To protect and serve

Jeff Della Rosa/Special to The Herald-Leader Siloam Springs 911 dispatchers work at their stations in the police department at Mount Olive Street and U.S. Highway 412. Dispatchers have worked to support police officers and let them know about emergencies in which to respond.
Jeff Della Rosa/Special to The Herald-Leader Siloam Springs 911 dispatchers work at their stations in the police department at Mount Olive Street and U.S. Highway 412. Dispatchers have worked to support police officers and let them know about emergencies in which to respond.

Police officers have always been ready to take on the unexpected and willing to step in harm's way. They've completed one of the most difficult jobs when the going gets tough, but police officers have continued to hit the streets every day to protect and serve the community.

"You've always got to be on your toes," patrolman Frank Henry said. "You can't be complacent."

Police blotter

• At 10:20 a.m., patrolman Frank Henry pulled over a vehicle for expired tags. The tag showed a 2014 expiration date. After talking to the driver, Henry gave her a written warning. It won’t go on her driving record.

• At 10:50 a.m., Henry pulled over another vehicle with a broken brake light. The result was another written warning.

• At 12:25 p.m., senior patrolman Mike Efram responded to a report of indecent exposure on West Tulsa Street. The call came in from Washington County about a man who had stripped off his clothes and went into the woods. Efram quickly reached West Tulsa Street and drove along the street for a bit. He soon stopped the vehicle and walked along an area with trees and brush. He found no sign of a person who went through there, but he did find several thorny bushes that would’ve made for an uncomfortable stroll for someone not wearing clothes.

• At 12:40 p.m., Efram responded to a crash. He spoke to both drivers of the vehicles that had crashed. He took notes and recorded their information. He returned to report that no one was injured in the crash.

• At 11:28 a.m., Efram pulled over a vehicle that improperly turned at Dogwood and Garland streets. After a chat with the driver, he gave him a written warning.

• At 12:58 p.m., Efram pulled over a vehicle with an expired temporary tag. It had expired earlier this year. He gave the driver a written warning.

Each day starts similarly for the day shift. Officers arrive at the station for a 6:30 a.m. briefing. They'll hear about events that happened in the previous shift and take notes on what to follow up on or look out for throughout the day.

A supervisor assigns zones to patrol. By 7 a.m., officers have taken to the streets in their vehicles.

They'll make traffic stops when needed, patrol neighborhoods and work to keep everything and everyone safe. Throughout the school year, they will work traffic at schools.

They've looked out for things that might have changed, such as a broken window that was intact the previous day. At the end of a shift, officers let the next shift know what's happened. That's pretty much where the sameness ends.

"Each day is different," senior patrolman Mike Efram said. "It's never the same."

"There's a lot to learn with this job," Henry said. "You'd be failing if you didn't learn something new every day."

On this day, Henry pulled up to Acme Towing for a follow up on a burglary. He planned to pick up a DVD on a possible burglary.

But no one was at the business. He will follow up later.

Afterward, he started patrolling areas where people have requested extra patrol.

"A lot of crime can be averted by just driving through the neighborhood," he said. "I want to keep it as safe as humanly possible."

Henry was sworn in during February 2014. He was a 911 dispatcher before he became a police officer. He's worked for the city for nearly eight years.

"I totally love what I do," Henry said. "I can't image doing anything else."

Like Henry, Efram said he couldn't see himself doing anything else as well. "I love helping out people," Efram said. "I'm able to be there to help them the best that I can."

Efram, who was recently named officer of the year, has worked for the city for 11 years. He's been an officer for almost eight years. He had worked in the jail for about three years.

He's also worked as a substitute teacher in the school district. He said he enjoys when he's out in the community, and a student will say, "He's my teacher." He has tried to be as much of a positive influence as possible. "It's a good feeling being able to influence the children."

In schools, school resource officers have shown compassion and kindness to students. They have shown them that officers aren't bad people. "Our school resource officers do an outstanding job," Henry said.

Cpl. Ron Coble has been a police officer for 13 years, and 10 of those years have been with Siloam Springs. He's been a corporal for more than two years.

He'd wanted to be an officer since he was a child. "I enjoy helping people," he said. "I think that's the biggest reason." He has been trying to make a difference in the community.

As supervisor, Coble is not restricted to patrolling in one zone. His biggest role as supervisor has been to provide support for officers.

He said he hopes to continue to improve as an officer and to move up in the department when the time comes.

Something people might not known about police officers is that the profession comes with a lot of paperwork.

Officers have spent a lot of time at the police department in front of a computer typing up a report.

Henry said he will type between five and six reports each week. But some days, he will complete as many as eight.

Officers have been making good use of the new police department at U.S. Highway 412 and Mount Olive Street. "I love it," Henry said. "It brings everybody together under one roof, which is awesome."

Police have opened the doors to the community with a new event, Badges and Bagels. It's been an opportunity for residents to talk to officers, and for police to let the community know what's going on.

Efram has enjoyed how much more space the new police department has compared to the previous one downtown. "I love it," he said.

Henry's favorite thing about being a police officer is helping people. "We're here to serve and protect," he said. "That's what I like to do is serve."

While he'd never hope for things to come to this, he said, "I would lay down my life to protect any one of my brothers and sisters."

"We're really a family."

General News on 06/24/2015