A Ridealong with the Caldwell Police Department

Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do?
Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?

A Wandering Widow Post

Back when we were both healthy and dreaming of the future, Dan and I took the time to write out our bucket lists. We taped them up so we could always be reminded of the things we wanted to do. And we were able to do a few of them before he died.

From the time we started dating, he’d been bugging me to do a ridealong with the Caldwell Police Department, where he had been a reserve officer before he met me. It sounded like fun, so it went on my list. But life got busy and it never happened. After he died my list got packed up with everything else and forgotten.

The Bucket List

When I got back to the United States a month ago (Holy Hannah has it been a month already?) I took a look at it again. My eyes scrolled down the list, feeling pretty good about myself for checking off 80% of them. And then they stopped on the ridealong. I was overdue for an adventure, so this seemed perfect.

The Write Along

After reaching out to a friend at Caldwell PD, I was able to get on the calendar for a Saturday evening of a long weekend, right before a full moon. After completing my liability waivers, I arrived at the department. I was channeling my Richard Castle and was prepared to take lots of notes and photos so I could write about the experience. And I wasn’t disappointed. It was an action-packed night. For me, anyway. I’m told it was a pretty standard Saturday.

Corporal Ryan Bendawald met me at the front door, and we didn’t waste any time. Into the car we went, out to get the bad guys off the streets. In the five hours we spent together, I got to learn about him, life as a police officer, and the crime-fighting process. For those of you hoping for cop staches and doughnuts, you’re out of luck. The officers of CPD are lean, mean fighting machines; both fit and fast. Corporal Bendawald was also articulate, funny, and easy to talk to; a perfect ambassador for the department and a citizen rider.

The Man Behind the Badge

Regular readers know one of my favorite things about traveling is meeting people and learning their stories. This was no different. I got to hear about the Corporal’s history in law enforcement, his role as a Field Training Officer, and his experiences in Gang and Drug Enforcement. Unlike many of his peers, Bendawald didn’t grow up with childhood dreams of becoming a police officer. He didn’t move to law enforcement until after leaving a professional golf career. And he has dreams of the future that don’t include running after bad guys, but do include travel and the chance to chef it up at his own restaurant.

That’s right ladies, he cooks. And if you’re nice, he may share the secret to best coffee drink you can get in Caldwell.

The Action

Our conversation filled the space between calls. It was a bit confusing at first, since there were two channels going in the car, one for dispatch and one for the officers on night shift. I got really excited when I heard UnSub come over the radio, just like on TV. But I quickly forgot about it as we got busy responding to domestic violence calls, voyeurs, loud party complaints, and drunk drivers.

Do you know what constitutes a pursuit rating on a police car? Or which houses are drug and gang houses? Can you identify what makes something suspicious behavior? Do you know what proactive policing is, and how all body cameras aren’t created equal? I do, now.

On a tip, we “staked out” a guy with five outstanding warrants, and caught him! Well, Corporal Bendawald caught him. Unlike Richard Castle, I followed instructions to stay in the car. I got to experience my first car chase when he realized we were waiting for him and sped off.  And then I got to see my partner fly out of the car so fast, when the suspect decided to take off on foot, that I couldn’t even get video. Yeah. Lean, mean fighting machine indeed.

Intake at County Jail

With our guy secured in the back seat, we headed to the Canyon County Jail to drop him off for his extended stay. It’s been years since I went on a tour there with Leadership Nampa, and it’s even worse for wear these days. (Geez Louise, Canyon County peeps, approve the new jail already!)

Intake isn’t like it is on TV. We were there almost an hour before our guy could even be processed because a lady had been brought in before us with a purse. When they have to inventory every single possession you have, full purses are a nightmare for them. (Now I know why Dan used to always just hand me my purse instead of trying to find things himself.)

Some stuff is the same as TV. Evidence bags are handed over, belongings are inventoried, jail shoes and clothes are issued, and mug shots are taken. And did you know they have to read the person being brought in every single warrant? This guy had five so it took awhile.

And they ask all kinds of psychological questions. I could answer a lot of them the wrong way, especially the ones about losing someone you loved. But I’m glad these questions are part of the intake process. I can’t imagine someone grieving coming through the system without anyone aware that they may be emotionally and psychologically at risk.

Seeing the Best and Worst in People

After I got out of jail (sorry, couldn’t resist) we were back at it. For a quiet night, it seemed pretty action packed to me. The worst part of the evening was the heartbreaking Emergency Room stop for a rape call that involved a minor. A second rape call would come in shortly after that. WTF!

I’m a person that always looks for the best in people. I choose to believe that people are basically good. But I’ve had conversations with Dan and other cops over the years about why they automatically look at everyone as a suspect. When you spend all of your time chasing down bad guys, I can see how it happens. Nothing we saw really affected me until the rape calls, which made me sick and angry. I guess that’s why I’d never make a good cop since I kinda wanted to go all Deadpool on the rapists.

That’s a Wrap

We drove back to the Department so Corporal Bendawald could complete his reports. Since I was already yawning, I didn’t think I’d be able to stay awake watching him type, despite his generous offer to see his lean, mean typing machine skills in action.

So there you have it. One night in the life at CPD. I learned a lot, and have a much better understanding about why Dan did some things the way he did. Proactive police work in our community prevents a lot of violence from escalating. We’re so lucky to have the men and women that step up to protect us.

I’m declaring this bucket list item officially checked off.

XOXO,
The Wandering Widow
Live Now. Dream Big. Love Fierce.

Special thanks to the Caldwell Police Department, Lieutenant Seevers, Sergeant Crupper, and Corporal Bendawald for making my ridealong happen.

I will always have a soft spot in my heart for CPD. When Dan died, I received an overwhelming number of calls and messages from his Brothers in Blue offering their condolences and offers of help, even if I’d never met them. (I can’t even say that about his Army buddies.) It’s so much more than a fraternity, it’s a family.

Post Soundtrack

Most People Are Good (Luke Bryan)

I believe kids oughta stay kids as long as they can
Turn off the screen, go climb a tree, get dirt on their hands
I believe we gotta forgive and make amends
Cause nobody gets a second chance to make new old friends
I believe in working hard for what you’ve got
Even if it don’t add up to a hell of a lot

I believe most people are good
And most Mama’s oughta qualify for sainthood
I believe most Friday nights look better under neon or stadium lights
I believe you love who you love
Ain’t nothing you should ever be ashamed of
I believe this world ain’t half as bad as it looks
I believe most people are good

I believe them streets of gold are worth the work
But I’d still wanna go even if they were paved in dirt
I believe that youth is spent well on the young
‘Cause wisdom in your teens would be a lot less fun
I believe if you just go by the nightly news
Your faith in all mankind would be the first thing you lose

I believe most people are good
And most Mama’s oughta qualify for sainthood
I believe most Friday nights look better under neon or stadium lights
I believe you love who you love
Ain’t nothing you should ever be ashamed of
I believe this world ain’t half as bad as it looks
I believe most people are good

I believe that days go slow and years go fast
And every breath’s a gift, the first one to the last

I believe most people are good
I believe most people are good