No pain...

By Senior Street Survival Seminar Instructor Dave Smith

Here’s a list of “Nevers” posted on the entrance area of my physical therapist’s office. I had my rotator cuff reattached and a bone spur removed and have been going through the rigors of therapy for about three weeks now.

TEN NEVERS IN THERAPY…

1. Never say you can’t, because you’ll do it anyway.
2. Never say “It’s easy”, because we’ll just make it hard.
3. Never say “I want to go home”, because you’ll just stay longer.
4. Never lose count, because you’ll start at one again.
5. Never complain, because we never listen.
6. Never argue, because you’ll never win.
7. Never scream or cry, because it only encourages us.
8. Never look like you’re enjoying it, because we’ll put a stop to it.
9. Never hold your breath, because if you pass out and die, we have to fill out the paperwork.
10. Never lie or cheat, because we know the truth and you’ll live to regret it.

THANK HEAVEN FOR THE MISERY OF THERAPY!

Physical therapists have a daunting task not too distant from ours in law enforcement. We have to inflict pain sometimes to get people to do what is good for them.

Many an alcoholic doesn’t find the strength to change until they find themselves sitting behind us in a transport unit on their way to jail. Too often people think they are helping these folks but are only enabling behaviors that we finally have to give some consequences to. I have always held the theory that criminality is partly the result of not forcing kids to live with consequences, and as a result they live in a short term, immediate gratification world.

I think we should come of with a list of “Nevers” for our “clients!” I invite you to e-mail us some of your favorites to add to the comments below since each of you will have your own personal item that you think citizens and dirtbags should know. I have consistently felt that we need to teach kids in driver’s training how to conduct themselves during a traffic stop, and that civics classes in middle achool should include an understanding of the criminal codes for the State in which the kids reside, as well as how to safely interact with the nice police officer.

How many juvenile offenders have you booked in Juvenile Detention whose parents will be outraged that their sweet little miscreant has been unfairly harassed by the evil crime fighters in their community? I think if we start teaching these things early it will work best, but I am also in favor of public service announcements on TV, radio, and the internet regarding how to behave when stopped or interviewed by a law enforcement officer.

Okay, here are just of few of my “Nevers when dealing with the Police!”

1. Never run from me. My dog likes it, and I’ll just find you again… soon.
2. Never put your hands where I can’t see them… ever!
3. Never touch me, just pretend I am on fire because you will get burned.
4. Never fail to stop when I turn on my lights to pull you over; “World’s Greatest Chases” isn’t a reality show you want to get on.
5. Never argue with me. I am looking for facts not opinion… least of all yours.
6. Never lie to me, I am not one of your parents, and I probably already know more than you think.
7. Never get involved in a police action if you aren’t the complainant, a witness, or a suspect… it usually doesn’t go well.
8. Never tell me you have only had two beers, tell me the truth… we have tests.
9. Never threaten your kids with the police unless, of course, they need to be arrested!
10. Never tell me you didn’t know “that” was against the law; it doesn’t get you off and makes you look even dumber.

These are just some guidelines I thought of while my therapist with the pleasant smile bent my healing shoulder in ways I don’t think it bent even before my surgery! I didn’t complain.

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