After volunteering at the Auburn Police Department for almost five years, Fred Canning has the behind-the-scenes scoop.

The Auburn resident said what people watch on crime television shows almost never mimics what real life, day-to-day work at a police station entails.

However, that doesn’t mean volunteering at the station two days a week is dull, he said.

In fact, the volunteer said he loves the variety of work he does for the community.

And in turn for his years of dedication, Canning will be honored Wednesday for his service along with a select group of law enforcement and other volunteers at the Placer Law Enforcement Agencies awards ceremony in Rocklin.

“It’s an interesting place to volunteer because things always end up changing,” Canning said. “It’s not the same routine day after day.”

For about three years, Canning has conducted Live Scan fingerprint checks for the department. He said a variety of people, including physicians, nurses and parents looking to adopt, come in to the office to get a finger scan.

“It’s amazing how more quickly things happen on TV than in reality,” Canning said. “Here it takes three days to get fingerprints while on TV it takes three seconds.”

On Tuesday afternoon, Canning was scanning in prints for Jason and Beckie Gilbert, who co-own The Black Forest German auto repair in Auburn. Jason and Beckie Gilbert were stopping by to get fingerprints for adoption paperwork they are currently filling out.

While Canning was scanning Jason Gilbert’s prints, Beckie Gilbert joked about how detectives ask criminals if they want some water during questioning so they can pick up their fingerprints from the cup.

“See?” Canning said.

When Canning isn’t scanning fingerprints, he’s one of several volunteers who are signed up for 24-hour on-call duties.

Just recently he was called out to keep motorists from driving down High Street when crews were removing a fallen oak tree near an apartment complex.

Canning stayed by the road barricade until 8:30 that evening.

Auburn Police Chief Valerie Harris said the department is happy to have someone who is “just so quick to respond to anything we need.”

“We can’t live without him,” Harris said. “He really does a great job.”

During his yeas of volunteer service, Canning has also taken a back-seat drive a few times with Auburn police. He said he is impressed by their professionalism.

“I haven’t met one that wasn’t conscientious when trying to uphold the law,” Canning said. “They’re trying to treat people fairly.”

Canning said he hopes to continue working for the department that has made him feel welcome.

“I appreciate Chief Harris for supporting the volunteer program here and the officers for accepting us here,” Canning said. “We haven’t gone through the training they have but they’ve made us feel like a part of the department.”

Jenifer Gee can be reached at jeniferg@goldcountrymedia.com.

----------

Get to know Fred Canning

Who: Fred Canning has lived in Auburn for 5 years and started volunteering at the Auburn Police Department about four-and-a-half years ago

Shooting apprentice: About a year-and-a-half ago, Canning started taking shooting lessons at The Range in Grass Valley. He is taking a class to be a shooting instructor and last year won most improved in his league

Software guru: Canning developed a love of computer science and software into a 30-year career at British Telecom and then Computer Science Corporation in the Bay Area

A heart for animals: Canning and his significant other of 29 years, Paula Leahy, are foster parents to animals in the care of the Auburn Area Rescue Foundation. Currently they are taking care of seven foster cats

----------

PLEA awards

What: The annual Placer Law Enforcement Agencies awards honor officers from all county police departments and the sheriff’s office who go above and beyond the call of duty.

When: 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 4

Where: Rocklin Sunset Center, 2650 Sunset Blvd., Rocklin

Cost: Free and open to the public

----------