Cops' Journeys in Traffic

Police | On horseback or on wheels, in helicopters or on foot, police officers cross paths everywhere Cops' Journeys in Traffic ■ Some keep their feet on the ground, others ride with their butts in the air. ■ In sneakers, in the saddle, or behind the wheel: cops cover every corner of the city. ■ A gallery of all-terrain portraits. ANNE-CÉCILE HUWART PATRICE LEPRINCE The Roller Cops Parade Friday, 8 p.m. The Bois de la Cambre welcomes its first evening visitors: the roller cops from the Brussels Capital Ixelles police force. Eight men and four women. "But we're worth at least fifteen guys," quips one of the ladies. The team puts on its gear: blue overalls, knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards, and a helmet. "We have to set an example," smiles Renaud Planchet. The overalls are a bit tight. "It's not ideal, but we should soon be getting more flexible equipment." At the belt, a radio sits alongside tear gas spray. On skates, the way to handle a hostile situation is different. Around the neck, a whistle. "It's useful for blocking intersections, guiding crowds, or clearing a path." Recruited on a voluntary basis, the roller cops admit they enjoy escorting skaters every Friday evening. "It's a different kind of contact with people," Renaud Planchet continues. "We don't have the image of a repressive police officer." Disturbances are rare. The atmosphere is above all friendly. "It happened to me once to be provoked by a troublemaker; it ended, as it should, with an administrative arrest." How do they haul away the troublemakers? Standard patrols take care of that. Members of the squad (there are eighteen of them) love their job so much that they also practice it in plain clothes. "We organize things among ourselves. For example, we've already taken part in other parades around the country, in Namur or Koksijde. Just for fun." ■ P. Le. All police officers, but each at their own pace. Photos Pierre-Yves Thienpont, Roger Milutin, René Breny, Dominique Duchesnes, and C.D. (st.)