MSU police Officer Mike Cantrell treats his dog to a tennis ball toy after demonstrating the use of canine units in law enforcement to C.W. Otto Middle School students at MSU Police Department. Most of the dogs used for the department are brought from overseas countries such as Germany and the Czech Republic.
After grasping a plastic pop bottle, seventh-grader Quincey Briggs used black forensic powder and a brush to sweep the bottle and uncover his own fingerprint.
“It’s easy,” Briggs said. “Just seeing how it’s done and the way they do the fingerprints is fun.”
Briggs and seven other students from C.W. Otto Middle School, 500 E. Thomas St., in Lansing, had a look at the daily operations of campus police during a job shadow event Thursday at the MSU police department.
Students learned the amount of voltage in a Taser, the training involved with canine units and the proper method of fingerprinting, and gained insight and interest in the police profession.
“I like the crime scene thing,” eighth-grader Audrey Hendon said. “Being able to solve crimes with very little evidence is fun.”
MSU police Officer Tony Willis described the effects of being hit by a Taser and showcased items on his belt, including his radio and pager.
“I hope they get that it’s not necessarily what they see on TV all the time with tackling bad guys,” Willis said. “You have to have great verbal and writing skills like they’re getting at school.”
Arguably the morning’s most popular event among the students took place when Semtex, a German shepherd on the department’s canine unit, sniffed out hidden articles tossed by a police officer.
Several students said they were interested in the police profession, but MSU police Officer Mike Cantrell said being a police officer requires certain traits.
“You do have to have a personality that is open to communication,” Cantrell said. “You can’t be shy. You have to be open-minded and get both sides of the story.”
MSU police Officer David Isabell said being a police officer means not backing down, even when confronted with a physically challenging situation.
“I think there’s two things you need,” Isabell said. “One is good people skills, and two is you’ve got to have heart. You’ve got to want to win and never give up.”
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