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This guy polices Chicago streets

Tomi J. Methipara is a Sergeant-in-Charge of the Chicago Police Department, the lone immigrant Malayali member in the 14,000-strong department. He tells SURESH KUMAR all about life as a police officer there

COP FROM MUVATTUPUZHA Tomi Methipara who loves being a policeman with the Chicago Police Department

It's late in the evening. Dressed up smartly in his blue uniform, the cap firmly in place, the black belt burdened by a heavy holster, Tomi J. Methipara sets out to patrol the streets. He is sergeant-in-charge of the Chicago Police, the first Indian to be recruited in the Chicago Police Department. And this 43-year-old bank employee-turned-super cop is enjoying his job.

The lone immigrant Malayali in the 14,000-odd strong Chicago Police, Mr. Methipara hails from Vazhakkulam near Muvattupuzha. "Joining the U.S. police force was not something I had ever planned for. I reached the U. S. in 1986 as my brothers and sisters were already engaged in various professions there. Before this I used to work as a clerk in Federal Bank. In fact, I worked in a mercantile bank in Chicago for nearly six years. Then, in 1991, I came across an advertisement calling for police officers to the Chicago Police and applied for it. I was surprised to be short-listed for the final tests from among 25,000-odd applicants. They, as part of collecting my background details, even enquired at my former employer, Federal Bank. The order appointing me as a police officer came in 1992 and I joined immediately," recalls Mr. Methipara.

Mr. Methipara is part of a 300 strong force deputed at Albany Park and the job is `challenging and exciting.' "Officers have the chance to work in various areas of interest such as patrol, marine unit, traffic unit etc., along with many others. A career in the police force also offers promotion opportunities to positions like detective, gang specialist, field-training officer etc."

After selection the police officers go through a very intensive training programme. " Every sworn member of the Chicago Police department, from the highest-ranking position of Superintendent to down, begins his/her career as a police officer."

The perks that police officials get in the U.S. are more than that of the bank employees. A newly recruited police officer gets an initial salary of $ 45,000 per year, which comes to nearly Rs.1, 70, 000 per month. Added to this are other facilities like overtime allowances.After the probation period of a year, the salary rises to $ 55,000 per year, which equals Rs. 2, 00,000 per month.

Each state in U.S. has its own police force. Then there is the State Police, which has jurisdiction all over the country. The federal set up of the nation stands in all the states. So, for example, if a certain state has banned capital punishment there are others where it is still in force. "I have always felt that, unlike in India, the law here is more equal to all citizens irrespective of whether he is a senator, politician or police. In fact, I had myself arrested a colleague, a white police officer, on charges of gambling. There is more accountability for the police."

Investigations are thoroughly scientific. There are a number of factors, which help the police to track down criminals. Spent casings from a gun give precise information like human fingerprint, cigarette butts and DNA testing is effectively used to narrow down the culprits. The previous crime record of offenders is easily available. The fingerprint and forensic experts are a vital part of the investigation. Police interrogation is always video taped and is even available for the public. So torture and third degree measures are scant. "The quick response the public gets is something unheard of to us. Emergency calls are answered and attended to within minutes. The police cars are equipped with mobile portable computers. The latest additions are the cameras installed in cars. The Chicago Police has hundreds of surveillance cameras installed in different parts of the city. Those cameras are monitored and intelligence gathered on a daily basis. So it is not easy for a culprit to indulge in crimes and vanish . ," is how Mr. Methipara analyses the efficiency of his force.

During his 14 years as a police officer, Mr. Methipara has bagged several awards and honours, including the `Police Superintendent's Problem-Solving Award,' while the High Ridge YMCA honoured his family with the `Family of the Year Award' in 1999.

"One occasion that I will always remember is 9/11. I was in my office watching the World Trade Centre fall when we were put on alert. We had to evacuate the people from all the skyscrapers in the state, including the 110-storied Sears Tower. I was also engaged in providing protection to Muslims and their mosques in and around Chicago. By God's grace nothing untoward happened in Chicago."

This tall, smart police officer is quite a familiar figure among the 25,000-odd Malayalis in Chicago. There have been occasions when he has had to arrest Malayali law-breakers, but most of them were not involved in serious crimes and let off with a warning. Mr. Methipara is an active participant in the activities of the Malayali Samajam and NORKA, despite his time constraints.

Though there are Malayalis is almost every walk of life in the U.S. why is it that only a few choose to become police officers? "It may be because of the risk involved. Some parents dissuade their children from taking up this job. Moreover, many Indians are still ignorant about the recruiting procedure. Anyone in the age group of 21-40 is eligible to apply for the post of a police officer. But they must be permanent citizens of the state at the time of employment," informs Mr. Methipara.

At present there are 15 Indians in the Chicago Police, including three other Malayalis, who were born and brought up in the U.S. The majority of Indians are from Andhra Pradesh. There are two Indian women also in the force.

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