If you’ve ever gotten a parking ticket at Moorpark College, chances are that Cadet Eric Lutkus, of the Moorpark College Campus Police, was the man that gave it to you. But don’t hate him. He’s a real person just like you.

“A lot of the students here at campus give you a bad look this way or a snide remark,” said Lutkus. “I’ve gotten used to it. It’s after a year and a half working here so it’s not that bad. I don’t mind it. I’m used to people not liking law and enforcement. It really doesn’t bother me.”When I first met Lutkus and shook his hand,

I couldn’t help but feel a little intimidated and awkward. Mainly because of how orderly he looked in comparison to my long, shaggy, hippie hair. But also because I’ve been arrested before and grown a sort of natural suspicion for the law. It was kind of like throwing a wealthy dowager and a homeless man together at the dinner table and forcing them to have an interesting conversation.

When I sat down in the passenger seat of his car, it only got more awkward. The police ride-along consisted of weird uncomfortable silences interrupted by a question here and there.

But I had no need to worry. Lutkus’s main job as a cadet is to give out parking citations.

“A cadet’s primary job is to hand out parking citations but we also act as the eyes and ears for the lieutenant here,” said Lutkus. “If we see anything out of the norm, something like you would be able to notice, we report it to the cadet and he and the police handle it. Technically, I’m not a police officer. I’m a cadet.”

As my ride-along with Lutkus continued, I grew to respect this man. He is doing a job that a person either has a profound respect for or no respect at all. Yet it is obvious that he thoroughly enjoys working in uniform. In fact, he is also an ROTC Air Force cadet.

“I plan on being a second lieutenant in the Air Force. I graduate in about a year and half. This [cadet] job has nothing to do with it other than to work with people,” said Lutkus. “It’s a good job to work with people.”

By the end of the ride-along, that weird feeling hadn’t subsided. But I did find myself with a newfound respect for this man of the law. We said our awkward goodbyes and went our separate ways. Chances are we’ll never see each other again. Unless I catch him giving me a parking ticket.