Posted on 12/25/2007 8:22:47 PM PST by 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.
Actually I live in a big city in the East where the police chose not to have much to do as a result of their union contract.
First, you consider the crime rate pretty low - I don't. It is my understanding that the crime rate in this country has declined because we have one of the highest prison populations per capita in the developed world. We lock a lot of people up for a good long time and we pay a lot to keep them there.
For me it comes down to what we spend keeping crime down. Do we need all kinds of cop toys or merely more cops with a community oriented attitude that elicts support rather than resentment.
My bet is that the attitude exhibited in this story is what ends up costing the taxpayers much more than a reasoned and colaborative approach.
Not a good motto for domestic police (unless they’re on gang-detail), but it would be a great motto for any Army or Marine units over in Iraq or Afganistan. The way things are going for us now in Iraq I don’t think too many jihad-jackals are going to be alive long enough to suffer from much PTSD though....
Handing an officer a Bible or copy of the Constitution .
Shattering the Bell Curve; The power law rules. (Review of The Black Swan- not IQ related
Parents Defend School’s Use of Shock Therapy
Towards Cloaking Visible Light: Three-dimensional Metamaterials For The Optical Wavelength Range
FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.
I guess I better not repeat my class motto , some are mere tag lines blown out of proportion IMO........:o)
Just as any human endeavor we have good and bad in all professions. The solution is not available nor suggested. Take responsibility for your own security 24/7 or just wait till your victimized. Prevention, not a solution, per my opinion and experience is treat others like you wish too be treated with respect and courtesy and stay within the lines set by laws, rules and limits when in public and play hard in arenas where such is encouraged.
If I don’t like the law my beef isn’t with the LEO or FLEA on the street in a reactionary mode it is with the polidiots and their handlers that voted for such crap in a proactive manner.
A traffic stop or a field interview is no where to argue policy or law because there will always be ONE winner in that contest at that place and time. Granted a civil or criminal court solves such encounters at a later date but aggression or comments at the scene do little for the “suspect”.
I have been on both ends of that spear and it is ugly from either. My best efforts are to be small in public and loud and clear in the voting booth , in written correspondence to my polidiots and presstitutes and dollars to support pro constitutional efforts to preserve our beloved republic......
Just my opinion of course.
Stay safe and hope ya had a Merry Christmas !~
Good for you. Please let us know what you find out.
Hoplophobe. Now that’s a good word you don’t hear often enough. Or too often, depending on your perspective.
I remember that. I used to post a photo-copy of the actual FBI memo. Very disturbing.
I guess we “civilians” should adopt something as funny: “Don’t take PTSD from a cop, return the favor and make the sorry bastard earn his pay!”
Or how about: “Fight Cop Crime, Taz’ First!”
I don’t think cops would find that funny. I find their “slogan” an act of war against the population.
Yes, those speed trap heroes are really putting their lives on the line.
It just looks cowardly, in reality they are very brave, taking on villianous commuters.
As usual, you hit the nail squarely on the head. I believe this little story is being blown way out of proportion. The story I read about it said that most of the officers in the class were prior military.
But, stories like this sure get the knee-jerk responses. Reminds me of the democrats who are so easily offended. The victim mentality Uber Alles.
And your also right about the political spectrum of the whole thing. Makes me sick.
Well, anyway, I was thinking about a few FReepers, wondering how they were doing for Christmas, you included.
I’ve been pretty busy, not on here much but wishing you and yours a belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year as well.
Best Wishes..and, Stay Safe!
Back at ya CC.......all is well here and we got missed by latest storm so we’re just chilly this PM. Don’t be a stranger around here......you decide if yer gonna do the Texas move yet ?
your (and many others around here) ignorance is mind-boggling.
Personally, I think concise, well written comments in written form with reply requested to the local head of law enforcement might give them a citizen’s perspective on why this is unacceptable would be the best course of action.
Exactly right!
bump
"You may not like cops. Few do. They can be arrogant, impatient, rude. They can weary of a demanding, complaining public. Most are good people. A few are not.
"They are what we've got. They are out there, 24/7, with the psychopaths, the crash victims with the cartilage white where the flesh is gone, the week-old dead found by the reek, the snot, the blood, the cum, the maggots, the screaming half-crazed fifteen-year-old rape vtctims, the charred children caught in the fire with their guts exploded, the aged drunk women pissing in their pants in alleys and trying to crawl, the baby's brains on the windshield. You might get a bit odd too. You might get real damn odd. Think about it."
You live in the area and served in law enforcement, so; who am I to question you. I do like- “Let’s cause a crook PTSD.”
Objectively, most people say I’ve had a pretty colorful career. From my perspective, I’d say these guys need to have a real serious slap-down. I get humor, have a pretty good sense of humor. But the problem is that these kids and their leadership didn’t have what is referred to as “common sense” If a cop lacks common sense, who, besides that individual gets harmed? The public. We should pay them more, understand their problems, and demand as much professionalism as they can muster. The “humor” of this tee shirt was certainly intended for the class. Unfortunately, it wasn’t funny and should have been stopped at the stage when it was still just a suggestion. That’s where the administration comes in. There is no doubt in my mind that someone on the staff of the academy knew about this. That person should have stepped up and prevented it’s use. It was unprofessional. Further, he/she should have followed up with a serious discussion of the role of the police officer and the importance of professionalism.
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