Constable Watson patrols District 5 Wednesday with Cincinnati Police Officer Mark Nastold. (Glenn Hartong photos) | ZOOM |

The Cincinnati Enquirer

Northside got a surprise in neon yellow Wednesday afternoon - an English bobby helping patrol Hamilton Avenue.

Brian Watson, a constable in West Yorkshire, England, is a Fulbright Scholar studying at the University of Cincinnati. He walked with District 5 Officer Mark Nastold, introducing himself to residents and business owners.

Constable Watson laughs with Artis Whitfield of Mount Auburn during a walking patrol in Northside. | ZOOM |

Constable Watson's department is the fourth-largest in England. Its staff - about 5,200 officers and 2,300 support workers - serves about 2.1 million peoplein 780 square miles.

A problem-oriented policing officer at home, he chose Cincinnati in part because of a community-oriented policing book written by Cincinnati training Lt. Howard Rahtz and to work with Dr. John Eck, a criminal justice professor.