Officer "digs" his job, despite eye-opening experiences

Erin Scott

Patrick O'Connor, deputy sheriff, began his career in law enforcement approximately five years ago, and has been working with the Lake County Sheriff Department for three years. He paid his way through the academy and is glad for his decision to do so.

"I dig being a cop," he said. "I have never woken up and didn't want to go to work. You have to spend one third of your life at work; you might as well do something you dig."

O'Connor was born and raised in Montana, but since working as a "cop," he said he's changed in the way he relates to people and how he sees them.

"It's an eye opener," he said. "There is evil and there is crime every where you live. Lake County is a lot more dangerous than people give it credit for." He said there is a vast section of the population who turn to drugs, alcohol, crime and violence to solve their problems, and said such people lack hope.

"A lot of people solve their problems by punching someone in the face," he said. "They don't think twice about pulling a knife or gun on someone." He went on to say that much of the crime stems from poverty, and a way of thinking.

According to the Montana Board of Crime Control statistics for 2007, most of the crimes in Lake County are larceny (17.39 percent), disorderly conduct (14.64 percent), vandalism (11.40 percent), driving under the influence (9.76 percent), and domestic abuse (8.65 percent).

One way O'Connor tries to keep the peace is through traffic stops. Although he doesn't write a lot of tickets, he said it's a good way to keep an eye on potentially dangerous people.

"Drug dealers, wife beaters or something, all have to get from point A to point B," he said. After stopping a driver for a burnt-out headlight, he said it was a good opportunity for such a discovery.

"It gives me a good chance to see if she's drunk, to see if she's stoned, to see if there's a warrant out for her arrest," he said. Typically, three sheriff deputies work at any given time, patrolling all of Lake County and trying to find potentially dangerous residents.

"If a guy's out there doing his job, he's gonna make contact," he said, adding that the Sheriff Department also has reserve officer positions, spots on the SRT (search and rescue) and investigative positions for those officers who don't enjoy being in a car for 12-hour shifts.

O'Conner said one way to suppress crime is by making his presence known. With the passage of a mill levy last June, more deputies will be on the road and O'Conner will soon relocate to Arlee.

"They need to see a cop cruising up and down the streets," he said about his future move. He said the convenient store in Arlee has been broken into 15 times this year, and on a typical Friday night the cooler gets restocked every 45 minutes.

O'Connor said he likes working the south side because of the excitement. He has made 150 arrests this year. He's never used his gun, but has used his taser, pepper spray and baton. He does not have a partner, and is alone with suspects during transports. Everything in the police car is recorded, but that usually doesn't temper a suspect's aggression.

"Half the time it's entertaining," he said. "I've been called about every name I can think of. You can't let it get to you." Disorderly citizens not only target O'Connor with their verbal and physical assaults, but one another. He said it can be difficult to remain emotionless in such circumstances.

One such incident that haunted O'Connor was the death of a young boy in a tragic drunk-driving accident. Darrin McArdle struck another vehicle, killing both the McArdle's own son - who was a passenger in his vehicle - and the driver of the other vehicle.

When O'Connor was advised of McArdle's eradic driving behavior, he began his pursuit, but when he arrived on the scene it was too late. The deadly tragedy that night found it's way past O'Conner's badge and into his heart.

O'Connor said he always keeps track of the arrests he's made and their subsequent convictions. McArdle received 40 years in prison with 20 years suspended.

"I always follow-up to see how they plead," he said. "When you put a lot of work into something, you want to see how it comes out." He added that the Sheriff department has a high prosecution rate, and said that even though he hates going to court, he loves his job.

"I'm there when I'm needed, and disappear when I'm not," he said. "People shouldn't have to deal with cops unless they're messing up."

To report drunk driving call the non-emergency number 883-7301.