Editor’s Note: This week’s essay comes from Anonymous. As a rule, I never post anything to PoliceOne under such a byline, and I never accept contributions from anonymous sources, but in this case, the author is a friend of my good friend Dave Smith. A friend of Dave is a friend of mine, so, I will allow this PoliceOne Member to remain anonymous here. In PoliceOne “First Person” essays, our Members and Columnists candidly share their own unique view of the world. This is a platform from which individual officers can share their own personal insights on issues confronting cops today, as well as opinions, observations, and advice on living life behind the thin blue line. If you want to share your own perspective with other P1 Members, simply send us an e-mail with your story.
By Anonymous
Police1 Member
I am an American Police Officer. I’ve been doing this job in one form or another for just over 12 years. When I started I much like a lot of my fellow officers dreamed of the car chases, and foot pursuits and catching bad guys and going out and saving the day. Every day I worked I was excited as I put my blue suit on and strapped on the body armor and the gun belt. As I have worked and grown and matured I have come to realize that the car chases are rare, the foot pursuits are dangerous, and well, we just don’t get to save the day all that often.
But I still go out and do my job because we do make a difference, it is still exciting and we do have a purpose.
I’ve tried to live my life by a code of honor. I have tried to be a good cop, help those who need me, arrest those that need to go to jail. I think of the 700,000 cops in this country it is much the same way. Everyday – whether it’s 100+ degrees outside or -40 with the wind chill – we go out and try to make a difference.
In my 12 years, I’ve seen an attitude change in my fellow officers and myself as well. This change has changed my career less than a calling and more in to a job that pays the bills. My job is dangerous and I accept that. The things that I have to do, write tickets, tell people no, arrest people, are not designed to make me popular, and again I accept that. I accept that my family does not have a father that has weekends and holidays off. That I leave often after dinner and go to work, just to come home to sleep as my family is getting out of bed. I see my family in passing 16 out of every 28 days, and then some as my days off I have to sleep odd hours. I accept the damage to my health that studies have repeatedly shown this type of schedule does to a body. I accept that I may have to lay my life down and my boys will grow up without a father, and my wife will grow old without me. I accept that people will complain about what I do and how I did it, because they have no clue how dangerous my job is.
Recently, with the tragic shootings in Colorado, the mayor of a major city stated that he did not understand why cops in this country are not on strike until more gun control is passed in this country. He said this as he reportedly is thinking about my safety and the safety of police officers across this great country. It is clear to me that he has an agenda and really doesn’t care about the safety of peace officers.
But the Mayor is a big-time politician and as he has brought this idea of trying to keep cops safe, let’s take a look at what would make my job safer.
I say this because it is not the law abiding gun owner that makes my job more dangerous. The things that make my job more dangerous in my opinion are the following:
1.) Politicians who are slashing public safety budgets. Public safety is a huge target for budget cuts as it is very man power intensive and that costs a lot of money. So to manage the budget that the Politicians ruined in the first place they slash public safety budgets. These things include, equipment like ballistic vests, weapons, radios, and squad cars. They lay off support personnel meaning they take officers off the street to handle other tasks. They cut training meaning I do not get to practice with my equipment and or learn new skills. Then they cut cops meaning I am either out of a job, or if I keep my job I am responding to more calls with less back up.
All of these things that make my job harder and more dangerous.
2.) Attorneys who refuse to charge criminals because they might lose a case. Often, prosecutors are elected politicians or work for one and are looking to either remain in office or are seeking higher officer instead of focusing on putting the criminals that we do catch behind bars. It is proven over and over that places that hold criminals accountable with swift and certain punishments have lower crime rates and hence are safer places for everyone, the public and me and my fellow officers.
3.) Judges that do not hold criminals accountable by putting them behind bars. These same judges make rulings that only serve to make my job harder, the criminal’s job easier and the victims...well, it seems not many people care about the victims.
4.) Police Leadership or lack thereof. I have talked to officers all over the country and it is clear that “leadership” in law enforcement is sadly lacking. When officers see their Chiefs sacrificing officers for political expediency officers stand up and take note. Officers hesitate because we don’t want to be next. We choose not to be pro-active but reactive. This allows crime to fester and grow and this only makes my job harder and less safe.
I would also point out that when and where law enforcement has strong leadership, you generally do not have corruption or use of force issues.
Finally I would like to point out that I would never go out on strike. Like I said I try and live my life with a code of honor and do the right thing. I find it despicable but not surprising that a politician would try and not only use a tragic situation to score political points but would also do it on the backs of hard working cops.
Where is your code of honor Mr. Mayor?
I think it is time that cops stand up and say “enough is enough.”
They have attacked our pensions, our pay, and our jobs. They ignore the sacrifices we make to keep people safe. It is high time that this become a national issue.
