We’ve noticed something different about Campustown lately, and we don’t mean the abundance of skirmishing Mexican cuisine: There are a lot more cops out, and it’s something we’re happy to see.

A few recent tragedies and a fresh semester might have something to do with it, but whatever the reason, we’re happy to see our boys — and girls — in blue to patrol the streets.

We understand a few of you minors and lushes may have less-than-polite things to say about the increased presence, but if you’re drawing attention to yourselves, you’ve probably got it coming. With the exception of Parking Enforcement, ISU and Ames Police are far from the boogeyman. Contrary to popular belief, the police aren’t out to “get” you; they don’t make the laws, they just enforce them.

Does that mean they agree with every single city ordinance? Absolutely not. Issuing fines and arresting people is at their discretion, but that doesn’t mean they enjoy it.

The cops don’t want to break up your kegger any more than you want them to, nor do they want to arrest every idiot who comes stumbling out. It’s pretty simple, actually: If you’re not causing a problem, they’re not going to notice. Don’t carry alcohol if you’re not of the magical age, don’t treat Welch Avenue like your own personal urinal and don’t pick fights just because you’re tougher than the other guy in the TapouT shirt.

After what happened to Jon Lacina and Raven Gileau, there was the inevitable rabble about where the police were and why they “weren’t doing their jobs.” Nobody seems to notice when things go well, but, when tragedy strikes, the fingers and tongues wag in that direction.

We’d be happy to hear about every time an officer assisted a stranded motorist or offered someone a ride home, but we don’t. We personally know officers who canceled long-overdue vacations just to stay in town to help with the flood relief efforts, and this sentence is probably all the more you’ll hear about it.

Sometime this spring, right around Veishea, the police and fire departments are going to hand out free T-shirts and pizza on the corner of Welch Avenue and Chamberlain Street. At least, we’re pretty sure they will: They’ve done it every year we’ve been in town, and for some of us, that’s been the better part of a decade. They’re pretty cool.

At the end of the day, the police aren’t just ordinary men and women. Most of us can’t drive like a stuntman, mitigate like a divorce lawyer, and there aren’t many jobs where you’re guaranteed to be attacked by drunken idiots. These folks invest an enormous amount of time and energy into what they do, and in return, they get to deal with the highest caliber of stupidity humanity has to offer.

You might not think it’s their job to baby-sit everyone in a college town, but you’d be wrong. That’s exactly what they do, and it’s a shame they have to. It’s a wonder they stay sane, much less pragmatic, and most of us think the police here are downright cheerful.

We’re glad to have them and glad to see them out in force. You should be, too.

… Except for the soulless ones driving around in Ford Rangers who hand out parking tickets.