Surfing Soapbox: Inside look at a police officer’s work

2010 got off to a bang. Literally. Within a week Laguna had two high-speed chases, both ending in crashes. The second one culminated in the suspect being shot and killed. It was a strange week to say the least.

Opinions ran rampant; the biggest question asked was whether the shooting was justified. If crashing into three or four cars after speeding down the wrong side of the highway at speeds of 80 to 100 mph from Dana Point doesn’t stop a person, then what will?

It’s a miracle that no one was killed or seriously injured when that driver decided to roll the dice with the public’s fate and drive through our town like a maniac. I don’t envy the job or the scrutiny that the police are faced with every day, just simply trying to do their job. Perception, it seems, is around every corner for them.

Just as is the unknown.

It’s always easier for people to sit back on the sidelines and judge others without ever having to put themselves out there, which is my biggest pet peeve in life and the biggest reason why I went on a ride-along with the police March 26.

Sure I had come across a few officers who weren’t exactly the most friendly, but then again I have experienced that in all walks of life, no matter what their occupation might have been. I don’t believe in stereotypes, and from my experience it’s good that I don’t.

My partner that night and his supervisor both embraced me as one of their own. They all did. I watched as they treated people more than fair and even when doing so, I witnessed a woman offer her sadly mistaken and rude opinion about a situation. The officer showed more restraint than I would have. However, he remained polite throughout her verbal commentary.

But more importantly I saw them take eight drivers off of the road who certainly could have killed someone while driving. One driver passed out behind the wheel while waiting for the light to turn green.

Two others crashed their cars — the second driver crashed into two other cars, continued driving and then, when pulled over, tried to run. These people couldn’t even walk let alone drive a car.

These are the types of drivers who are driving on our streets every weekend.

If it wasn’t for the Police Department taking them off of our streets, you might, sadly enough like myself, experience what it’s like to lose a loved one to a drunk driver — and I don’t wish that on anyone.

JAMES PRIBRAM is a Laguna Beach native, professional surfer and John Kelly Environmental Award winner. His websites include AlohaSchoolofSurfing and ECOWarrior Surf.com. He can be reached at Jamo@Aloha SchoolofSurfing.com