Lethal Weapon movie poster Source: Wikipedia

Last week’s class took us off the edge of the map and into Brooklyn Park where Hennepin County’s Enforcement Services is headquartered.

Little did I know we were in for an action-packed evening of the “Lethal Weapon” kind, with demonstrations by the Emergency Services Department (ESD), Special Operations Unit (SOU) and Volunteer Services Department (VSD).

The Emergency Services Department (ESD) is comprised of patrol, water patrol, transport, special operations, and the K-9 unit.  The patrol unit does pretty much what you’d think it would do: emergency response and the servicing of civil papers and warrants.  Interesting fact #1: By law, arrest warrants must be served after 7am.  Many are served at 7:01am.  “So, if you’re a criminal, set your alarm clock before 7am,” an academy classmate says.  After a short pause, the police officer who’s been speaking to us replies, “Yeah, I don’t…