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RIDE-ALONG:
Arrests
decline
this fall
► From Paso 1
his first fake ID, Athens
arrests have been steadily
declining since the begin
ning of the semester.
Thirty-three students
have been arrested between
Nov. 1 and Nov. 12. accord
ing to documents obtained
by The Red & Black.
This pales in compari
son to the 34 arrested in
three days the first week
end after summer vaca
tion.
There have also been
fewer on-campus arrests.
After tallying more than
70 total arrests in August.
University police have
reported only 35 this
month.
The Red & Black wit
nessed this trend firsthand
as officers were seen utiliz
ing discretion much more
frequently than handcuffs
during a Nov. 15 downtown
ride-along with Athens-
Clarke County police.
By the time .the streets
cleared and bartenders
began counting tips. ACC
police had issued dozens of
warnings and made only
three arrests, none of which
were of University stu
dents.
With opportunities on
every comer, officers fre
quently handled situations
with less confrontation and
made arTests only when it
was “necessary,” in the
words of ACC downtown
police officer Michael
Waters.
“I just don't see a reason
to rack up a whole bunch
of charges on the kids," he
said. “I think our role here
is as a protector. We are
here to make the environ
ment the safest it can be
for kids to grow and
become adults in."
So what about the
downtown rules decades of
students have defined for
themselves?
Waters said there's not
much to them.
Students are taught fall
ing asleep downtown is an
automatic way to end up in
Clarke County Jail.
However, Waters said if
you are with friends who
will keep you safe, police
won’t always get involved.
He also said mistakes
such as jaywalking and
being thrown out of a bar
won’t always guarantee an
arrest.
Even when an argument
began outside Fahrenheit
Bar, The Red & Black saw
officers handle the situa
tion while keeping the back
of the patrol cars empty.
“A lot of times we just
try to solve the problem
and interact with the kids,”
Waters said. “It’s not a
given every night that you
will make an arrest. Some
nights you’ll just write cita
tions and have no arrests.
Some nights you’ll have
two or three.”
Waters also said when
someone’s intoxication
level is excessively high, to
the point they are not safe
on the streets, he will get
involved.
“I don’t do a lot of those
encounters except when
I’m looking out for their
safety,” he said. “You’ll be
amazed how intoxicated
some get out here.”
Still, the common belief
among some students
remains that officers are
out to arrest as many stu
dents as possible.
“I don’t think they're
out to protect at all,” said
Patrick Bender, a freshman
broadcast journalism
major. "They’re just trying
to catch kids.”
Jessica Ryle, a junior
psychology major, said she
feels police are here to pro
tect students, but said
most students don't have
positive views of the offi
cers.
“I think most people see
them as trying to kill the
ftm,” she said. “From sto
ries I heard, they seem
pretty aggressive.”
Waters said he tries not
to let these kinds of atti
tudes faze him.
He hopes students will
one day be able to look
back and realize police
were there to serve and
guide them into the adults
they become.
“The biggest thing we’re
trying to do is keep the
kids safe,” Waters said.
Walking with Officer Waters
10:16 p.m. - The ride-along begins with ACC downtown officer
Michael Waters at the East Washington Street substation.
10:18 p.m. - Fahrenheit bar patrons complain of someone throwing
pennies from an apartment window above the bar "They're thowin' shit,"
a complainant tens an officer. "I can hear them hit." After waiting for
someone to let officers into the building, they go up two flights of stairs
and knock on a door. A nervous man answers the door and explains
they are at the wrong room. Officers knock on a neighboring door, and
are once again greeted by a nervous male. After identifying they are in
the right place, an officer provides a warning: "What I'm going to suggest
is this: get it closed so we don't have to come up here again."
lb:30 p.m. - We stop at Layz Shopper to buy a snack.
When Waters pays, an employee initially doesn't accept the money.
Waters smiles, and slides the money back towards the cashier He later
explained it is against police policy to accept free food.
10:44 p.m. - A young female is seen lying on her back in a downtown
bush She is accompanied by friends, so Waters simply says, "Y'aH noed
to get her to a house." No arrests are made
10:45 p.m. - Waters is repeatedly approached by friendly downtown
patrons. Most know him by name and are looking to catch up
"It's positive to have interactions with the citizens,” Waters said. That's
one thing nice about Athens - it's a big, small town."
10:56 p.m. - An older male approaches Waters and informs him he is
no longer barred from downtown He shows the officer some paperwork
and says, "I need no problems with you guys."
