JackinDe
October 14th, 2005, 03:36 AM
When I read this article, I got a pit in my stomach. I have a close friend who helps protect us for a local police department in DE. Share it with someone you know in the law enforcement field.
A POLICE OFFICER SPEAKS
(The author of this article was Trooper Mitchell Brown
of the Virginia State Police. More about him at the end
of the article.)
Well, Mr. Citizen, it seems you've figured me out. I
fit neatly into the category where you've placed me. I'm
stereotyped, standardized, characterized, classified,
grouped, and always typical.
Unfortunately, the reverse is true. I can never figure
you out. From birth, you teach your children that I'm the
bogeyman, then you're shocked when they identify with my
traditional enemy ... the criminal! You accuse me of coddling
criminals ... until I catch your kids doing wrong.
You may take an hour for lunch and several coffee breaks
each day, but point me out as a loafer for having one cup. You
pride yourself on your manners, but think nothing of disrupting
my meals with your troubles. You raise Cain with the guy who
cuts you off in traffic, but let me catch you doing the same thing
and I'm picking on you. You know all the traffic laws ... but
you've never gotten a single ticket you deserve.
You shout "foul" if you observe me driving fast to a call, but
raise the roof if I take more than ten seconds to respond to your
complaint. You call it part of my job if someone strikes me, but
call it police brutality if I strike back. You wouldn't think of
telling your dentist how to pull a tooth or your doctor how to
take out an appendix, yet you are always willing to give me pointers on the law. You talk to me in a manner that would get you a bloody nose from anyone else, but expect me to take it without batting an eye.
You yell that something's got to be done to fight crime, but you can't be bothered to get involved. You have no use for me at all, but of course it's OK if I change a flat for your wife, deliver
your child in the back of the patrol car, or perhaps save your
son's life with mouth to mouth breathing, or work many hours
overtime looking for your lost daughter.
So, Mr. Citizen, you can stand there on your soapbox and
rant and rave about the way I do my work, calling me every
name in the book, but never stop to think that your property,
family, or maybe even your life depends on me or one of my
buddies.
Yes, Mr. Citizen, it's me ... the cop!
The author of this article was Trooper Mitchell Brown of
the Virginia State Police. He was killed in the line of duty
two months after writing the article.
As a salute to the millions of police officers who put
their lives on the line for us everyday, please observe a moment of silence for them.
Jack
A POLICE OFFICER SPEAKS
(The author of this article was Trooper Mitchell Brown
of the Virginia State Police. More about him at the end
of the article.)
Well, Mr. Citizen, it seems you've figured me out. I
fit neatly into the category where you've placed me. I'm
stereotyped, standardized, characterized, classified,
grouped, and always typical.
Unfortunately, the reverse is true. I can never figure
you out. From birth, you teach your children that I'm the
bogeyman, then you're shocked when they identify with my
traditional enemy ... the criminal! You accuse me of coddling
criminals ... until I catch your kids doing wrong.
You may take an hour for lunch and several coffee breaks
each day, but point me out as a loafer for having one cup. You
pride yourself on your manners, but think nothing of disrupting
my meals with your troubles. You raise Cain with the guy who
cuts you off in traffic, but let me catch you doing the same thing
and I'm picking on you. You know all the traffic laws ... but
you've never gotten a single ticket you deserve.
You shout "foul" if you observe me driving fast to a call, but
raise the roof if I take more than ten seconds to respond to your
complaint. You call it part of my job if someone strikes me, but
call it police brutality if I strike back. You wouldn't think of
telling your dentist how to pull a tooth or your doctor how to
take out an appendix, yet you are always willing to give me pointers on the law. You talk to me in a manner that would get you a bloody nose from anyone else, but expect me to take it without batting an eye.
You yell that something's got to be done to fight crime, but you can't be bothered to get involved. You have no use for me at all, but of course it's OK if I change a flat for your wife, deliver
your child in the back of the patrol car, or perhaps save your
son's life with mouth to mouth breathing, or work many hours
overtime looking for your lost daughter.
So, Mr. Citizen, you can stand there on your soapbox and
rant and rave about the way I do my work, calling me every
name in the book, but never stop to think that your property,
family, or maybe even your life depends on me or one of my
buddies.
Yes, Mr. Citizen, it's me ... the cop!
The author of this article was Trooper Mitchell Brown of
the Virginia State Police. He was killed in the line of duty
two months after writing the article.
As a salute to the millions of police officers who put
their lives on the line for us everyday, please observe a moment of silence for them.
Jack