Stopping cars to let kids pass on their way to school, answering calls for help and securing crime scenes are all aspects of a police officer’s job. But, what really happens behind the scenes during a police officer’s workday? It is more than most people think.
Throughout the Brookline Police Department (BPD), officers use their own specialities to contribute to the force. According to Training Officer Peter Muise, there is a wide range of jobs and positions offered in a police department.
“In the Community Service [Department] you have to show a propensity to want to talk to people and interact,” Muise said. “In the Training Division, [you are] somebody that likes to stand up in front of a group of people and try and instruct. If you’re a detective, you’re all about fighting crime and doing a deep dive.”
Sergeant of the patrol division Nick Goon said the BPD answers any call, from concerns about turkeys blocking a driveway, to traffic crashes and thefts. When police receive unconventional calls, like someone’s heating system breaking, officers “observe-report-document’’ and decide the best way to follow through and help. Goon said patrol officers should know how to deal with a wide range of situations.
“Patrol is kind of the master of all trades, and they have to be able to be knowledgeable in almost everything that happens,” Goon said.
Officer and Youth Resource Officer Kaitlin Conneely, who takes part in the Justice in Action class, a senior class focused on criminal justice, said a big part of the job is paperwork. Conneely said most people would expect a cop’s job to be focused on arresting criminals all day, but that this is untrue.
“Especially now with all the training requirements and officer requirements, the training division has a lot going on to make sure [police actions] are clearly documented and processed.” Conneely said.
Muise said the BPD responds to over 80,000 calls a year. Goon said there is a numbering system to prioritize calls. Calls are categorized based on priority. Life-threatening calls, murder, robberies that are in progress, shots fired and overall urgency fall into Category One, while Category Two calls do not require an urgent response.
Every officer on patrol has a sector, and once the location of a call is confirmed, the officer patrolling that sector is dispatched to respond. First responders are typically uniformed officers. Detectives follow-up on cases, take photos, collect evidence, call people after the initial report and gather information.
According to Muise, in addition to knowing how to respond to calls, cops frequently train in de-escalation tactics. Muise emphasized the importance of a police officer’s body language and communication. Generally, officers are supposed to create distance or put something between themselves and the subject of de-escalation.
“Under state law, we have to use some form of de-escalation before we apply force, as long as it’s feasible. More often than not, the more officers that are on scene, the less likely you’re going to have to use a higher level of force,” Muise said. “A big portion of the job is verbal communication and listening. I think the officers have gotten better with that over the years.”
Goon said that making a difference in the community and helping people, by patrolling or answering calls, is what motivates him in his job.
“We answer all 911 calls and any dispatch calls for service,” Goon said. “No two days are the same.”
Conneely said student interactions and helping the community motivate her to keep working. She said she knew a student whose perspective on cops changed after meeting Conneely.
“That student said she grew up hating all police officers and I’m the first police officer she’s ever liked. That, for me, is amazing,” Conneely said. “We just had a class and difficult conversations were brought up about George Floyd — conversations that I think a lot of students are nervous to have with police officers. Getting student perspectives is very informative for us.”
