Meet Bristol's Police Patrol, the Department's 'Heart and Soul'

In week two of the Bristol Citizens Police Academy, Patrolman Greg Silvia and Sgt. Steve St. Pierre spoke to the class about the role of the patrol division in the , including an overview of all of the equipment that patrol officers have on hand and may use on a daily basis.

According to Sgt. St. Pierre, all Bristol Police activity begins and ends with the Patrol Division. He called the patrol unit the "heart and soul" of the police department. 

Sgt. St. Pierre explained that the duty belt that all officers wear provides officers with the basic essential equipment that is needed on a daily basis, including handcuffs, a gun, OC spray, and most importantly, the police radio. To view photos of some of the equipment that officers have available to them, click through our photos above the story.

Arguably the most interesting questions asked by class members Tuesday were those that related to common stereotypes or misconceptions about patrol officers. For starters, Sgt. St. Pierre noted that being an officer is not at all like "CSI Miami."

"It's a lot less action and a lot more secretary," St. Pierre said. "Everything today is about documentation. We spend a lot of time typing up reports." 

St. Pierre says that if you can't express what you experience on paper, it is very difficult to be a patrolman, as every incident, call and arrest generates an intimidating amount of paperwork. 

Then, a participant in the class also felt the need to clear up an unanswered question.

"I hate to ask this, but when people see two cops sitting in the Sip 'n Dip parking lot in their cruisers, what are they really doing?" he asked.

Immediately Patrolman Silvia responded.

"Sipping coffee."

Silvia, clearly joking, stated that he knows that it can be frustrating for people to see two cruisers sitting in a parking lot together, but that it is usually how some officers communicate information that they do not want broadcast over the scanner.

Finally, somebody asked whether there is a quota for speeding tickets that officers must give out on a monthly basis. According to St. Pierre, that assumption is completely fictional. However, St. Pierre claimed that most criminals, such as those wanted on warrants, or are involved in suspicious activities, are caught by officers who simply stop cars for traffic or equipment violations.