WPD featured in national television series, hosted by Mike Rowe
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - The men and women sworn to serve and protect the residents of Wilmington have a new role. Officers with the Wilmington Police Department will represent how America’s law enforcement officers work in a television series called “How America Works.” The one-hour long program is hosted by Mike Rowe, best known from the Discovery Channel.
“I am a Mike Rowe fan,” says Wilmington Police Chief Donny Williams. “I’ve watched him on “Dirty Jobs,” and “Deadliest Catch,” so yes we were very exited for the opportunity to work with Mike Rowe.”
Chief Williams says his department was selected from hundreds of police agencies across the country. He, by his choice, will not be featured in the show. He says he wants America to see the people who get out and patrol the streets. He selected the officers from his department to be featured.
“And they are representative of the 800,000 law enforcement officers that are out there each day serving their communities,” Williams says. “You get to see what the folks in the aviation unit do. Our folks in the bomb squad to our community engagement folks and then the backbone of our agency which is our men and women on patrol that are out there 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
The special looks at the day-to-day life of a police officer.
Officer Lynn Hartley, who works in community engagement, says she’s honored to show America what the profession looks like up close.
“Because I want people to see what we do on a day-to-day basis and that we are some really great people and we are a great benefit to communities,” Hartley says.
The one-hour long show will also feature the Sable helicopters. The Wilmington Police Department shares the aircraft with the New Hanover and Pender County Sheriff’s departments. Sable is used in searches for suspects, missing people and rescues.
Jonathan Gordon is the chief pilot for the aviation unit. He gave the production crew of the show a bird’s eye view of Wilmington.
“I would argue that I have the best office view of anyone who works in the city of Wilmington,” Gordon says.
One of the real stars of the feature is no stranger to the television spotlight. Officer Marian of the ATF canine unit has a prominent role in the special.
Her handler, Matthew Griffith says the show will highlight what she does best--sniffing for bombs.
“Their cells in their nose can detect-- I think its ten million times more than a human can,” Griffith says.
Chief Williams says the national spotlight is good for the city.
“I think its going to be good for our agency, our city and its going to be good for law enforcement to show what the good cops are out their doing each and every day versus the one or two bad ones that you periodically hear about,” Williams says. “And the fact there are 17,000 law enforcement agencies out there nationwide and your law enforcement agency here in the city of Wilmington was chosen to be shadowed and see what we do on a daily basis and that’s just amazing.”
The show will air Monday night on FOX Business Network
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