by EHNA President Mark Ruddy

In the spirit of getting another view of my neighborhood I spent from 8pm to 10pm in  EC police car 41, piloted by Officer Taylor Comeau. (I’ll have you know I was in the front seat, not that back one that is actually a molded plastic bench that is easily cleaned). Throughout this adventure Officer Comeau took any spare minutes to write up his notes for an earlier incident: steering a drug-hazed, recalcitrant male wandering around S. Hastings Way into a 72 hour commitment to Sacred Heart’s psych ward, for the protection of all.

Experiences I encountered included a close look at the bells and whistles of car 41, diverting traffic on Golf Road due to a natural gas leak, picking up drug paraphernalia at Walgreens Drug Store on Clairemont that staff found in the lady’s rest room (check out the origin and meaning of paraphernalia!), a chance to see the handle end of a tazer gun, and watching other driver’s politely allowing car 41 to go ahead versus being followed by a car with a Bald Eagle logo.

Officer Taylor is new to patrolling the Eastside Hill Neighborhood but has been part of the Force for 4 years. As part of the newly structured Community Policing Model, Officer Taylor spends his hours in that 3rd of Eau Claire called the South District, although he pays particular attention to their “Neighborhood 22″, the eastern two-thirds of our Eastside Hill Neighborhood.

This was a welcomed and insightful evening for me. This experience is available to any resident at least 16 years old (ECPD: 715-839-4972). Thank you, Officer Comeau, for the ride along and for helping to keep the peace of our Eastside Hill.