spoolinmp3 said:
Also I hate to admit this but most people I work with unfortunatly are assholes. There are a lot good guys but there is a majority that got in it for the wrong reasons such as power trips ect. And this is the wrong reason to be an officer. But then there are guys that are just trying to help out. It is a very sressfull ob. Most of our contact with the public is nagative and people hate us. On top of that Miaimi is busy and overworked and you always are being concerned with liabilty and supervisors hounding you for petty stuff. So yes...............it is a underpaid stressfull job.
sorry for venting rambling here
Dude, it's all good. My relationship with police was typical of a young criminal, e.g. I didnt care for their presence (to put in nicely). And I still feel that there are flaws in the system (like the power-trip cops that you mention). It is unfortunate that one of the most potentially helpful jobs carries such a negative stigma, and even more unfortunate that there are officers who reinforce that negative image through their actions. On the flip side, if I had to put my ass on the line, not get paid for some overtime, and deal with petty s*** all day only to be ripped in the media, i'd be an angry S.O.B. as well.
I watched a breif documentary on police officers and psychological health. In it, they interviewed a veteran, with about 12 years on the force. His exact words were:
"In the first year, you're ready to save the word. By the second year, it's narrowed to your district. By the third, it's your beat only. By the fifth year, your main concern is a clean patrol car."
Cops die (and I hope that you guys live to be 90!!!) in their 50's of heart disease and other stress-related disorders at a much higher rate than the general population. Like four times the normal rate. Some of course live to be a hundred, but all the stress takes its toll. The sheriff father of the girl I dated was in the "clean car" phase. He never talked about his job, he just went out in the morning, stopped by the house to do some dishes and maybe vacuum, then returned home after his shift and picked up a book.
Bottom line is, I understand a lot better now what you guys are going through. You're pretty tough to be able to take all that, I know I couldn't do it. And I dont automatically give cops the finger anymore when I see them (a sophomoric habit when I was a teenager). Hell, I'm about to go WORK for the Indiana State Police in just a couple months.
Good cops, keep up the good work.