Writer Lauren Beukes engaged in a tweet session while riding with the Cape Town metro police on Tuesday. The author of the best selling‚ critically acclaimed The Shining Girls‚ joined the metro police and chronicled a day in the life of a metro cop.“Why I was getting fitted for a bullet proof vest last week: I’ll be live-tweeting ride-alongs with #CTMetroPolice‚” she tweeted on Monday‚ with a link to a photo of the metropolice.Early on Tuesday‚ she tweeted: Up at 5 am with @MarioRabiephoto and his dog Milo to go for a ride along with #CTMetroPolice.… https://t.co/A3KdaxYdak— Lauren Beukes (@laurenbeukes) February 2, 2016… https://www.instagram.com/p/BBRNbJtD8U3/”She teamed up with metro cop Franklyn Solly Solomons‚ tweeting: “Sunrise inspection khayelitsha #ctmetropolice with Senior Superintendent Franklyn Solomons. https://www.instagram.com/p/BBRVppFj8QA/”“Snr. Superintendent “Solly” Solomons started out as in city refuse‚ sweeping the streets‚ cleaning the beaches in 1990. #CTMetroPolice.”“Morning Boet.” He greets another cop as we head out. Explains “Don’t have to say it‚ we know that: I’ve got your back.” #CTMetroPolice “His nickname is ‘Brave’‚” he says of a colleague‚ “he’s always ready to go. ‘Come on guys‚ let’s go get the drunk drivers.” #CTMetroPoliceSolly is talking about syndicate diesel theft from trucks and buses at the intersection. “Brave” chased them and caught them. #CTMetroPolicebread truck stopped in the “threat area” between Spine Road and Mew Way “where guys can come through the reeds and rob them” #CTMetroPolice“My son says to me‚ daddy you keep saying you’re going to get started again with exercise.” “I say‚ my son‚ I didn’t say when... But I swim”Snr Spt. Solly talks about kids running along the top of the highway bridges on a dare. #CTMetroPolice“Last week‚ I was driving along the highway‚ metro car stopped in the middle of the highway. I thought oh no. Started looking for the body”“And yes‚ there it was. Guy crossing the highway‚ his cap blew off and he went back for it and was fatally struck by a vehicle. For a cap.”Inspecting the OB (Occurences Book) at the highway law enforcement operational centre… https://www.instagram.com/p/BBRdGuDD8YQ/ Beautiful portrait by @mariorabiephoto of senior superintendent Solomons. #CTMetropolice #ridealong https://www.instagram.com/p/BBRdskkD8Yx/Snr Spdt Solly has been with #CTMetroPolice since they started. “I used to stand on these streets with a broom.”“When I became a traffic officer in 1994‚ in my cool uniform with my raybans‚ I remember how proud my father was. I still have pictures”“That was really very awesome for me. This type of work is a calling. I tell you‚ I love it‚ it’s amazing.” #CTMetroPolice“you see a lot of horrific things. You take it home with you. Always embedded there. You need to find a means to work with it”Joined unit in 2002 when it was first established. “Metro is 3-in-1. Law enforcement‚ crime prevention‚ traffic policing.”#CTMetroPolice doesn’t investigate. Community policing‚ support for the SAPS‚ hand over the case to them after initial incident“it’s about service delivery. We’re building relationships with the community because they see results” Solly explains.“in certain ways the job can be inhuman. I am human‚ fully human. Sometimes we forget that in the service.” #CTMetroPolice“this is my family‚ I want to go home to them tonight. So important that we have partners‚ cover each other’s backs. Things get very quick”“the criminals have become so fearless. They want your firearm. They’’ll kill you.” #CTMetroPolice“The sad part when we recover stolen firearms is that often it’s code CZ which means it was stolen from an officer” #CTMetroPolice Solly tells us about one of their officers who booked his weapon in after his shift and then stopped at the spaza to buy airtime...... 3 guys approached him‚ demanding his gun‚ knew it was a glock. Shot him in the leg. “it’s the reality. We’re very safety conscious.”The difficulty of leaving job behind at the end of the day‚ “when your wife and kids are now waiting to go to the Spur and you get hung up”At shift end he picks up his five year old daughter from preschool. They love swimming together. His teenage son loves motorbikes.Still got some stuff to report on the #CTMetroPolice #ridealong but I will have to catch up with my notes and tweet it later today...