PoliceLink

We were all badge-heavy once.  All had that need for adrenaline, lived for the fishing expeditions, got excited using lights and sirens.  Then it all changed that day when you actually HELPED someone; the day when you truely made a difference in someone's life for the better.  That's when ya learned the value of your job and how important the "little calls" are too.

But that doesn't help the adrenaline addiction.  That doesn't change until you get yourself into some sh*t that YOU started.  It usually takes gettin yer ass whipped to realize that despite how big and bad you THINK you are, there's someone out there that is bigger, badder, and has nothing to lose.  A little trip to the E.R. with a broken bone or some stitches usually does the trick.  Worked for me.  I won the fight, the bad guy went to jail, but being laid up with a broken hand for a few days and missing out on extra duty details made a serious dent in my finances.  Pissed the wife off, too.  It finally took me going back to work with a broken hand and a lot of asprin to get my mind right.

ROOKIES!!!! Keep up the aggressiveness but always remember your limits.  Don't forget that there are innocent people out there being victimized and they are praying to YOU to make them whole again.  There is no such thing as a little call, or a BS report.  The folks making those "BS reports" pay your salary, and they cast the votes to have your salary raised and your benefits increased.  True, it's not the most glamorous thing to have to take a report from Ms Smith about someone walking across her lawn at 3 in the afternoon two days ago, or a report from Mr Jones about a barking dog at midnight, or a report from Ms Johnson about her neighbors trash being unsightly.  True, you have better things to do.  True, it's not why you joined up.  But these problems are soooooo easy to solve!  And to these people, you're a hero!  They'll remember you for the rest of their lives when you treat them with a little respect and dignity.  It's not the homicide investigation that you were hoping for or the drug bust that you dream about, but it's a part of your job.  Do it to the best of your ability and strive to improve the quality of life for the citizens in your community.  You can always crack wise and make jokes later on at the PD; you can bet I do!

FTOs!!!!  After the rookies are done watching TV and learning from the movies, they are looking to you for the example of what a police officer should be.  Give them room to grow and develop their own style of policing but at the same time, always remind them of why were are here - to protect AND to serve.  Remind them that it's not all about kickin ass and takin names, sometimes we have to put on kid gloves and handle the minor problems of society, too.  You know that you don't particularly like handling those "BS reports" either, and going 100 mph, lights and siren with your hair on fire was nothing short of heaven when you first started.  Give those rookies the guidence they need to become honorable, dedicated, professional law enforcement officers that their community can be proud of.

BOTH!!!!  If you got into the business for the money, go do something else.  Police officers are born, not made.  Either you were made for this or you weren't.  If your main concern is salary, go teach 3rd grade public school.  The pay in this line of work usually sucks, that's just the way it is.  We don't do this job for the pay, we do it because of our belief system; because of a calling that we couldn't ignore; because we don't know how to NOT be the police.  Use your heads and be careful out there.  Never sacrifice your honor for an arrest.  Never sacrifice service to the innocent for the sake of punishing the evil.

I got into it for the love of the job. Now, with the changes, and the the rules and court systems, I seem to work to get paid. I use to say that I would do this for free. But, after the changes with other officers, the public views, and everything, I think is it worth it for what little I get? The award of loving the job was once well worth the risk. Sometimes you have to ask is the risk worth the pay?

By the way, Great topic!

JIMROC says ...

 

A lot of officers hate the term, "Community Policing" but that's where police work really begins and ends.

I think its the catch phrase that some guys hate. When the words "community policing" come up, my back tends to stiffen and my heels dig in. Not a big fan of meetings and that sort of thing. But when you're talking about hitting a few shops/stores, talking to some neighbors, or giving a bit more time on a call to listen to someone, I have no problem with that. Those types of "COP" activities really do make a difference to people, and you can find out a lot of things.

jlu492 says ...

One thing I've noticed, is that more more guys jump in and jump out. They all love the hot calls (don't we all), but as soon as there's leg work or writing to do, no one can be found to help out.

you got that right!  but back on topic.....i do it because i love the job.  it damn sure isnt for the money with what us County Boys are making.

I am still rather young at 31, but have been doing this jobs since I joined the Air Force at 18.  I still love it.  I enjoy going to work, even in the unique environment that I have the "honor" to work in.  I don't take anything for granted.  This job is more that a paycheck, it is what I choose to do.  Heck, I even take my paycheck and my annual vacation to attend advanced courses on my own.  This job is constantly changing along with the criminals and now terrorists who are out to harm us and innocent people.  I see people who do this job for a paycheck and that is their choice, but at the end of the day weather you work for NYPD, LAPD, or small town USA there are poeple that want to harm or kill you just because you wear the uniform.  Stay safe, stay sharp, and above all stay alive.

One thing I have noticed here on PL is that most seem to equate LE with only patrol....keep in mind folks, patrol is one aspect of law enforcement...just one..it just happens to be the most visual aspect of LE for the public.  Chance are, if you stick around long enough, get yourself educated enough, get the right certifications and training, youll move ouf of patrol into other divisions.  OR, depending on what type of agency you work for, you may never experience patrol.  Officers and agents who work for the Dental Board, District Attorney investigators, Water control police, alcohol code enforcement agents, civl warrant deputies, arson inspectors...and on and on and on have a very different approach to LE than the municipal patrol officer.

I stumbled across this post this morning, funny some of my friends and I who have retired from the job got together last night and we had a similar discussion. As we were talking about the "younger" generation of cops, they all agreed that the attitude of most the new guys and gals is different than when we got in. They felt the comaradarie we enjoyed when we were the "younger" generation is not there anymore. It's all about getting the hot call, takesomeone to jail, get the rush, cry and complain about your agency, no relations with other agencies, and screw one of them if you can. The guys don't socialize together, the wives don't like each other, give me my pay and buy the biggest house I can get.

As I listened to all their comments I began to wonder what the "older" generation thought of  my generation when we were babies. Did they think we were self centered, immature, out to save the world , give me more more more? I certainly hope they didn't think that, I hope I didn't put forth that type of attitude to them or the public. I made the career choice I did because I love the job. I left the job at 22 yrs then came back after five years because I missed it so much. I have a son who has followed my path, and a daughter who is trying to follow the path I've walked. I hope they don't project the "attitude" my friends felt the new guys have these days. I think we all wonder about the "younger" generation, I've heard my father wonder about me, and he probably still does at times, it's human nature.