11:20 p.m. - Officer Waters is asked if he would iixe to donate to
Crohn's Disease research He takes out his wallet and makes a dona
tion
11:37 p.m. - The first open container citation is written
A man is leaning against a wall with a clear cup in his hand. He tells the
officer it is "Coke and gm." As Waters begins writing a citation, the
offender offers to pour out his drink and says. "I've been through this
before"
11:45 p.m. - Several officers stand outside Barcode bar
Waters explains they are "just watching the crowd' He said they typical
ly look for citations or people that might cause a problem. He also said
police presence tends to help "keep the calm."
12:00 a.m. - A female tnps and falls on the steps as she leaves The
Loft bar. She isn't injured and continues on her way without being
stopped by police
12:09 a.m. - A female approaches and asks to take a picture with
Waters. "It's my 21st birthday.' she says I'm supposed to take a pic
ture with your Waters later explains this is a common occurrence "That
happens a lot." he said. "It s a popular thing to do."
12:20 a.m. - Waters receives word over the radio that three mdividu
ais were just arrested by another officer The arresting officer later
explained he saw a female puli her pants down and sit m a chair She
then began urinating As he approached, she reportedly stood up and
"exposed herself to the work) ’ As officers dealt with this offender, two
other individuals hindered their investigation and were subsequently
placed under arrest as wei!
1:06 a.m. - Several individuals approach Waters and ask. "Did you
arrest our friend?" After speaking to other officers. Waters concludes
their friend had not been arrested
1:39 a.m. -An intoxicated male grabs the attention of a passing
female and says, "Sup gnimirl ‘ The female continues to walk and
appears uninterested
1:44 a.m. - A second open container citation is issued.
A women walks near The Loft bar with an oft-white drink in her hand
She rolls her eyes and sighs as Waters writes a citation
2:17 a.m. - Four individuals get into an argument outside Fahrenheit
bar Police watch as tensions nse There is a small amount of pointing
and pushing, however, the dispute never turns physical The individuals
eventually part ways wilh no real violence
2:18 a.m. - A third open container citation is issued. A man walks
out of Flanigan s Bar & Gnll holding a beer As Waters writes a citation,
his friends argue he should receive a warning They refer to their friend
as an "outstanding citizen' who “volunteers." However, their efforts
prove futile and Waters finishes writing the citation. Before leaving, a
friend yells. “I’ll see you in courtf
2:37 a.m. - A female trips and faks on the sidewalk Her friends
quickly say, "Shell be fine,” and help her up
2:40 a.m. - A male and female approach Waters, The male asks,
"Officer, where can she pee r Waters suggests they try Little Italy
2:45 a.m. - The bars are empty, streets have cleared and most stu
dents are on their way home The ride-along ends
-Compiled by Jacob Demmitt
Online
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NIGHT PATROL
NEWS
10 take-aways from a reporter’s night out
1. There are eight or nine ACC police downtown
on an average night, but that is usually doubled
for gameday weekends.
2. So-called “bar raids' never happen. Officer
Michael Waters said-in the 10 years he has
worked in Athens, he has never heard of police
“barging In and iDing people" in downtown bars.
Waters said bars are only emptied when the fire
marshal stops by and says they are over occupan
cy.
3. Police don't have a quota of arrests they must
make every night, in fact, Waters said some nights
police wont make a single arrest.
4. Despite the common misconception, open con
tainer laws are enforced downtown on gameaays.
If seen, you’ll likely receive a roughly S7O citation.
5. Downtown night cops work 10-hour shifts at a
time. Spanning from 5:45 p.m, to 4 a.m., the night
shift is often as cold as it is long. “It’s nice getting
in bed before the sun comes up,' Waters said.
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6. Alcohol is involved In a ‘Very high” percentage
things you could encounter,” Waters said.
7. The most common mfrmaiorss downtown m if
open container, dteerderiy conduct, puMc tnJoxtoa
tion and underage possession of alcohol, Waters
said.
8. it's against policy for officers to accept tree food
while on duty. I
*
9. Despite what The Simpsons" might suggest, tr
not ak oops love donuts. 'Most oops won’t eat
them now just because of the stereotype,” Waters
said.
10. Downtown is a strictly bike unit. An officer will
usually volunteer to drive each night in order to
transport offenders. However, most other officers
will be on bike patrol. 1 think it makes the job eas
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