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.

[oneolcop]

You know, now that I think about it, that was pretty much my M.O. I like it!

[MississippiMan]

That cop needs a psych evaluation.

And one would presume, so do the (at least) 21 others who voted in the slogan with him.

MM (in TX)

[mad_as_he$$]

Tim was not the only one concerned.

[mad_as_he$$]

You are kidding right?

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/lawenf.htm

There are over 850,000 LEO's in America. I make it 3.5 to one.

[oneolcop]

OK, I was engaging in a teeny bit of hyperbole...But:

That “raw” number includes all LEO. I would bet, based on about thirty years of “casual” conversation that: 1) Many of the nominal LEO’s such as park rangers, “door shakers”, CBP officers, US Fish & Wildlife officers, prison guards, , etc., would not be deployed and/or could not be deployed and/or are completely ill prepared and 2) Many, if not most local LEO’s would simply not turn on the public in the manner one might expect from the Feebies and BATFE.

[mad_as_he$$]

You might be surprised. The USDA has more than doubled the number of rangers qualified to carry weapons in the last 20 years. They also, in the bigger parks, have SWAT style training and do it with some regularity. The BLM has rangers that a SWAT trained. I have been told that the scenario is that first line cops (trained and do it everyday) will be backed up by MP's and the desk type cops will do support functions; such as detentions and "detainee" control. Every major venue in every city has been analyzed for the use as a detainment camp. In the LA riots after the Rodney King thing they were (according to some cops) ready to turn the Coliseum into a jail. Somebody pointed out that penning all the thugs together would make it worse and that the LAPD was going to get sued! Lol lawyer plus. IMHO you could count on less than 15% of LOE's to go with the citizenry. There has been a major push in law enforcement to dumb cops down in the last 20 years. Individual thinking is not allowed and you cannot question authority or they find a way to get rid of you. The old time cops that consider themselves "peace officers" are retiring in droves and do so on the first possible date. Next time you see a herd of cops take note of the average age. Also many forces have gone out of their way to hire minorities and put them in places of power. You draw your own conclusion on that.

You might want to Google "Operation Vampire Killer 2000" and do some reading, interesting.

[redstateconfidential]

Agreed, last time I was in a passenger in a traffic stop, a couple of years ago we had the old”creep up the passenger side”, while the other officer is sneakin’up the drivers side.Bizarre.A lady driver and me.Reason for the stop.1 burned tag light, the other was fine.No ticket.Go practice your “storm” drills some were else, thank you.

[redstateconfidential]

Its true. I do resent the traffic stops and speed traps, the arrogant , condsecending attitutudes, the rough edges, but they see sometimes more thing in one month than the rest of us might see in our whole life.A better foundation would set them up better equipped to handle the law abiding public as such instead of potential felons.For what they go through, they ought to be given more paid time off, regardless of what the budget crunchers want.

[redstateconfidential]

“Operation Vampire Killer” freaking sweeeetttt!

[oneolcop]

I hear what you're saying, but from my recent experience with some of the LEO I lead up 'till three years ago, you might be surprised.

Many, many LEO despise the feds and would engage in what I would describe as "internal operations". We should realize that we're on thin ice on this subject. The news about this incident at the academy indicates that it was a Sheriff who took immediate action when he saw the slogan. The locals don't particularly like "our federal friends" much. BTW according to the USFS website there are 590 USFS LEO.

[timm22]

I do like- “Let’s cause a crook PTSD.”

That's better, but I still don't like it. It's not the job of the police to mete out punishment before a trial.

I'm not saying they need to treat suspects with kid gloves, but they shouldn't be out to actively harm anyone, suspects or not.

[mad_as_he$$]

I think Idaho was where a Sheriff revoked the MOU for ALL federal LEO's. Thought that was a nice one.

USFS having about 600 Rangers sounds about right. Not a lot but I can remember the day when Rangers had a rifle in the truck in case a bear got out of control. BTW some of the most obnoxious LEO's in the West are the a$$holes from the BLM. I have filed complaints on two of them for just being jerks. I had to point out to one snot nosed punk who threatened to "arrest us and seize our vehicles" that we were 90 miles from anything and that there was eight of us heavily armed citizens and there was one of him. Kinda cooled his jets off. He was in a lather because someone had killed some livestock and he was convinced it was us. We later apprehended the shooters and turned them over to the Sheriff in front of this jerk - just to make a point.

