Stomping through the wet streets of Pullman’s College Hill, officer Shane Emerson gets shouted at by a passing party-goer. He gives a quick nod before heading to the scene.

“I like to walk on foot,” he says. “It takes them by surprise.”

It seems like a Tuesday night but it’s Friday. Emerson says it has been slow since the Greek moratorium was enacted, but he’s still on alert.

Back in his car, he sings to the radio and cracks jokes until he spots suspicious activity. He switches on the red and blue lights. He’s looking for open containers and highly intoxicated people, or people trying to steal or get into fights.

This time he spots what appears to be a theft. It’s a man carrying a bright poster with fraternity members’ portraits on it. Emerson swings to the side of the road. He has a long, calm chat with the man.

He recognizes the man from around Greek Row. The man says his fraternity has recently shut down and he is taking the poster back to his live-out. Emerson believes him.

Emerson says his main concern is educating, not arresting everything that moves. He has worked College Hill for three and a half years and is just starting his last semester as the College Hill beat officer. But Emerson has known these streets even longer, having lived in Pullman most of his life.

He was born in New Mexico before moving to Pullman at an early age. He graduated from Pullman High School and moved around a little before returning to settle down.

“I would like to work in a bigger city,” Emerson says, “but I like working here too much.”

He did not become a police officer until his early 30s, but immediately developed a passion for the field. He says it was his calling to help the community and he likes to put people on the right path without judgment. He says despite the stress his work has on the body and soul, being a police officer is the best job he has ever had.

Emerson was formerly a school resource officer, working with the local Pullman schools. Pullman Police Chief Gary Jenkins says he chose Emerson for the College Hill beat because Emerson liked working with youth and wanted to continue it at a higher level with college students. Jenkins says he has gotten a lot of positive, unsolicited feedback from community members about Emerson in his role over the past four years.

The Pullman Police Department created this beat position in 1998 after the riots on College Hill, when they decided police needed better relations with students. Jenkins says every College Hill beat officer has put his own stamp on the position and Emerson is no exception.

He says Emerson has developed positive relationships with students, but not at the expense of enforcement. Working with fraternities and sororities, combined with the Interfraternity Council (IFC), has resulted in the least crime Emerson has seen on College Hill since he started the position four years ago.

Emerson says Jenkins routinely switches the beat positions every four years to prevent officers from getting stale and apathetic. After Emerson is done with the beat in May, he will move back to being a patrol officer. Jenkins will start searching for a new College Hill beat officer in the next few months, but will make sure Emerson is there to help transition the new officer.

Emerson says working College Hill has allowed him to gain a better understanding and respect for WSU students.

“All kids aren’t bad, all kids make mistakes,” he says. “Working Greek Row really opened my eyes.”