BD reflects upon his professional observations concerning recent events.
I was a cop and investigator for around twenty years. Law enforcement goes back in my family for generations and one of my sons is a cop. I understand law and criminal justice better than most.
My grandfather told me three things that stuck with me. First, treat everyone with respect. He said, “You might be the only guy who calls the wino in the gutter, ‘Sir’ and mean it. You’ll be the only man to show him respect all day.” I’ll get to why that’s important in a second. Second, he said, “Walk your beat. Get to know the people. Know where the mean dogs are and where somebody has a clothesline in their back yard.” That advice served me very well over the years. Almost as much as the first thing. The third big thing he said was, “Be honest. Always tell the truth. Always keep a promise. Even little ones, if you tell a guy he can smoke a cigarette while you’re driving him to jail, give him a cigarette.” I don’t smoke but I always kept a pack and lighter in my car.
Showing respect is vital. People notice if you’re a dick. They’ll trust you more and respect you more if you treat them decently. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve arrested have come up spontaneously to apologize later for being stupid and making me use force and arrest them. I got pictures of their kids in my wallet almost twenty years after I’ve quit being a cop.
Getting to know your neighborhood is equally important. Once they get to know you they’ll stop to talk. Kids will want you to kick a ball around or shoot hoops for a minute. People will try and give you all the food and coffee you can hold. I know it goes against the rules of gratuities but don’t refuse coffee (use your judgement on food). Some places it’s an insult and nobody’s trying to bribe you with a cup of coffee. If somebody sells food then that’s different but don’t say no to grandma’s frybread or biscuits.
Be honest, always keep your word. You can use a little deception if you’re trying to get a guy out from under a car, “We’re sending in the dog!” (you don’t have a dog but the drunk has forgotten that). That kind of thing nobody resents later. But if someone asks you something be honest. Saying, “I can’t tell you that either way,” is being honest.
The reason I’m writing this is because I read about these places like Miami and don’t recognize what I used to do. My son works in a small county and the rot hasn’t reached here but when he worked for the state he quit because the prosecutor would simply let the guys he caught go. Or give them a deferred sentence for ‘drug treatment’. Virtually ninety percent of who you actually arrest has some drugs or alcohol problem. It’s why most thieves steal to support their habit or buy smokes or get gas money. Illegals just got deported regardless of the crime.
So he went back to the county and does honest cop work where the prosecutor gives jail time to felons instead of getting them off the books as fast as they can.
My son in law is thinking of becoming a cop. He would be a good one, he’s kind, honest and has integrity. He has the physical and mental abilities as well but they are not as important as character. You cannot teach those things in any classroom. That piece of shit that ran and hid from the gunfire makes me sick. If you’re not brave enough to run towards gunfire find something else to do. If you do the job right it can be as satisfying as any job in the world. But if you’re a corrupt piece of crap covering up crime, you’re a criminal with a badge.
I don’t know what’s going to happen to law enforcement in general but when or if we split into different nations, Calexit, Dixie States, Texas whatever, I predict we’ll see different kinds of cops on each side. The communities will pick the kinds of police they want.