I do hope you are correct that many of the younger ones are more on the peace officer side than LEO. I have dealt with the CHP for 20 years and watched them turn into freaking Nazi's in that time. Too bad they were a great bunch of dedicated guys at one point. Our NHP is still a well balanced force along with most Sheriff's in the State. I make it a point to visit every Sheriff when I pass through his county and introduce myself to get a feel for the person. Makes it easier if there is a misunderstanding at some point. Of course the good ones get a check at election time.

[Cap'n Crunch]

Funny you asked, I was just looking at “employment opportunities” at the Amarillo, Texas Police Dept. I guess I’m just a tad too old to get on there. 45 is the cutoff.

I see Amarillo’s population is moving up too.

I went to see the movie, ‘No country for old men’ with Tommy Lee Jones. Good movie. I understand that some of it was filmed in West Texas and some in New Mexico. Beautiful country.

I’m itchin’ to get out there somewhere, I’m hoping to cut these strings/major ropes keeping me here. I could retire in Feb. of 09 and start looking for something out west.

Someday.

[Squantos]

Look at Panhandle, Pampa and Borger PD as well.......even dare I say it (don't tell razorback bert I suggested such) ..........

Lubbock PD

.......:o)

One other neat little town to consider is Canadian Texas PD.

As well as Carson County Sheriff, Potter County or Randall County.....All close too or surrounding Amarillo or Panhandle.

[Cap'n Crunch]

Thanks, that’s an accurate description and reminds me of a couple calls last few days I worked. I had to go to an apartment where an older gent had been dead inside for 3 weeks. The stench of death was still HEAVY in there a week after they took him out. Three people inside going through the deceaseds belongings were inside. They all talked to me through their shirts, which they had all pulled up over their mouths and noses, trying to lessen the smell. Somehow I don’t think it worked but it sure was funny to see them all talking through their shirts.

I’m thinking of transferring or getting on another police dept. They all want to give psychological tests. Some of our guys went and took them. And failed. I hear through another police officer that alot of veteran officers fail pscyhological tests, according to a study by an NYPD officer.

I wonder how that squares up? Your a working police officer at one PD but you test for another PD and fail the psych test. Is that cause for retirement? I heard the ones at NYPD that failed psych tests were all given disability pensions. hahahahaha... funny.

I realized there was something wrong with me when I and another police officer were laughing at some guy that we chased who was on a motorcycle. (another agency chased the guy through our city, we were just along for the ride) He lost control, hit a telephone pole and was all twisted up like a plate of spaghetti. As he was laying there dying, we were laughing.

I took a good look at myself after that.

[razorback-bert]

You could apply for a teaching post at the TSA and BR academy in Artestia, nice place to live. I have spent about 18 months in four years work there.

[Cap'n Crunch]

haha.. OK, mum is the word to Bert.. I’m looking, heavy. I contacted a few places in Colorado, they don’t have an age limit. They said “we’d love to have you.” I notice some Texas Sheriff’s Dept’s aren’t as picky on the age factor.

I put in a letter to get back in our Detective Bureau. I’ve got a chance. I’m going to see what ‘08 brings me and if it’s still bad around here I may be out in ‘09.

Problems I’m having is I have a daughter who is going to be a senior in HS next year and a son who will be a sophomore. The boy says he’d move. My daughter would like to finish her senior year here. Also, the county I live in has such a high foreclosure rate on homes and nothing is selling, I wouldn’t be able to give my house away right now.

I’m hoping ‘08 will bring a change. Gonna check those agencies you mentioned.

[Cap'n Crunch]

OH, too late Squantos, he’s on to us. hahaha

Thanks for the ‘heads up’ Mr. Bert, I figure there is something out there for me, with my retirement I’ll be doing OK too. But I’ll need something full time with the retirement.

[Squantos]

Yeah I knew Bert would be laughing at the Lubbock comment !

CC I sent ya a freep mail with more ideas and some stuff about Cost of Living , Home prices .......I do know what bert suggested is a great as well....no pun intended.

Good luck and tell yer Son that Canadian and Panhandle have championship grade football and basketball teams in towns that are 2500 to 3000 population. Each town has one high school, Middle or Jr High and Elementary school....all get good marks from parents and kids alike !

[Cap'n Crunch]

I just wrote down all those places you two mentioned. I’m going to check them out.. I gotta run along now though.

Thanks for the assistance.