Saint Michael watches over us!

BRUSSELS/IXELLES POLICE STATION OPEN DAYS Saint Michael watches over us! The patron saint of police officers did his best, but the crowds were elsewhere. Because they are probably the ones who speak best about it, the police officers of the Brussels Capital Ixelles zone opened the doors of their police stations this Saturday to the public. The particularly numerous activities, however, did not attract crowds, the weekend program being already rather full. It was indeed difficult to choose between the Jazz Marathon, free for the first time, Evere ma découverte or the annual opening of Avenue de Tervueren. Whatever the case, the police officers of the zone were there to welcome you and answer your questions: firing range, dog brigade, traffic, techno-prevention services, children's traffic park, skill track, exhibitions and information on the profession in one of the three police stations in Laeken, Brussels-city and Ixelles. On Rue des Palais, it was the motorcyclists who caused a sensation, balancing on their machines, performing tricks, slaloming between tires, or gathered in a pyramid, under the impressed gaze of the youngest and even the older spectators. On the 2nd floor of the police station, an exhibition of uniforms, archive photos from 1956, Morse code devices, an 80s telephone table, a 1962 model police bicycle next to a current, slightly more flashy bicycle, and finally a notice from 1914 inviting motorists to respect the maximum speed in built-up areas of 15 km/hour! "We have been organizing open days since 1999 and it's very positive," explains Danielle Kumps, police commissioner of the zone. "We show people things they most often dread, like breathalyzers, speed cameras (see box), or the roller cops unit, and they take the time to listen to our explanations." Not being afraid to cross the threshold of a police station and, why not, embark on the profession, was also one of the objectives of the operation. Next to a display case presenting the commissioner's private collection, three shelves of small figurines, miniature police officers from all countries, Chief Inspector Christian Temmerman had taken the opportunity to bring out a hundred helmets and kepis from a personal collection rich with some 730 pieces exhibited in his attic! A total of 168 countries represented: Namibia, Taiwan, Brazil, Switzerland, England, Australia or Zaire, "that one, by the way, comes from Rue du Midi!" smiles the owner, "that's where they were made!" Surprising. After the motorcyclists' demonstration, the roller cops, equipped with helmets, elbow and knee pads, went into action. Four women, 10 men, all "volunteers, athletic and very motivated," specifies Sandra, from the foot patrol. "After a training of about ten hours, we are able to take care of securing the Bois de la Cambre during weekends and supervising, every Friday, from June 4th and throughout the summer, the Rollerparade (departure at 8 p.m. Place Poelaert)." She continued: "During the week, we are assigned to other divisions. The atmosphere is excellent, we just made the Liedekerke-Bruges trip between colleagues, 90 kilometers on rollerblades!" At the end of the afternoon, little Julien, who came with his dad, left proud to have escaped the handcuffs, without even needing the keys. As for 10-year-old Servet, he's sure now, when he grows up, he'll be a police officer! [Photo caption] Speed cameras to limit speed, speed cameras to avoid a potentially fatal outcome [Sidebar] ROAD SAFETY Thomas 6 years old. Forever. No one could have missed this painful slogan present on most roads. And it is to contribute to this campaign that a stand dedicated to speed cameras and speed limits was open to the public on Saturday. We note the misunderstanding of the blue signal "road for automobiles" which prohibits slow vehicles, mopeds and pedestrians, without however increasing the authorized speed limit. It therefore remains 50 in tunnels, 70 if expressly indicated. And for speed cameras? "The V80 system allows motorists to set the limit threshold themselves: "out of 600 vehicles checked, 100 speeds are taken. The 21st in descending order becomes the threshold above which one is in violation," explains Inspector Kockelmans. "We thus opt for 80% prevention, 20% repression. I encourage reporting all speed cameras to encourage people to slow down."