(October 26, 2001) — Imaging sitting in a police car, chasing after a speeding vehicle. Upon catching up to it, the driver is uncooperative and dishonest when questioned. While the driver has a different opinion of the severity of his actions, the difficult job lies with the officer, who has to face these kinds of situations every day. The members of Clark’s Political Science Club sometimes blamed the police force when discussing controversial issues until they went on a one-on-one uncensored police ride-along with officers on the Glendale Police Force. Four students from the club got the opportunity to experience a day in the life of a police officer and because of that, they say they have gained a newfound admiration for the police force. The ride-along included a regular daily run with no restrictions, emergency calls and a patrol of the city for four hours, according to junior Chris Kilpatrick, who scheduled the ride-alongs. Junior Michael Marzouk and his assigned officer looked at crime residences, patrolled buildings such as banks and talked about the history of Glendale. Other students got the chance to experience seeing their host officer being called as backup and received explanations of the different units of the police force. Aside from being an educational experience, students who went on the ride-along said they have come to an understanding of what it is that police officers face. “It’s really easy to blame the police for a problem,” said Kilpatrick. “[But] when you are responding to a high priority call with lights and siren, your perspective changes a lot.” Marzouk found that he has “gained more respect for officers” after realizing what they’ve had to face. Marzouk said he was amazed at their ability to overcome fears in tough situations. Glendale police officer Jerry Uebel said that any experiences where students can speak with a police officer is always a positive and beneficial one for everyone involved. He acknowledged that ride-alongs are “enjoyable as a police officer because it gives us a chance to be able to speak to students one-on-one in a non-stressful and friendly basis.” Uebel also states that ride-alongs are not done on a regular basis but are encouraged for people who are really interested in a career in law enforcement. To schedule a ride-along, students must contact the public offices of the Police Department and parent permission is required for minors.