DeKALB | Weeknights on patrol can be slow for police officers, but they’re always on watch for the unexpected.

“It’s hit or miss,” said officer Burt Johnson of the DeKalb Police. “The colder weather keeps things down a bit.”

The time of day can also play a part in the number of incidents requiring police intervention.

“We’re busy 3 to 6 p.m. with traffic accidents,” Johnson said. “Six to 9 p.m. can, but not always, slow down, and from 9 to 11 p.m., it picks up a bit.”

Johnson said the dinner hour has a decrease in activity.

“People are at restaurants,” Johnson said. “But after 9, the alcohol and the attitudes kick in.”

As Johnson mentioned, weather can also account for the occasional hindering of incidents.

“With the cold snap we’ve had, it generally keeps people inside and keeps them a bit calmer,” Johnson said.

When officers have down time, they deal with the monotony of patrolling and running radar by doing more checks.

“I get out and do building checks,” Johnson said. “I’ll go out and start checking doors. Once in awhile, you’ll find a burglar, find them just after the place got hit.”

Not all weeknight shifts are the same.

“Part of the job is, you’ll have nothing, nothing, nothing all day and then have absolute freakin’ pandemonium,” Johnson said. “Sometimes you’ll have a Tuesday night and you’ll be go, go, go, go, go.”

Johnson said he takes pride in his job and enjoys what he does.

“It’s never the same job twice,” Johnson said. “This is my office; it goes with me. I’m out in the elements. I freeze, I sweat, I get soaked. You can never have as much fun as you do as a cop.”