HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1979-08-15, Page 3 (2)Follow one and you'll find out
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Where arethepolice?
By BILL BATTEN
How come there's 'never a
policeman around when you
need one?
That's a question several
local residents have been
asking in the past weeks as
the community has ex-
perienced an increase in the
number of vandalism and
noise complaints.
The writer has been
among those asking the
question on occasions, so
Friday night, with the
cooperation of Chief Ted
Day, I "rode shotgun" (with
my camera) with Constable
Kevin Short.
I met the muscular, young
constable at the make -shift
police office at 8.00 p.m.
when he came on duty and he
outlined some of the ac-
tivities for the night.
There would be doors to
check, an eye to keep on cars
that may be travelling bars,
and as the night progressed,
there'd have to be a watchful
glance at passing motorists
to see if all were able to drive
the straight and narrow. •
However, there were some
minor details to complete
first. A call was made to the
central dispatch in Goderich
advising that Exeter car 18
was now on duty and we
would be using portable
radio number 28.
Kevin had heen off duty for
a couple of days and had td
check through the oc-
currences to see what on-
going investigations may
need his attention. There
were tew, so he could plan
his night to fit the needs as he
saw them.
Constable George
Robertson was out in the
other cruiser until midnight
and we'd have the "grave-
yard" shift to ourselves. -
Kevin then made notes in
his most valuable
possession, his notebook. He
detailed the weather and
driving conditions for the
night so the information
would be ready if he needed
it for any court appearances
that may arise from the
night's duty.
The officer admits to
enjoying the night shift.
"There's more going on, -you
feel you're helping more".
Now it's out to the cruiser
and again, the paper Work.
The log has to be filled in for
the vehicle and it's 8.20 when
we fipally hit the street.
Twenty minutes of time
taken on the essential paper
work for the department,
plus one phone call to an-
swer.
We cruise slowly up the
street and Kevin is starting
to make mental notes as we
pass vehicles. There's a
motorcycle...is the headlight
on? There's a trailer..what
color licence sticker should it
have? Police work is a
thinking man's game!
Riverview Park is checked
out. A few kids are fishing
and a couple wave. A man
has a metal detector trying
to find coins along the bank.
Kevin jots down the licence
number. He doesn't
recognize the face and who
knows what the chap will be
looking for before the night is
over.
At the top of the park,
there's the distinct noise of
squealing tires down Andrew
St. The accelerator goes
down and we're off to in-
vestigate. Two cars are in
sight. One pulls slowly down
-tewards the rec centre.
There are no black marks on
the pavement. We zip on to
the next corner. Again an
older couple passleisurely in
their car. It wasn't them
either.
"That's the story of my,
life,"'Kevin remarks as he
realizes he was a couple of
blocks too far away to catch
the real offender. •"Maybe
he'll come to us," he com-
ments as we pull into the fire
hall and sit watching the
stream of traffic along the
street in front. It's 8.35.
Then it's down Main St.
again and a car pulls
abruptly into a parking spot
ahead. The driver shoots
Kevin a glance that makes
the latter wonder. He calls
Goderich for a check on the
car'sownership.Then the car
.goes past as we turn at the
south end and Kevin gives
pursuit. The driver is
stopped at the Kirkton Road.
The two youths are obviously
nervous as he approaches.
However, it was all a case of
mistaken identity and they
even had their seat belts on.
We head back to town,
leaving two youths who will
probably slow down for the
balance of the night. Kevin
calls it "letting them know
you're around".
He pulls the cruiser into
the coin car wash at 8.55 to
chat with another group of
youths. They banter good-
naturedly and jokingly list
the things they're going to do
to give him problems for the
night.
Again, he's doing some
public relations wont and
letting some people know
there are policemen around.
A car drives up and an
upset resident of Huron Park
steps out to advise Kevin he
narrowly missed hitting two
7.4
▪ -•
$,00 STREWN — Exeter Constable Kevin Short walks along' to inspect damage caused
when two pallets of sod were knocked over on Wellington St. early Saturday morning. A
Hensall area youth has been charged with careless driving and failing to report an accident
as a result of the investigation. Staff photo
kids on bicycles .. who
carelessly crossed Main St.
near the liquor store.
"I'd been in trouble if I'd
wipped one of them out," the
driver fumes, most tsf hts
anger coming from,thefact
one of the near victims had
"given him an insulting raise
of a finger when he looked
sternly at them. The man
haittwo kids in the back seat
and he'd feared for them
when he had to hit the
brakes.
By the time we arrive at
the corner, of course, there
are no cyclists in sight.
We're just a couple of
minutes behind, but they had
disappeared.
Kevin laments the poor
driving habits of some
cyblists, wondering if the
safety lectures he and the
other officers give at the
local schools really do much
good.
At 9.10 a car passes with
faulty headlights. It is pulled
over at the IGA. The driver
can't produce his licence,
saying it was lost.
Kevin again goes through
the Canadian Police
Information Centre (CPIC)
computer. The driver may
be telling -the truth or he may
have been driving under
suspension. The officer finds
out it's the former and when
the young man, ac-
companied by his wife and
infant, says he'll get the
lights fixed (they were
damaged in an accident and
he'd blown several fuses in
the past week) he's let off
with a warning.
It's now 9.25 and we drive
past the rec centre. There's
no action outside.
Everything's quiet. We drive
down to the grandstand and
Kevin sweeps the area with a
spotlight. Nothing. Driving
around the school properties
he notes that vandalism isn't
as bad in this area in the
summer. Kids don't hate
school as much during
holiday time, perhaps'?
Soon, we're checking doors
at the industries along High-
way 83. A fierce bark greets
him at one door. "Meanest
looking thing you ever saw"
he says in reference to the
Doberman which has .been
left on guard duty.
