35 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com our town Recently, I was afforded the opportunity to do a deep dive into the day-to-day life of a police officer. I knew working in law enforcement was a career that came with intensity and stress that can at times be dangerous. While on duty responding to a call, the temperament of any situation can change in seconds. I was offered the chance to do a walkthrough tour of the Mount Pleasant Police Department. The ride-along experience is something I will never forget. It opened my eyes to what patrol officers really do within our community. Any citizen can participate in ride-alongs with a patrol officer after a clear background check. MPPD encourages the community to inquire and experience what it’s like to ride with an officer. Entering the department at 6 a.m., I was greeted by the morning patrol team as they were being debriefed from the previous shift. Patrol has three shifts which include: morning from 6 a.m.-4 p.m., second shift from 1-11 p.m. and third shift from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. An officer spends eight solid hours on the road with an additional two hours doing paperwork. During my ride along, I met Sgt. Ashley Croy, who proudly serves her community. Croy is a former patrol officer of 10 years who now works as a public information officer. “My job is solely to get information out to the public via all platforms.” Croy’s constantly devising the best ways to educate the public to help make them aware of what’s happening within the community. For example, during Tropical Storm Debby, it was Croy’s job to keep the community up to date with information and details to help us stay safe. I also had the pleasure of meeting Officer Michaela Capers, a traffic division officer. “My everyday duties are anything dealing with the traffic within Mount Pleasant,” Capers said. If it involves speed or traffic light enforcement, basic traffic enforcement for infractions, working traffic directions or traffic collisions, Capers is there. I also had the honor of meeting Officer Jason Shaver on the morning of my ridealong. Shaver is more than just a patrol officer; he is also involved with the Harbor Patrol and Mobile Field Force. As we drove off, Shaver explained that Mount Pleasant is split into eight districts. Every patrol officer is given a district/neighborhood to patrol. This enables officers to respond quicker to a call. At any point on the ride, Shaver could receive a call that could completely change the course of his day. “My father was a New York State corrections officer. That made me aware of public service,” explained Shaver. “My mother is a doctor. My family has always served.” Depending on the type of call, Detective Joshua Ballentine might need to come onto the scene to handle the case. Ballentine, who specializes in criminal investigation, has been with the department for nine years. Ballentine reviews incidents from the day’s priors, working on newly-assigned cases and continuing to work on prior assigned cases. He conducts research through online databases and interviews, collects and preserves evidence and creates search and arrest warrants. Ever been curious about forensic services? CSI Angela Mitchell handles the crime scene and evidence. “I try to take care of our trackers. Keeping track of our evidence, crime scenes; if it’s a little bit above patrol level, they will call us to come in and handle it,” Mitchell explained. For every crime scene, Mitchell and her team take Ride Along Day in the life of MPPD BY MAURICE J. FRAZIER Sgt. Ashley Croy. Officer Michaela Capers. Officer Jason Shaver. Detective Joshua Ballentine. CSI Angela Mitchell.
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