Lake Country This Month

By Katherine Michalets Special to The Freeman PEWAUKEE — Seeing firsthand the harsh realities of what law enforcement faces in South Africa has spurred Waukesha County Technical College Associate Dean Brian Dorow to action. For about a week at the end of July, Dorow and WCTC Criminal Justice Training Assistant Rick Piagentini toured different areas of South Africa and met with members of the South African Police Service. Of approximately 200,000 officers the South African Police Service employs to protect the country, about 1,000 are killed each year in the highly violent environ- ment. Both Dorow and Pla- gentini noted the lack of equipment and training for officers. "They have the bare mini- mum, yet they want to get it done," Dorow said about South African officers. Piagentini said some offi- cers used their own cars to respond to emergency calls. "Law enforcement seems to be the same all over the world," he said. "(They are) very dedicated and are trying to do the best they can." Dorow, associate dean of the Department of Criminal Justice Center for Law Enforcement, Homeland Security and Counter-Terror- ism Initiatives, said he was contacted about seven months ago to visit South Africa and share his exper- tise. Through the Depart- ment of Criminal Justice Center for Law Enforcement, WCTC has extended its reach, nationally to 27 states and now internationally. When he arrived in South Africa, Dorow said he had a plan of what he would share and do there, but he quickly realized the country was fur- ther behind in its law enforcement techniques than he had anticipated. As a result, he spent much of his time observing and offering verbal feedback. However, he has a plan to create a pro- gram paid for with specially raised funds or a sponsorship that would train South African Police Service lead- ers to educate their law enforcement members. Dorow said he toured a morgue, a crime lab, a photo lab, a victim service area and a jail, among other facilities. He also learned about how South African Police Service officers handle water rescues and poaching. A surprising observation for Piagentini was that there were only two phone lines coming to an emergency call center that served 1.5 million people and the phone opera- tors had to write down the calls. Even though South Africa has become more integrated since apartheid ended, Dorow said there are still sev- eral tribes that adhere to cul- tural traditions, such as geni- tal mutilation of girls and a ritual that essentially results in girls drowning. The officers in South Africa also have to deal with environmental concerns such as foreign military members who are highly trained and armed coming into the country to poach rhinoceros horns. Despite the dynamic situa- tions South African police officers face, they remain committed and dedicated, Dorow said. "They have been part of violent situations more dan- gerous at times than what we encounter," he said. While Dorow was not able to accomplish as much as he would have liked in South Africa, he plans to return with highly trained profes- sionals, so they can teach methods of law enforcement that would help to protect officers. He also plans to seek help from local law enforcement agencies by asking them for equipment they do not use that could help protect the under-equipped South Africans. "I believe that I can be very helpful in getting training and equipment to South African Police Service offi- cers," Dorow said. "The ulti- mate goal is a partnership exchange." South Africa may be a 16- hour flight from Atlanta, but Dorow believes Waukesha County residents should care what happens there. "I think from my personal belief, South Africa has a lot to offer from culture to tourism and to beauty," he said. With so many people want- ing to visit South Africa for its natural beauty and wildlife, it's important to keep it safe, Dorow said. The message Piagentini took from his trip was to appreciate what we have here in Waukesha County. "They are certainly work- ing with what we would con- sider the bare bones and they are trying to do good," he said. 239661002 SALE! • Surveyor • Grey Wolf • Shasta • Palomino • Palomini • GulfStream AUGUST 15 TH - 23 RD COUNTRY CAMPERS INTRODUCES 1ST ANNUAL PARADE OF CAMPERS RV SHOW PRICES IN AUGUST!!! FLEXIBLE FINANCING AVAILABLE Come see how easy it is to get into some fun!!! NEW & USED INVENTORY GALORE: Door Prizes, Food and Refreshments on Saturdays! W7419 Hwy V, Lake Mills (off I-94 at Hwy 89 1 mile east of McDonalds) 1-888-308-8028 I www.countrycampers.com at MERRILL HILLS MANOR Living Life The trusted partner in your neighborhood. A safe community for your loved one. 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Page 4A • FREEMAN & ENTERPRISE LAKE COUNTRY AUGUST 2014 Cross-cultural cops: WCTC criminal justice staff visits South Africa to share expertise, help under-equipped officers Waukesha business owner Jerry Couri, left, and Brian Dorow, associate dean of the Department of Criminal Justice Center for Law Enforcement, Homeland Security and Counter-Terrorism Ini- tiatives at WCTC, center, hear about the South African Police Service community outreach pro- gram during a trip to the country at the end of July. Submitted photos WCTC Criminal Justice Training Assistant Rick Piagentini, center, and Brian Dorow, associate dean of the Department of Criminal Justice Center for Law Enforcement, Homeland Security and Counter-Terrorism Initiatives, right, talk with a rhinoceros conservation warden. A South African Police Service officer gives a K-9 demonstration during a recent visit by WCTC Criminal Justice Training Assistant Rick Piagentini, and Brian Dorow, associate dean of the Department of Criminal Justice Center for Law Enforcement, Homeland Security and Counter-Terrorism Initiatives. The men shared their law enforcement expertise during their trip at the end of July. South African expressions Brian Dorow, WCTC associate dean of the Department of Crimi- nal Justice Center for Law Enforcement, Homeland Security and Counter-Terrorism Initiatives, said he learned these expres- sions while in South Africa: What time do you want to stand up? One hand washes the other and both stay clean. If you pay peanuts, you get mon- keys. "Baie dankie" means "thank you very much" in Afrikaans. — Katherine Michalets, Special to The Freeman

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