At 1 p.m. on a mellow Wednesday afternoon, I walked through the reflective glass doors of the Kirkland Police Department. I was greeted by a kind receptionist and then met by Officer Audra Weber, a Kirkland police officer kind enough to lend me some of her time. She led me on a tour through Kirkland’s brand new, state-of-the-art police department and answered a few of my questions.

Weber showed me the spacious locker rooms and comfortable lounge, and I was immediately impressed by the well-kept facility. During my visit and tour, I learned a lot about the Kirkland Police Department, common crimes and that police officers are just like everyone else: committed to their job and striving to do their best work.

Before my tour, Weber took me to a spacious conference room with cushioned office chairs and clean whiteboards, and we sat down to discuss a few questions I had prepared.

Four squads of fifteen people make up the department: squads A, B, C and D. Each squad works two twelve hour day shifts, followed by 24 hours off, then two 12-hour night shifts and then four days off.

Recently, there have been several cases in the United States of police officers being accused of police brutality, and this has caused an uproar in many communities. I asked Weber if she thought that there was a fine line for cops between feeling like a “bad guy”—someone who is trying to catch people doing something wrong—and being a “good guy” who protects the citizens.

Weber agreed that it isn’t always easy.

“There is a fine balance between educating people and enforcing the laws and protecting people,” she said.

I learned that here in Kirkland, the officers strive to maintain a good relationship with the community. She explained to me that the Kirkland Police Department reaches out to the public, and it is part of her job to attend neighborhood association meetings to inform, educate and assist with conflict between neighbors.

I have never experienced a break-in or theft problem in our area and I have always assumed that there are very few crimes committed in Kirkland. Weber informed me that, actually, there are frequent car prowls, break-ins and stolen mail incidents resulting in identity thefts in Kirkland. Weber recommends getting a locked mailbox and she advises not leaving any valuables inside your car that can be seen from the outside. She explained that unlocked cars are targeted by prowlers, so it’s important to always lock your car doors.

“Don’t be paranoid, just be aware,” Weber said.

Even though she has worked for 15 years at the Kirkland Police Department, Weber still finds traffic stops one of the more potentially dangerous aspects of her job. She explained to me that traffic stops are quite risky for cops, even in broad daylight. In one example, Weber was approaching a car she had pulled over when she heard the faint click of the door beginning to open. This immediately put Weber on guard, and she asked the driver what he was doing. He told her that his window was broken, but Weber was suspicious. Before she had time to respond, the driver, who was a strong man more than six-feet tall, had thrown himself out the car door and on top of Weber, who landed on her back and hit her head on the concrete. The man had Weber pinned on the ground and drew back his fist to punch her when he got a good look at her face. For whatever reason, maybe because she was a woman, he didn’t punch her and made a run for it.

Cops sometimes have to make split second decisions that can determine whether someone will live or die. This is what makes being a police officer such an important and difficult job. Weber told me another story about a time when she was scared for her own life. She described that in 2011, she was called to find a man who had assaulted a bus driver and had been seen in Peter Kirk Park. Weber spotted the man by the downtown Kirkland QFC. He pulled a gun on her, and in response she pointed her gun at him. Gunshots may have been fired had an elderly couple, oblivious to the situation, not stepped in front of them. The suspect tried to run away, but was eventually caught.

All of the police men and women in Kirkland have to be trained and prepared for unexpected and potentially dangerous situations like this. Kirkland police officers receive ongoing training regarding changes in laws and traffic guidelines, and must also take a gun test every six months that requires extreme precision and accuracy. In addition, officers must be Tasered and pepper sprayed by their colleagues before they can legally carry the weapons. Although this is painful, it is very important because afterwards the officers know from personal experience the impact that these weapons have on people.

Kirkland officers have many resources to do their best work and keep our city safe. During my visit, I was able to see the large shooting range and first class facilities, such as a K-9 room for their German Shepherd, Thor; several evidence examination rooms; a crime lab; and a large on-site jail. The jail can hold a maximum of 55 people, each for up to one year, although the average sentence is 10 days. Typically, there are about 35 people in jail every day, mostly for what are called misdemeanors, which are minor crimes (usually of theft) that are not person-to-person.

As I was leaving, Weber introduced me to some of her co-workers. Several cops separately remarked that, “Police Officers are just like everyone else.” I asked myself why these Officers might have said this. I have come to the conclusion that cops are often misunderstood, and people can see them as a threat. Officers risk their lives to protect Kirkland every day, and it’s important to remember that citizens work together with the police to ensure our city’s safety.

Allison Hoff is a 12 year old Kirkland resident.