If it’s a leaky pipe, a bat in the house, we handle it.”
The officers also give rides to citizens who may not have one or, in at least one instance, may install cable for someone who doesn’t know how. Baillargeon said he did that.
Community Police officer in Powdermill Village
Baillargeon said that policing is really about educating the community. This is a key role especially for the community police unit, who set up satellite police offices in areas where crime may be more of an issue, such as Powdermill Village on Union Street or downtown. These officers provide people with a way to air their grievances without making it into a criminal complaint, while also receiving an education about what steps to take next and how to go about it. And for the individuals of Powdermill Village, it also provides children with a safe place to hang out, play video games and watch TV.
Of course, there is the other side of policing that television and movies glorify. And with Baillargeon, I was able to experience some of that.
While riding along with Baillargeon we came across a couple arrests. One arrest was happening and would later reveal itself as a larger story, but it was under investigation and could not be talked about at the time. However, detectives were watching a man and waiting to make their move and they did. Several detectives and police, including us, went to apprehend the man on Southampton Road. He went along peacefully with police and did not fight.
Police making the arrest
However, at the same time across the city, that could not be said for another arrest. Over on Meadow Street, police were called to a man who was walking in and out of traffic with a hand truck, and on the hand truck was a safe and computer equipment. Police had no idea where the items came from and did not have a report of anything stolen, but it was certainly suspicious behavior.
As police approached the man, he began to block traffic and act out. Police attempted to talk to him and question him, but he was evasive with them. When they attempted to arrest him for disturbing the peace, he proceeded to struggle and get away. Police however, were able to subdue him and brought him to the station to be booked.
The teapot filled with the melange of spices and breadcrumbs
As the night wore on with Baillargeon, we continued to go from place to place and go wherever we were needed. One call we went to involved four teapots in a tree with garlic cloves stuffed in their spouts and some sort of spice and breadcrumbs in the body of the teapots–Google provided no answer for what this may be used for. Another involved a woman who overdosed on prescription medications because she was depressed and suicidal. Then, we went to check on the Pokemon Go players as they congregated in Park Square.
“It’s nice to see people using the park,” Baillargeon said about the group playing Pokemon Go. “Even the mayor was out there the other day.”
The night was coming to an end and Westfield seemed safe again. No major incidents, no need for me to wear a bulletproof vest and no need for the community to worry when Westfield is protected by a group of great officers.
