Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of a Bellevue Police Officer looks like? Well, first it depends on which officer you are asking about! Bellevue Police Officers work in a wide variety of different divisions and positions around the department. We have detectives (general crimes, special victims unit, and special investigations unit), school resource officers, a special services unit, a traffic enforcement unit, a training unit, and more. But the most known position in the department is the road patrol officer. They are the ones who patrol the streets of Bellevue 24/7 and respond to the daily calls for service, emergency, or otherwise. So, what exactly does a road patrol officer do every day?
Let’s start with shift schedules. We work 12-hour shifts, from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm, or 6:30 pm to 6:30 am, which we then refer to as “day shift” and “night shift.” If you’re a day shift officer, like me, you start your day out with a large cup of coffee and head to the station to pick up your gear bag, emergency equipment, and body camera, and to check in with your sergeants. Day shift generally starts off slowly, as many people head to work and school, and emergency call volume tends to be lower. The first calls of the day might be a car crash, or perhaps a theft from a retail store, or a destruction of property report when somebody wakes up to discover mischief done to their property overnight. During downtime between calls, officers often “run traffic” meaning we watch the roads for traffic law violations, make traffic stops, and yes, often write tickets. The goal here is always to make our roadways safer, and to reduce the number of crashes. As the day progresses, the variety of calls for service increases. One moment we are responding to assist the fire department with emergency medical situations, or a report of smoke or fire. The next moment we may be going to take a report of a scam that somebody fell victim to, or an identity theft scenario. Mixed into the day might be a fraudulent check situation at a bank, an assault report, or a call relating to children or a domestic disturbance. Along the way, we could be sent to talk to a parent about their child’s behavior or answer questions about online bullying. Sometimes we are in the right place at the right time to help with somebody’s pet, and then the next thing we know we are being sent to a burglary report.
Day shift road patrol officers usually find the volume of calls increasing as the afternoon progresses toward evening. While the end of our shift is supposed to be at 6:30, the hectic pace of the afternoon often keeps us finishing up calls for service and trying to wrap up reports at the last possible minute. Night shift road patrol officers experience the opposite. While they might receive many of the same calls for service that a day shift officer does, their shifts often start off in a hurry, and they are rushing to calls right out of the gate. As the night progresses and nears the wee hours of the morning, the pace gradually begins to slow as the city drifts off to sleep.
Which shift is better to work? That depends on whom you ask! Night shift officers often experience more crimes in progress, and emergencies where the speed of their response and quick thinking often determines the outcome of the situation. Day shift officers often respond to incidents after they happen, generally when there is more time to think through and investigate the situation. Of course, the day in the life of any police officer is unpredictable and there is never truly a “normal,” which really means we should always expect the unexpected.
Do you have more questions about daily life as a police officer? We would love to answer them. If you see a Bellevue Police Officer out and about who is available, feel free to say hi and let us know what questions you have. We are here for you.
Officer Jessica Manning
