Students Questions for Corporal Keller,
Delaware State Police
Carlos: Why did you become a policeman?
Corporal: Basically to help people, but there is so much more to it.
Christian: What is your most memorable case?
Corporal: Drug cases are like surfing, sometimes there are no waves. 2008 - wore camo in the woods in the rain. Guy came out - he had 2.5 kilograms in truck worth $50,000. In his house he had more. The guy was scared. Another case he searched a stash house. He found $109,000 in a cookie can. All of the money goes to the state of Delaware. He chased another person into a field. They guy rolled out of his car and started throwing cocaine into the air. It looked like it was snowing, only it was cocaine.
Carlos: Have you ever used a
TASER on anyone?
Corporal: Yes and I've been tasered. It hurts, like a wave that rolls through your body for five seconds that shakes up all of your organs. It's a good tool to help subdue a dangerous person. It shuts off the synapsis. He said you should not taser pregnant or older people. Used mainly with people who are in serious trouble with the law. People will fight the police to the death. It helps to keep the police officer safe. 80% of police officers are shot with their own guns!
Ronnie: Have you ever had a run in with a dog?
Corporal: Yes - a white
PIT BULL that was camoflauged under a white chair. I ran but the dog got a bite of my pants.
Hannah: What is the scariest thing that ever happened to you?
Corporal: I've had some very serious situations, people with guns, cars that had drugs and guns, I've take guns away from them using tactics that I learned. More and more guns on the street. Now there are so many violent video games that teach bad things.
Ms. Albanese: What advice would you give students who are entering high school?
Corporal: Make good choices. Back in the day, no on would ever fathom putting their hands on a teacher? What happens today? A choice to do that, is that a good choice? (students respond no). I've arrested thousands of people and done proactive police work. Free speech - is it illegal to go into and airport and yell BOMB? No! That's not free speech. Do you want to be searched in this school? (no). Ms. Albanese, can I ask you some questions? Can I search your purse? Police officers need probable cause. Walking at night in Sussex County without a flashlight is illegal so I can stop someone.
Video camera in cars. Video on officers - OK with him.
Mason: Are you involved with the Marlon and Chico case?
Corporal: No, I've worked other cases similar to that. Very tragic.
Yordan: What do you wish to accomplish as a police officer?
Corporal: I enjoyed getting a lot of these very violent, bad people off the street. I dealt a lot with probation, so you won't sit in jail if you follow the law. I did eight years of night work, a long time at a high level. Teaching help.
Owen: Is the gun always on safety when you are in the school?
Corporal: No. There is not safety on this gun. Your safety is your brain.
Gabby: Have you ever been scared?
Corporal: When you are in the moment, you have tunnel vision. I used all of my training, high speed driving, backing up partner, you may have to drive a little faster than normal sometimes. But you are dealing with very violent people. They made up a rap song for me in SCI. I've been indirectly involved in two shooting, you don't even hear the gun go off. In real life if a gun went off you would have headache for a week. We studied how to react to situations so you react. I've been in a situation where my car has been rammed, that's not cool. The adrenaline rush.
Hannah: Are you wearing a bullet proof vest?
Yes
Comfortable?
No.
Gabby: Have you ever taken your kids in your police car?
Corp: No. Not a good idea. You can arrest someone for loaning a car to another who is in a chase. If the chase goes so long, I can stop someone. When you stop a car, you don't know whose in a car. I stopped a car and the guy was extremely nervous, pulled over for a turn signal violation. Found a bullet-proof vest, AKA rifle. He was arrested. He was a hired gun, coming to kill someone in the state of Delaware.
Mason: Have you ever made a mistake?
Corp: Sure. The difference is we have to tell the truth. If we don't smell something in a car, like marijuana, then we can't report it. I just own up to mistakes. This is a very dangerous job
Glendy: Couldn't your job affect your family?
Corp: Yes, I've had someone follow me home before. I've caught people and arrested them for a crime. I like to talk to them later. Most people are sorry for their mistakes. I treat people with respect. Other people determine my behavior. In my old job I was always trying to get information out of people.
(He described the items on his belt that weighs 25 pounds.)
