Those are part of what I don't like and fear. I became a cop because i wanted to help people. My godfather was a patrolman in Philly and spent many years just patrolling the subway system. Most of his action was helping people who got lost and did not know the city transit system. The cops I grew up knowing the best were the ones who worked the Police Athletics League. They were my heroes and were the coolest guys I knew. It seems silly now, but I went home to visit my mother once when I was around 45 and she gave me a box with papers I had collected, mostly autographs of cops I had known.nightmare69 wrote:I get what you are saying. You don't like the fact that police departments are turning into the national guard with gadgets and toys that James Bond would be proud of. You are afraid that one day the police will come for your guns and you due to all the firepower and equipment they have now it would be suicide to try to resist. You believe that police are using any excuse they can to deploy swat and dress up like army rangers. You think that the police are becoming too powerful and exercising this power too frequently over the citizens they swore to protect. Am I close?
I almost agree with your other statement about police work. It is probably about 75% boredom, not 90% but "routine" calls for reports can be seen as boring to some. I worked hard at not seeing that as boring. Yes, it might have been the fifth burglary report I took that day, but it was more likely the first ever for the victim, and they definitely saw it as an emergency. I can't deny that I did find the code three runs "cool" and thrilling, but my favorite memories of what I did do not involve crimes. The kids I helped are the best. Helping the woman who was lost driving through Luling and spoke no English was cool. I got to use a new translating service the state was trying where I talked on the phone and then the interpreter would repeat it to the woman. The neat part was finding that there was such a difference between Mandarin and Cantonese that we had to switch interpreters. I knew they were different, but that really drove it home. I liked the calls where I knew I was helping someone, event he ones other cops hated (like the older woman who called at three in the morning because her hot water heater was too hot and burned her - I know what she really needed was just someone to talk with for awhile but we did adjust the water heater too).
I have kicked in doors and had those moments of sheer terror. And I will always remember the first time an E.R. doctor told me that my actions had saved the man's life. I will also always remember the worst moments, like the drowning of a five year old girl.
Police work has its ups and downs. And it is still the best job I have ever had or can imagine. But, as others in here have said, always remember that your license and the law say you are a peace officer, not a law enforcement officer. There is a huge difference in attitude, as I am sure you will see when you get out there.
For everyone else, I am sure nightmare69 will turn out to be a good officer. Most of what we are seeing here is the enthusiasm of a cadet/rookie learning a new job. If he was not that way now, especially with the trainers showing this attitude to them, I would be much more worried about his prospects. Give him a little time on the road to get the newness worn off the badge and you will see a change. It is kind of like what Churchill said about being a liberal at twenty and a conservative at 40. Time and experience make a big difference.