I am currently undergoing the process to become a Police Officer. I'm just waiting for the polygraph & psyc' exam. I've done all the other stuff.

At 39 it's a weird thing to do, I suppose. Especially since I make about...well...that's rude...let's just say I pay more in taxes than most upper middle class make in a year.

It is because of the lack of need for money that I'm considering it. Here in Hawaii a recruit comes out making about 50K a year. Not bad for some folks starting out but it is also not a real living wage in Hawaii. The wife would still have to work if you wanted to own a home these days.

My main reason is not power or whatever...I just would like to be a motorcycle cop before I die. Guess growing up watching Ponch and John cruising those KZ900 & KZ1000s did me in. The department is having a hard time finding qualified applicants due toi the shallow pool of talent here. Being ex Military and a bit older, educated and wise(r) than most helped me "get in".

There IS an opportunity to make a difference in people's lives. Since most guys out on patrol are new(er), the public sees the younger guys on a power trip. But ya know, I've seen workers at Blockbuster on a power trip, too. Course they don't carry a gun... Most of the more subdued cops don't even work patrol but do the more intericate duties of police work i.e. detective, Vice, etc.

But to answer Greywolf...could I be a cop? I suppose I could be but I guess it's up to my Academy instructors to tell me if I can or not. I have the correct attitude about the job now but can only base that on looking in from the outside.

 

I see where you are coming from here but their job first and foremost is to protect the public. And inturn they are by doing the "clean up " work. But if a cop pulls over and drunk driver or a high speed chase ends without anyone being hurt, I would say that has NOTHING to do with clean up work. Alot of civilans don't know half of the things cops have done to protect everyone and their families.

No it doesn't help the victims. Everyone cannot afford a personal bodyguard.





Then why do they place such an emphasis on "oaths" No, not every officer is going to take it seriously ( hence the bad apples and shouldn't be's ) but I would guarantee that the majority of them take them VERY seriously. If you don't believe in the oath you are taking then the performance will not be there.

I don't know what the saleries of police agencies are in the States, but up here, you can make very good money being a police officer ( RCMP ). So I guess we can put the salary issue to bed because some are underpaid and some make very good money.

 

Could I be a cop? YES


Now pull over before I shoot you in the tire.

 

Just like anything else, there are good cops, and bad cops. Fact of the matter is, a policeman is in a position of power, and humans have a natural inclination to dominate. Not every cop is on a power trip, but too many are.
As for me, I live out in the country, and crime is more or less zero. There is very little need for a policeman where I am. Also, I would rather carry my own weapon to defend myself than place all reliance on a policeman. Policemen definatly serve a good use, but cant always be there when a crime is commited.

 

I would hope so. Do you disagree with my statement?
From Brookings:
It is in our view no coincidence that violent crime rates were declining during the 1990s when the number of police patrolling U.S. streets was on the rise (shown in Figure 1 by the number of police per 100,000 people), and that the crime drop has stalled as the number of police per capita has declined. The increase in police spending during the 1990s was driven in part by the federal government's new COPS program, which distributed nearly $1 billion in hiring grants to state and local police in each fiscal year from 1995 to 1999. Yet the amount of COPS funding allocated to helping state and local departments hire more police has declined dramatically over the past several years; the total amount of funding allocated for this purpose in 2005 was equal to just $5 million (see: http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/mime/open.pdf?Item=1611).

A funding cut of 99.5 percent for police hiring under COPS would make sense if the program were ineffective or inefficient, but this is not the case. The best available research suggests that putting more police officers on urban streets is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce crime.

 

It may be that way in Canada, but as the link and references, and other links as well, state otherwise for the US.

Most police depts use the term "protect and serve." It is on all the police cars here. Unless the cop is standing at your side when you get held up, he cannot protect you from anything, so the slogans are simple rhetoric, but they do sound good.

For the police to protect you from anything, all the time, would be impossible, that is why it is not a requirement. If it were a requirement, and they did not do their job, they could be held liable. jd

 

In the club forum, it was brought up if there should be a tax to fund the Iraq war.
How about a tax to fund our local police. I am kinda shocked by the #s posted on funding for police, especially after 9/11.

 

?!??? I'm already taxed to fund my local police. It's called Property Tax.

 

I think your taxed to fund the war also. At least I am.

 

So...You want a special *FEDERAL* Tax to pay for local police? That way the property tax you pay can go to vacations for local polititions.

 

Nope! I just thought it was strange how peoples priorities dictate good and evil.

 

I agree with what you are stating here Jim.

 

i beleive the crime drop in the 90's was due to the economy.

america has about 1 cop for every 320 people.

the UK has about 1 cop for every 440 people.

yet the UK has the fraction of the crime, especially violent, that we do here. the police may be a deterrent, but it is obviously not enough of one, and given this year has a record number so far of police killings, i doubt there is any respect for them in the criminal community.

so police yes, they have their job and as with all jobs, there are good and bad ones, but there is a more fundemental problem with crime here, especially considering we are not some backwards, 3rd world country; than having just more police on the streets will solve.

 

UHHH, you might want to stop making general statements. Try being Fleet Marine Force Navy Hospital Corpsman....you do EVERYTHING the grunts do, side by side, you even carry all the same gear, weapons, etc....then add your medical gear.

AND, look into the physical readiness/fitness tests....to score an outstanding when graduating from bootcamp, our standards are more stringent than the army....and that comes from the 1stSgt who I'm nearly related to....he even admits it.

now, the standard, every day Navy guys....well, i guess you can make a general statement about them.

 

well, thats what i was saying, he does NOT have to be in the Fleet Marine Force nor does he have to get outstanding, plus the Navy may have prt than the Army, but it does not have near the impact wear and tear the Army or Marines would have, no 10 mile hikes, obstacle courses, heavy packs or anything like that unless you volunteer for it. i was thinking of more from an impact on his knee, running will not do much, but scaling walls, drops and having a load on will, thats why i mentioned the Navy and Air force for that reason.

i was the prt assistant coordinator for 2 years at my last command, the prt not at all strict to pass. very non impact exercises that i have seen the most unhealthy of people "pass".

the general statement was about passing the physical screening to get in to a service and to pass the boot camp prt, what he wants to do after that is strictly up to him, just letting him know his options may be more open than he thinks and there is nothing wrong with trying!

GO NAVY!