At 10.00 p.m. we find an
unlocked door at one of the
plaiits. Kevin' calls Goderich
to let them know he's in-
vestigating and asks them to
'call a"key holder" from the
firm who can come and lock
V,tterth',$ Shoes . Annual
AUGUST
Starts Today
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Wed., Aug, 15
On The Sidewalk Only ...
LADIES'
SHOES
In The Store ...
All Styles
All Colors
$199
Special Racks Ladies'
CASUAL & DRESS
Slit ES
Assorted Styles
Assortment of Misses & Boys
LEATHER SHOES
S 5 95 AND SR 95 _ r•
Real
Barcialns At
ttertti Shoes Ltd
v,s,
EXETER
MAIN ST.
235-0611
ALL
SALES
FINAL
ON
SPECIALS
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up. Everything appears to be
okay, but we've spent 15
minutes because someone
was careless about a door.
As we leave, there's a call
to go to the OPP office
regarding a stolen vehicle
from the Exeter Legion lot.
Investigation reveals it was
only borrowed and the owner
isn't even arc d. But it took
almost 30 minutes to get the
situation straightened.
Around 11.00 we park
behind V&G and get out and
check some doors down
town. All's locked up...all's
quiet..There are no signs of
any suspicious youths who
may be involved in van-
dalism..
"They know I'm on duty
tonight," Kevin chuckles,
adding that the night lights
in rear yards. of local
businesses helps out
tremendously. Even more
would help.
At 11.45 he -shows me his
favorite "hidittg place". We
pull in and tjt and .watch
traffic. 'We're. so: close we
could -speak to 'tile drivers,
but they don't see us. Kevin
laughs when he relates how
he's picked up a couple of
drivers he spotted tipping
beer as they passed.
Five minutes later a beat -
up car drives past with three
young men. Kevin doesn't
like the looks of things and
we slowly pull out to follow.
The lads pull down the
street beside the liquor store
and then pull 'over. although
the officer didn't signal them
to do so.
The driver gets out. He's
obviously nervous..talking
loudly, but his attempt at
being confident is far from
real. Kevin. checks the
vehicle and calls for a CPIC
run-down. While he's
waiting, the boys say they're
looking for a gas. station.
The check comes . back
from CPIC. The driver will
stand trial in Goderich on
August 13 for break and
enter. A passenger faces the
same trial awl another op
August 27 for Is break and
enter. They say they broke
into three gas -stations.
However, there are no
"restraints" on the trio and
Kevin lets then go. They're
seen leaving town shortly
after, perhaps having to
forego some, other plan0est
activities . because. of, , a,_
policeman's itStbitlon. It was
uncanny!
At 12.25 we pull over a
decorated bridal car. It was
going a little too fast. The
brideand groom arenervous
about the situation.
Kevin lets them go. "I
must be getting soft" he
muses, noting he hadn't
bothered to check for liquor
in the vehicle. Perhaps it
was a wedding gift from a
policeman?
Shortly after, a car -pulls
too quickly from the stop
light at Sanders St. and we
zip along behind The vehicle
is stopped just south of the
Coven church..
Kevin walks up and in
short order has four un-
capped beer bottles out on
the roof of the car. He walks
back to make out a ticket.
."How can he -smile when it's
going to cost him 5104" he
questions of the delver.
The man had_ obviously
been drinking. but Kevin
does not suspect him of being
impaired.
We return to the office and
have to spend over 20
minutes filling out forms for
various court, ministry and
department use. The bottles
have to be labelled in case
they're needed for court. It's
20 minutes we're out of
circulation again. Red tape!
Out on the street again, we
check more doors at the
north end and come back and
drive down Wellington St.
Several pallets of sod are on
the street on the south side.
Two at the corner of Carling
have been tipped over •and•
sod strewn along the street.
It's 1.40.
Kevin shakes his. head as
to why no one in the nearby
houses hadn't called. We
drive along Wellington and
hear a man's whistle coming
from the Canners. Just as we
pull up, a call comes in from
the car to report to that spot.
The timing was flawless!
Kevin says his faith in
lytman n ,tufe is restored
and we're -told a damaged
car has been abandoned4et
the weigh scales. The front
was badly damaged. There
on the front grille was the
evidence a big hunk of sod.
After checking out the
car's ownership. we drive
back and Kevin Is verbally
kicking himself for not
having spotted, the trail of
radiator' fluid which had
weaved along the street from
the spot where the sod
pallets had been hit.
It's a hit and run!
Please turn to page 5
Times -Advocate, August 16, 1979 P.gs 3
Bell Canada
agreed to $22,837.50
The union saidino
For. nine months we tried unsuccessfully to
negotiate an agreement with the Communica-
tions Workers of Canada representing our
craft and services employees.
Then, at the union's request, a government
conciliator was appointed.
The conciliator recommended the following
monetary terms:
An overall wage increase of 28.8% during the -
30 -month life of the agreement including a 10.5%
increase upon signature of the contract, retroactive
to December 1, 1978.
This brings the annual salary of a senior level
technician in a major centre up to $22,837.50 from
the present $17,719.29 by September 1, 1980.
In addition, he recommended a cost -of -living
allowance in January 1981.
Bell agreed
An additional increase in the range of 1° to 2%
for all employees located outside of Toronto,
Montreal, Hamilton and Windsor.
Bell agreed
Further wage increases of 1% to 2.5% for all
employees in certain job classifications.
Bell agreed
Improved overtime provisions, including higher
pay for overtime, so that a senior level technician
could earn up to a maximum of $22 per hour; more
vacation and paid• holidays; higher shift premiums
and better travel compensation.
We agreed, although the' entire package
went far beyond our earlier proposals.
The union said no.
We regret the inconvenience to the public
but we feel our position is a responsible one.
Bell
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