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'Rookies' Offers New View Of Tampa Police Work

A&E Photo

Sgt. Mark Delage, Sgt. Barry Moskowitz, Officer Bernard Ginaitt, Officer Britt Martinez, Officer Tim Gaddis and rookie Tommie Tolbert appear in A&E's "Rookies."

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Published: October 21, 2008

TAMPA - On her first day at work, Amy Hess worries that her size and shyness will hold her back.

At just over 5 feet tall, the fresh-faced 24-year-old from West Virginia has graduated from a police academy and is ready to hit the mean streets of Tampa as a rookie officer.

Her instructor, Field Training Officer Britt Martinez, who is no taller than Hess, tells her that physical size is "not as important as the size of your heart."

Martinez tells her that staying alert, smart and one step ahead of what's going down are the keys to survival.

How Hess copes with drug busts, domestic disturbances, drunks and other tension-filled situations can be seen on "Rookies," a new reality series debuting at 10 tonight on A&E.

The series, taped last fall, follows rookies who joined the Tampa police force last year. Not all of them stick with the demands of the job.

The opening episode follows former schoolteacher Hugh Herndon, 27, and former restaurant manager Anthony J. Cafaro, 24.

Hess and Tommie L. Tolbert, 32, a former probation officer, are featured on the second episode. Also featured in future episodes are rookies April Levine and Dennis Cooper.

"We wanted to show the human side of police work and not just chasing down criminals like they do on 'Cops,'" producer Leslie Greif says.

"By following the rookies, we see the various demands on police and we get an appreciation for what they have to do," he adds. "We picked the Tampa force because it has a good reputation and it's a big city but it's not too big."

Tampa Police Department spokeswoman Laura McElroy says: "What we like about the series is it shows that the police are people, too. And they care about doing a good job and helping people. It also shows that not everyone is cut out to be a cop."

"We also show the lighter side of the police officers and give glimpses into their personal lives," Greif says.

We learn that rookie Tolbert is an imposing weightlifter who writes poetry, and rookie Cooper is awaiting the birth of his first child.

On the first episode, Herndon gets a lesson in paying attention when his trainer, Officer Danny Rhodes, plays a joke. Rhodes excuses himself from the patrol car and Rhodes' twin brother, Dusty, returns in his place. It takes Herndon a few minutes to catch on.

Hess, who has since married and is now Amy Hess Evans, says that her first day (Sept. 11, 2007) was a little rough but she stuck with it. "I really like what I'm doing; it's fun and it's exciting," she says. "Every day is different."

Reporter Walt Belcher can be reached at (813) 259-7654.

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