Police academy class slogan: Cause PTSD

charlotte.com ^ | Dec. 25, 2007 | NA

[neverdem]

Associated Press

A state police academy leader has disavowed the slogan of the most recent graduating class urging one another to "go out and cause" post-traumatic stress disorder. Each class at the Idaho Police Officer Standards and Training Academy is allowed to choose a slogan that is printed on its graduation programs, and the class of 43 graduates came up with "Don't suffer from PTSD, go out and cause it."

According to the Veterans Association, tens of thousands of U.S. soldiers suffer from PTSD, which causes nightmares, flashbacks and physical symptoms that make sufferers feel as if they are reliving trauma, even many years later. Crime, accidents and other trauma can cause it in civilians.

Ada County Sheriff Gary Raney, who attended the Dec. 14 graduation, pointed out the slogan to the academy's director, Jeff Black, minutes before the ceremony began, Raney said. A photograph of the program was e-mailed anonymously to news outlets throughout the state.

"That's not something we encourage or condone," Black said. "It shouldn't have been there. It was inappropriate."

Black said the class president was ex-military, and that the slogan "slipped in." He declined to identify the graduate. Black said future slogans would be vetted by academy leaders.

[TigersEye]

"Don't suffer from PTSD, go out and cause it."

That is a great motto for the Marines or the Rangers.
It isn't appropriate for domestic LE. Unfortunately it's already a very common mindset amongst local LEAs across the country. That's not a good thing.

[thefactor]

so we're willing to give the marines the benefit of the doubt that they are going to cause harm only to the enemy and not civilians, but cops are not given the benefit of the doubt that they will cause harm only to criminals and not civilians.

ok, got it. and please don't respond about wartime vs peacetime with respect to the military. the police are at war with crime 24/7/365.

[TigersEye]

I don’t respond to insanity so don’t worry.

[thefactor]

oh, you’re one of those who believe that no soldier has ever raped or killed an innocent and that EVERY cop is a taser-happy, jack-booted thug. unfortunately there are many like you.

[oneolcop]

This old 40 year veteran of police work believes that the involved (wanna-be) officers should be waterboarded. The Academy director should be fired for his tepid reaction and the whole academy program revamped. I know that we Idahoans have a reputation as cowboys and mountain men, but my gosh, this is the 21st century. I’m going to be on the phone tomorrow morning about this.

[TigersEye]

You already said that.

[ninonitti]

the police are at war with crime 24/7/365

You're joking I hope.......too much McGruff on television?

[Lumper20]

I read nothing into the slogan other then a very bad choice of words. Yes, the superiors should have stopped this.

I have no problems with policemen doing their job. In fact, most policemen in the major city where I live have served their country on active duty or serve in the Guard or Reserve.

While politically incorrect, I would rather have criminals with PTSD then either our law enforcement officers and/or our military.

[thefactor]

lemme guess. you live in a small town where the cops have little to do.

and why do you think that the crime rate in the US is pretty low all things considered?

[Redcloak]

I told ‘em... “Be the ‘bro’ in ‘Don’t taze me bro’” would have been much less controversial.

[dragnet2]

Each class at the Idaho Police Officer Standards and Training Academy is allowed to choose a slogan that is printed on its graduation programs, and the class of 43 graduates came up with "Don't suffer from PTSD, go out and cause it."

Seems the attitude of law enforcement has changed from protect and serve, to cause maximum damage to those who fail to kneel.

They have forgotten they only have authority because the people allowed it. They abuse their authority at their own risk.

[oneolcop]

If the slogan was “Let’s go out and give a crook PTSD.” Or something similar, I would have no problem. As a former Chief Deputy here in Idaho, I’m familiar with the situation there in Meridian. In fact, they're training these young mush-heads to be suspicious of everyone and sending them out with the belief they’er gonna get shot on every contact with a citizen. The trick in police work is to teach the mush-heads to THINK and to act with a great deal of discretion.

[oneolcop]

Seems the attitude of law enforcement has changed from protect and serve, to cause maximum damage to those who fail to kneel.

RRRRRRRIIIITTTEEEOOO!

[endthematrix]

"but cops are not given the benefit of the doubt "

Chicago PD, any questions?

[thefactor]

just one:

what the hell does that mean?

[endthematrix]

"In fact, they're training these young mush-heads to be suspicious of everyone and sending them out with the belief they’er gonna get shot on every contact with a citizen. "

Thanks to the FBI saying that you may be a terrorist if you have a Christan and States rights bumper sticker...

[endthematrix]

When you see CPD patting down a street thug...what comes to your mind?

[oneolcop]

Truly a tragic state of affairs. But remember that we outnumber them millions to one.

[TigersEye]

That was definitely disturbing.

[weegee]

They are sorry... they got caught.