Three Things: Ride-alongs, whales and buses

Going on a police ride-along offers a unique glimpse into law enforcement that most people never experience. Here are a few universal truths about climbing into a patrol vehicle, which is something that I did on Friday night.

The mobile command center. Today’s police cruiser isn’t just a car — it’s a rolling office equipped with more technology than most people have at their desk jobs. Officers navigate while simultaneously monitoring a laptop computer mounted between the seats, keeping an ear on the radio, watching for traffic violations, responding to dispatch calls and somehow still managing to have a conversation with their ride-along passenger. It’s like watching someone play a video game, work a help desk, drive in traffic and host a podcast all at the same time.

The waiting game. Much of police work involves strategic positioning and patience — sitting in locations where violations are likely to occur, watching traffic patterns and waiting for the right moment. It’s not the high-speed action of the movies; it’s more like chess than checkers. You’ll find yourself driving in loops, scanning the same intersection over and over, learning to spot the subtle cues officers look for and discovering that effective policing is often about being in the right place at the right time with a whole lot of patience in between.

Becoming hyperaware of your own driving. After watching an officer spot every minor traffic violation happening around you — rolling past the white line at an intersection, expired tags on a vehicle in the next lane, the failure to signal from someone you barely noticed — you’ll drive home that night like you’re taking your driver’s test all over again. Complete stops at stop signs never felt so important.

Anyway, the ride-along provided valuable background information that should help with my writing of a two-part series that I have planned for next week about DUII enforcement and education efforts. Police Chief Dave Gurski arranged for me to spend a few hours on patrol with Sgt. Blake Bowers.

Thanks to the Philomath Police Department, especially Sgt. Bowers, for putting up with me for a couple of hours.

2. Whale, hello there

Pack your binoculars and warmest rain gear — Winter Whale Watch Week is making its annual return to the Oregon Coast beginning today (Dec. 27) and running through the end of the year. It’s one of nature’s most spectacular shows playing right in our backyard.

Gray whales are currently cruising past Oregon’s shoreline on what might be the ultimate road trip — a 10,000-mile journey from Alaska’s feeding grounds to the warm calving lagoons of Baja California, Mexico.

“This is a great time to see one of the world’s longest migrations, as the gray whales are traveling by our coastline,” Park Ranger Peter McBride said.

Oregon State Parks is rolling out the welcome mat with trained volunteers stationed at 14 prime viewing spots up and down the coast from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily during the five-day event. These whale-spotting experts will help you distinguish between a spout, a breach, and just some really enthusiastic sea spray.

The Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout the week, offering interactive exhibits, panoramic ocean views and complimentary binoculars for those of us who forgot ours at home or in the car.

While the viewing is spectacular, the news isn’t all sunny for our gray whale friends. The population has declined to around 13,000 — the lowest since the 1970s — making these sightings all the more precious.

Bundle up, grab those binoculars and head to the coast.

3. Bus rides along 99W

Folks who need or opt for bus transportation to get around will be glad to hear about a new free bus service that connects McMinnville and Eugene. The service, which began operations this month, offers four daily round trips weekdays along the Highway 99W corridor.

The 99 Vine service, launched through a partnership between Benton and Yamhill counties, will provide no-cost rides during a six-month pilot period. The route includes stops in McMinnville, Amity, Rickreall, Monmouth, Adair Village, Corvallis (downtown and OSU), Monroe, Junction City, and Eugene (airport, Amtrak station, downtown and the University of Oregon).

The service originated from a 2020 regional transit study that identified demand for public transportation along the 99W corridor, county officials reported. Buses operate from 6:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., with no tickets or reservations required — passengers simply board at any designated stop.

Pacific Crest Bus Lines operates the service using funding from Oregon’s Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund.

The stops in Corvallis are located at OSU near Furman Hall, which is at 15th Street and Jefferson Way, and the downtown transit center at Fifth Street and Monroe Avenue.

Local officials will evaluate ridership and operational data during the six-month pilot to determine whether the service continues beyond the initial trial period. County representatives from both Benton and Yamhill will assess the program’s success and explore options for ongoing funding.

The full Pacific Crest Bus Lines schedule can be accessed online.

(Brad Fuqua is publisher/editor of the Philomath News. He can be reached at News@PhilomathNews.com).