After graduating from Iowa State in 2000, I moved on to graduate school at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. Baltimore definitely has its charms, but it is also a national leader in heroin, crack, syphilis, HIV, teen pregnancy and homicide.

Living here has changed my attitude toward the police so much so that I make annual contributions to the Baltimore City Fraternal Order of Police.

I used to read the police report in the Daily all the time, and I can tell you that close to absolutely nothing happens in Ames. It was always my sense that Ames Police felt compelled to justify their existence, which manifested itself as harassment of students.

When I was at Iowa State, if the police decided to break up a party, they would go through and check everyone’s IDs and make them blow the Breathalyzer if they were underage.

They were not shy about issuing citations either. One guy I knew had the police climb up the fire escape to peek in his dorm room window to catch him drinking.

Then there was the “Towers Riot.” On the first night of nice weather in the spring, people spilled out of the high rises to play Frisbee and enjoy the weather between the buildings. Someone decided this was a riot so the police moved in, and then the trouble started.

It’s pretty obvious in Baltimore that the police have plenty to do, and it’s dangerous work. They’re not looking to be heroes whenever there is a minor problem. When the Baltimore Police show up at your party the first time, they will say something like “I know you guys are trying to have a good time, but it’s too loud and there have been neighborhood complaints.”

If they decide to shut your party down, they just make everyone go home.

Here at Hopkins, there is very little animosity toward the police for two reasons.

First, they work to keep the campus and neighborhood free from thieves and muggers.

Second, the judicial system here is overwhelmed, so they look to solve problems without formalities.

It’s a “stop doing that and go away” brand of policing that is probably the best solution for ornery 20 year-olds.

This is not to say they are not in control at all times.

Every now and then, a rich frat boy from New Jersey gets loaded and takes a swing at the police when they are asking him nicely to go home. These guys find themselves kissing the pavement in a hurry, and they get hauled downtown to central booking while they cry police brutality and no one cares.

I was not at the Veishea riots this weekend, but I know when I see police cruisers in Baltimore, I’m happy to see them. When I was at Iowa State, that was not the case. At the time the Ames Police paid lip service to improving relations with the students.

Not to excuse the rioters Sunday or in the past, but the common theme over time is that people were just out enjoying themselves when the police came in to break things up.

It’s easy to point the finger at the Ames Police Department, but they have to respond to political pressure from Mayor Tedesco and the residents of Ames. People should remember that Ames would be a grain elevator if not for the university and its students.

A little unruliness should be expected. If they give up on trying to keep military order, I doubt things will continue to get so out of hand.

Erik Hoversten

Alumnus

Baltimore, Md.