Posted on 07/12/2016 5:54:51 PM PDT by SJackson
After the Dallas ambush, I thought of a rookie cop I met a few weeks ago.
A storm was coming, the wind was up, the sky was dark and he was wearing sunglasses. He looked young, excited, like an athlete before a game, perhaps only a few years older than my sons.
And now that five police officers have been assassinated and seven other officers shot by that Dallas sniper, I wonder: Why become a cop?
There's so much anger and hate out there, legitimate historical grievances and phony opportunistic shrieking and political betrayals and phony hashtag wars. And always there is the ugly, predictable politics of race, read from a script written long before most young officers were born.
So why be a cop?
I'd been standing with an older officer. We were telling each other stupid stories for laughs when the rookies walked up. They had on all their new gear and fresh Velcro, and one wore sunglasses. The older cop asked me if I had any advice to give them. And I just had to open my big mouth.
Lose the shades, I said.
"Why?" said the kid. "They're cool."
Yes they're cool. But on a dark day with the sky gray and black, shades do little but hide your eyes. It means you don't want people to see what's going on behind them.
So lose the sunglasses and grow cop's eyes, I said.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
My wife was telling me about a local kid fresh out of the academy got a job here. He immediately began stalking someone who had supposedly bullied him in school. And actually arrested him. When the COP found out he took the badge and kicked the kid out the door.
From the article:
“Because they’re needed, that’s why. They know this. And they know what would happen if they weren’t out there. And so do you.”
.
Join your local departments reserve force program ..... volunteer.
Why do it? The reasons are fewer and fewer. Never mind getting shot—one bad snap decision and you can find yourself behind bars. Cell phone videos, ever-rising numbers of internal investigations and a general disdain for law enforcement by many in the public makes the job undesirable.
I did it, retired, and find it hard to recommend to a young person as a career.
I’ve said for a long time that cops should fine a new line of work.
Listen, I support the police. I’d assist one if he/she were in a struggle with someone....
But, it’s clear: most people don’t like cops. There IS a target on their back. They are increasingly likely to be sued/criminally charged for doing their duty. They don’t make squat for pay. Too many these days are Roid-raging bullies. And finally..... most police officers are now nothing more than local revenue agents.
Sorry, but the smartest cops are the ones looking for a new career path.
I tell everyone that I can not to be a police officer. Me, I am closer to retirement than recruitment so I will try to stick it out as long as I can.
But I don’t think retirement is going to happen like I had hoped.
I first became aware of that attitude more than 40 years ago while living in NYC.
Forgot to mention that when I’ve said that before on this forum I was called a “low-life cop hater” which goes to prove our point.
Look, if you want to become a cop, be a cop in New Jersey in some Podunk small town like Helmetta, where the only criminals you have to deal with are the local politicians. Making a 120K a year writing speeding tickets to people who go 27 in the 25 zone, (which just happens to be every road except main street) is a very good gig if you can get it.
Whatever you do, don’t become a cop in the city, you make way less and you have big giant bulls eye on your back.
I think I have the answer for you. Same answer I got from a Marine Gunny years ago in DaNang Vietnam.
I asked the Gunny: “You’re such a capable guy, why don’t you get out, take a private job and make a lot more money?”
His answer: “Because I think I can make a difference.”
My GF’s kid is in school to become a cop. She is not happy about it at all.
Benefits are very good. Most of them don’t make it to 20 years.
My son is going to Franklin Pierce University in NH for criminal justice and plans to be a cop. I have mixed feelings now of course, I hope this crap settles down. He’s a black belt in Karate and has never smoked or drank alcohol in his life. I honestly don’t know what the hell I did right.
In the mid 80s I applied to the LAPD and Ventura County SO. Thank God the didn't pick me.
I ended up doing 25 years with the US Border Patrol working along the borders in west Texas, New Mexico and California. I made thousands of arrests over my career and never had a complaint or allegation of excessive force and I was in many a fight.
In my opinion illegal aliens (even the gang members) are a better class of people than our intercity dwellers. I have tremendous respect for the cops who have to work there.
Outstanding, glad you made to retirement. Got a bit more to go yet, but working in St. Louis County with the annual Ferguson Festival, makes me wish it would come a bit quicker.
Agreed.
That is the fault of training. Cops are no longer taught to be “peace officers”; they are now my like a paramilitary force and see the average civilian as the enemy; rather than as their employer.
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