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I climbed into a patrol car for the first time on January 1, 1974, with no pre-service training. Back then, you went to the academy after you proved yourself worthy of the expenditure. There was no field training program either. Instead of an FTO, I was greeted early on by a senior officer who told me, “I don’t want you here, but since you are, keep your mouth shut and your eyes open and you might learn something.”
Law enforcement has since become a professional operation that endeavors to ensure recruits receive formal preservice training, as well as field training. Experienced officers receive top-notch in-service and specialized training throughout their careers.
I would have loved to have access back then to the many informal outlets now available to new and experienced officers to share valuable information and effective tactics designed to keep cops safe and successful. Police1.com is one of those outlets. However, Police1 columnists are not the only writers sharing valuable information and tactics. Experienced officers also share their hard-earned wisdom and insights in the comment section below each article.
Here are a few of the diamonds in the rough shared by some of our readers this year and one fictional sergeant you may have missed:
Deanvoster1 commented on how much an officer needs to practice the skill of drawing:
“Every officer needs to practice drawing from the holster until it is reflexive. I learned from martial arts training that it takes around 80,000 to 100,000 repetitions to become reflexive. Think about all the athletes who spend years practicing, only this practice may save your life.”
Sarge4life commenting on what he believes is behind the rise of school shootings:
“Am I the only one who sees a correlation between the advent of social media and the rise in school shootings? Guns have been common household items since the founding of this country, but school shootings didn’t become a ‘thing’ until the last 18 years. I may be wrong, but it seems to me that the instant infamy may be a significant factor in these kids’ actions.”
Aguderjahn commenting on fear:
“I had a young reserve deputy ask me when leaving a bar full of unfriendly patrons, ‘Aren’t you ever afraid? You go in and take control and don’t even bat an eye.’ I informed him, ‘Yes I am afraid. I just never let them see it or they would be on me like vultures to dead meat. Scared? Yeah! Just don’t show it.’”
Raines667 helps out the California legislature to soften the terminology used to identify criminals:
“A murderer is now a ‘life transition specialist,’ thieves and burglars are ‘collectors of antiquities,’ prostitutes are ‘entertainment specialists,’ pimps are ‘entertainment coordinators.’”
Techops also expanded on the list:
“Let me help with revising some of these out-of-date, crime-related terms for San Francisco":
- Drug Dealer = Undocumented Pharmacist
- Arsonist = Heat Adjustment Specialist
- Prowler = Volunteer Neighborhood Surveyor
- Stalker = Unsolicited Attention Lavisher
- Burglar = Crafty Building Entrant
- Car Thief = Spontaneous Automobile Repurposer
- Robber = Personal Asset Collector
- Murderer = Population Reduction Advocate
- Crime = Alternatively Judged Actions
- Trial = Unwelcome Behavior Review
- Sentence = Grown-up Timeout
JackC commenting on what he learned the hard way about the use of deadly force:
“The only thing I can say about the use of deadly force is that it happens in the blink of an eye, but the effects are lifelong. Even when you made the right decision, and everyone backed you. However, I found that regrets mean I am still human.”
Marcoudj2 commenting on a national security issue, the now-former Chicago’s chief’s decision not to show up at a Presidential visit:
“Before I retired, three Presidents visited my city. I would have taken a bullet for any of them because they were the president of the country I swore an oath to protect. I did not care about their party affiliation. When these Presidents came to our city, it was all hands on deck to protect. If my chief would have opted out because of party affiliation I would have lost all respect for him. To all Chicago officers who go to work on days they don’t feel like it and do jobs they don’t feel like doing in spite of the example set by your chief, you have my deepest respect. Keep fighting the good fight and stay safe, stay strong and stay positive.”
Chopwi, commenting on deadly force decisions, shared a quote by George Orwell:
“People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.”
Sheepdog 232 commenting on the kind of intensity needed for a life or death struggle:
“Fight like a rabid raccoon in a dumpster.”
RetiredMotor Cop commenting on handling tragic calls:
“One thing that kept me going until I was 62 was I turned all the tragic calls and TCs over to God for the follow-up.”
Kdavis commenting on the banning of the blue line flag made this observation:
“Police officers are peacetime soldiers always at war.”
Lognstreet69 concurred, adding:
“I’ve been saying for 20 years that law enforcement patrols the streets of the heaviest armed country in the world.”
Buckwheat60 shared this prayer for honorable gunfighters:
“Lord, make me fast and accurate. Let my aim be true, and my hand faster than those who would seek to destroy me. Grant me victory over my foes and those who wish to do harm to me and mine!”
From Kcron on emotionally prevailing:
“We must talk. Talk to each other, a spouse, a preacher, a counselor. There are things that we go through as law enforcement officers that no one else will ever understand. Whether it is what we see, hear, feel, taste, smell, or what strikes our very soul, we must talk about it. Sometimes it’s after a horrible call, or maybe a tragic mistake, that we need to talk. Maybe, it’s not until years later. But those soul-crushing moments take a toll. Talk, my friends. Stay safe!”
In closing...from the fictional sgtphilEsterhaus on officer safety:
“Be careful out there.”
