OREM — Sometimes being fluent in Thai comes in very handy in Orem.
Like the time years ago when Orem Police Lt. Doug Edwards was called to a home where a self-proclaimed hit man from Laos was staying on his way to commit his crime.
Having served an LDS mission in Thailand, and with the Lao language being similar to Thai, the young Edwards was given the bullhorn.
But what missionary learns how to say "Attention, this is the police?"
"The only word that came to my mind was 'behold,' " Edwards said. So he called out: "Behold, we are the police. Come out with your hands up."
And the man did.
That's just one of the many stories Edwards has after 30 years of service in the Orem Department of Public Safety. Edwards retired Thursday as the department's public information officer, but his experience in the department spans all divisions.
In 1979, he was planning to be an academic adviser for business management undergrads at Brigham Young University. That was until he saw a SWAT information booth set up in the Wilkinson Center and found out about a police cadet program.
Because he lived in Orem, not Provo, he applied through that city and was one of only two applicants selected out of 100.
His duties were those that didn't require a sworn officer, such as making vacation checks, transporting people to jail and making now-outdated pin maps of crimes.
"When I'd finished, I could go ride with the officers," he said. "I'm afraid I did that a little too often."
So nine months later when a job offer came, Edwards quickly accepted.
He went through training, spent several years in patrol then was appointed to the narcotics enforcement net — the forerunner of the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force.
After that and another brief stint on the road, Edwards settled down in the investigations division, where he remained for 10 years.
He worked with kids for a while as a DARE officer, then after a few more promotions, Edwards ended up as an administrative lieutenant and PIO. He spent the last 10 years of his police career working with the media and informing residents about situations in their community.
"I did just about everything there was to do," Edwards said. He even cross-trained as a fireman.
He also saved lives.
One memory that is quick to pop to the surface was a call about a baby not breathing after falling in the toilet. Edwards said he felt impressed to go out on the call, even though he was in investigations.
Due to an address error, Edwards was the first officer on scene and began CPR on the little baby who had turned blue.
When the paramedics arrived and took over, the mother frantically asked if any of the officers could give the baby an LDS priesthood blessing.
Edwards and fellow officer Sgt. Pete Hansen obliged, and they blessed the baby to recover.
"It was kind of scary thing," Edwards said, noting the baby's serious condition. "They took the baby to Primary Children's, and we sat back and prayed."
The baby survived, and years later, Edwards had the ironic honor of pulling the now-grown boy over and giving him a ticket.
It's hard to leave the excitement of police work behind, but Edwards will stay busy with other things.
He'll do some work around the house, work on a shed for the backyard, do a bit more fishing and take some of those vacations that were elusive while on the force.
Due to health-insurance issues, the 52-year-old also will be looking for another job.
"I'll see what other possibilities are out there," he said. "I don't see myself getting back into a patrol car. This is a younger man's profession."
It's a tiny bit of a letdown for Edwards' four children, who were always excited to tell friends their dad was a cop, said Edwards' wife, Lori.
The kids were so involved, in fact, that when driving anywhere, they would eagerly point out expired license plates and demand arrests, Lori Edwards explained with a laugh.
"He'll probably not find a career that will be that exciting," she said. "We're not going to see him on TV anymore, or hear him on the news. The (kids) will miss the excitement part of it."
But Edwards still has plenty of stories for his children, ages 15 to 25.
"That's the good thing about police work," Edwards said. "It always gave me fuel for teaching and passing along life's lessons. Instead of saying, 'I don't like you to hang out at the mall,' I can tell you why you shouldn't."
E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com