The Lansing Police Department hopes its new television show, “Join the Team,” will help develop better relations between MSU and Lansing community members.
The show addresses a different issue affecting members of the community each month, then airs in month-long stints.
“We’re trying to think outside the box to really impact the community,” Lansing police Lt. Ray Hall said. “Perhaps (through the show) we can change their habits to keep a serious accident from happening.”
The program is set up like a variety show with several different segments presented in different ways so a wide majority of people will be able to draw something from watching.
In the beginning there is a ride-along with police which Hall says works to break down many of the myths about police officers and the way they do their jobs. The next section is a question and answer period. Camera people visit areas in both communities and have people on the street ask questions into the camera, then bring the questions to various Lansing police officers to answer.
The final section provides safety tips through role playing. Each action is acted out in both the right and wrong ways to illustrate the differences in behavior to viewers.
November’s safety tips focus on the dangers of binge drinking. It illustrates the warning signs of overintoxication and what people should do if they encounter someone who is overly intoxicated or passed out.
“The message in teaming up with MSU college students is that we want to keep it real and make it attractive so that students will relate to it and want to watch it,” Hall said. “We’re trying to take a more role-playing approach versus preaching and we’re hoping that will draw in college viewers as well.”
The department is trying to involve the MSU community more in the filming and ideas for the show, thus improving relations between college students and the Lansing Police Department, said Cheryl Wolan, a Lansing Police Department public information intern who works on the show.
“We’re trying to get the fraternity, sorority and special interest groups on campus involved in the shows, but so far we’ve been doing it pretty much on a volunteer basis,” she said.
Melanie Berg was one of those volunteers who took part in this month’s show.
“I’ve been in so many party or bar situations where people get themselves in (trouble) and their friends don’t know what to do about it and start to panic,” the communication senior said. “Maybe it will make people realize what could happen if they leave their friends alone and maybe they’ll know better the signs to look for.”
But the show isn’t always geared toward the college-age set. Last month’s show addressed ways to keep children safe while trick or treating. Future episodes will discuss safety tips for holiday shopping and how to prepare your car for winter.
The Lansing Police station’s public access show “Join the Team” runs on campus channel 12 Monday through Friday from 3:25 p.m.to 4 p.m. and public access channel 12 in Lansing on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m.
