Posted: 12/1/2005 4:44:14 AM EDT
So how did you do man?
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| I passed fine, it was almost too easy! There were about 12 people and we all passed. They are only hiring 2 officers, hopefully I appeal to what they are looking for. The city is still a bit country and I'm well, from Hiawasse..so I'm a country boy! I would really love to work for them. Next week we hit the range to see how we do with the Glock 22 .40 caliber |
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Allow me to editorialize, and this is NOT DIRECTED TO JACE as an individual, it is directed squarely at how WE hire Peace Officers.... See, JACE is having to demonstrate qualification with a duty sidearm PRIOR to being hired because the Government is going to invest a great deal of money in his training, and failure to qualify means that you are automatically kicked out of the Police Academy class, which means the Government has essentially wasted whatever they have paid up until that point...a very valid technique to preserve taxpayer dollars.... BUT, and here is my rant.....qualification is test taking, it has nothing whatsoever to do with survival, tactics, yada yada yada....it is a rather simple muscle memory, hand eye coordination skill where 80% is passing....(as I have wirtten here before, 8 out of 10 shots have to hit the target, or 2 out of 10 don't) What costs more cops careers is their inability to deal effectively with stressful situations that there is no solution too. The insults, the street wise tought guys who get you do respond stupidly to their mouth, or their actions, and POOF, you are gone, your career is over. The solution to every probloem a cop encounters is NOT handcuffs, in fact, I submit to you that MOST people we encounter are victims, not suspects........so why talk to them like they are suspects????? Firearms qualification should be a test, but the REAL test is the patrol officers ability to comport himself as a professional in the face of insulting, terrifying, unprofessional words and actions. That ability seperates the men and women who survive this career with their lives reasonably intact....from those who act like they are victims of a system "out to get them". The truth is that everyone can't do it..and a review of Peace Officer disciplinary acts taken by the State support my conclusion..... Jace, if you are reading this...keep your sense of humor, stay alert, and treat folks and talk to folks just like you would want to be treated and talked to....... I can write for hours about this, but I have to go back to work now..... |
| Thank you lefthanded for the good advice. I will remember what you've said. My uncle seems to have the same advice and he's been my mentor so far during my process. Like I said earlier it seems that the process has been long and hard but I've known since I was little that law enforcement is where I need and want to be, so it will be worth it in the end. |
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After 30 + year of service my Father retired from a large Metro County PD about 10 years ago and he summed it up best. It's a job, nothing more, nothing less. You'll never save the world and you are a fool to try. Put in a good day and make it home safe. He would also say all those people you ticket are some body's Mother, Father, child, brother, sisters etc. Treat them as you would like your Mother, Father etc treated. That was his philosophy regarding LEO work. TD |
Too bad there are not too many like that now! Most of em now seem like that have this Holier than thou attitude and wonder why people hate em, Its because the majority has ruined it for the minority!
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Damn, sounds like my philosophy. |
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It's a thankless job for the most part and IMHO very few people are cut out for the job. I was approached by the Chief of my Dad's PD several times asking me if I wanted a job. I politely declined each time. It's not my cup-o-tea. There are several old time LEO's in my Mason lodge that share my Father's philosophy, but today's young guns scare the shit out of me. Several times I've been pulled over or been with somebody that was and you can see the fear in these young gun's faces when they approach the car with their hand of their weapon. Believe me when I say I'm much more frightened by them than they should be regarding me. A frightened man with his hand on a gun is nothing to mess with. Edit to add: You can lump all rookies and younger LEO's in this catagory, but I'm sad to say it makes up a large percentage of them. TD |