Thanksgiving is a day like any other for officer on the beat
Like most other places, Market Street in Leechburg was calm early Thanksgiving Day morning. People appeared to be staying in amid covid-19 travel advisories.
And newly hired, part-time borough police Officer Kyle Lewis was hoping it would stay calm.
“I don’t want to jinx it by saying it will be quiet,” Lewis said while patrolling.
Lewis, 34, said he’s worked many a holiday shift.
“This isn’t my first rodeo,” he joked.
Lewis works a combination of jobs, including serving in the Armstrong County Sheriff’s department.
After patrolling Leechburg until 3 p.m. Thursday, Lewis had a 4 p.m. to midnight shift in Ford City.
His Thanksgiving Day shift didn’t include any breaks for a turkey dinner, but that was subject to change.
“I had a few people tell me they would try to get me a meal,” Lewis said.
He said a holiday such as Thanksgiving is really a regular shift for him.
“I’m just here to make sure everyone stays safe,” Lewis said.
Patrolling for six years, Lewis joined the Leechburg police force last summer.
A Ford City resident, he said a career in law enforcement is appealing to him for many reasons, but one resonates:
“I like the fact that it’s always something different.”
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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