From
PoliceOne.com
I was recently asked, “What have you learned as a police officer about life and society that most people don’t know or underestimate?”
Here is my reply...
1.) One of the things my upbringing did not prepare me for was the complete lack of civility that some people have. I didn’t think of myself as having been sheltered from evil as a child, but I did not learn that some people have absolutely no regard for the welfare of anyone but themselves, and lash out at anyone who tries to make them aware they are not the only people on the planet.
I was recently asked, “What have you learned as a police officer about life and society that most people don’t know or underestimate?”
Here is my reply...
1.) One of the things my upbringing did not prepare me for was the complete lack of civility that some people have. I didn’t think of myself as having been sheltered from evil as a child, but I did not learn that some people have absolutely no regard for the welfare of anyone but themselves, and lash out at anyone who tries to make them aware they are not the only people on the planet.
If you haven't seen this with people you supervise, or their families, you've been very lucky. There is a strong sense of entitlement that seems to feed this.
2. ) Everyone has a “hot button.” Calm and even-tempered as you might be, there is some topic that will set you off, especially if it’s referenced to you personally. It might be your height, your weight, your sexuality, your education, how much money you have, your mom, whatever. Rational people can become maniacs if someone pushes their buttons.
Get to know what this is, if you haven't already. Be prepared for it and hold your temper. You must act as if you are always being recorded, because you probably are. Go to the field with someone who knows you and can help step in if you need to walk away and collect yourself. And by all means, don't be the person who tries to find these buttons in the people they supervise. You will end up getting hurt or getting someone else hurt.
3.) Although they may not know it, there are people who find these hot buttons instinctively, and they live to push them.
And the drama swarms around them. Recognize this and develop a plan ahead of time to deal with it. It may just be that you need to terminate the appointment until they can collect themselves and behave appropriately. If it continues, provide the court with that information in your progress report or revocation petition.
4.) Never underestimate what people will do for sex, money, and/or power. That applies to everyone, from the basest criminal to the most saint-like person you know.
I just posted an article about a probation officer who was convicted of sexual assaulting someone he supervised. And how many of us know one (or more) people that have been walked out of the job for something related to sex, money or power?
5.) People can be sexually aroused by almost anything. There are practices people engage in for sexual reasons that you will find baffling and utterly disgusting. You can gain some limited insight here by going to a reasonably-well-stocked adult bookstore and examining the diversity of the materials. If your thing is watching overweight Asian women give each other enemas, there are not just other people who enjoy the same thing, there is probably a regular magazine and series of videos devoted to it.
Or take a look (not at work!!) at any internet porn site. Peoples paraphilia's are diverse and amazing. This includes the people that we work with...
6.) No matter how bizarre you find other folks’ sexual preferences, you have to be at peace with knowing that what consenting adults do in private is their business alone. If they decide to take it public or engage people who either don’t consent or are too young to do so, you can get involved.
Be prepared to encounter some of the oddest things during your probation searches and always wear gloves! And if you are supervising a sex offender case load or doing some of the heavy duty presentence reports, you will have to read about some pretty horrendous things. Don't take it home with you.
7.) Law enforcement is a very stressful occupation, but most of the stress comes from the political interactions and power games within each law enforcement agency. The stuff on the street can be stressful, but you learn to deal with that quickly or you get out. About half of the people who become law enforcement officers leave before they have five years on the job. Some get fired for unsuitability, incompetence, or misconduct, but others find out it’s just not for them.
You do see this with Probation Officers also. And how many of us work for an organization that is rift with political games, favoritism, etc? Especially if they make it clear through actions that they won't back you up if you are accused of wrongdoing...
8.) High-speed chases look like fun because they are.
Most Probation Officers will never engage in this. There are some that work in specialized units that will and I have heard that it is a blast!
9.) Once you become a cop, very few of your non-cop friends will ever again treat you the same way. You will be introduced by your profession for the rest of your life. People are never going to be comfortable with the group charged with detecting and making them accountable for their bad conduct.
People will not differentiate a Probation Officer with a Police Officer when it comes to this. You will soon discover who your true friends are. And they must also be okay with how the job changes you over the years.
10.) Many criminals can be reformed, and eventually do come to the point in their lives that a criminal lifestyle is more trouble than it’s worth to them. Unfortunately, by the time some of them do that, they have incurred a prison sentence that will keep them behind bars until they die.
Either the light comes on due to something happening, like going to adult jail for the first time, or they just get old enough to understand that it just isn't worth it. It is a rewarding part of your job helping and guiding them to come to that realization.
11.) Criminals who do not fit into the above category are mostly predators, and should be locked up permanently.
You will have them on your caseload. Learn to recognize them and trust your instincts. A part of our job is protecting the community, not just trying to rehabilitate people. Their actions will guide yours and you must hold them accountable.
12.) Never say, “Now I’ve seen it all.” There will always be innovators.
This is so true. Whether it be new criminal conduct or the excuse of the month, there is always creativity!
13.) Take away alcohol and stupid, and the world would require about 90 percent fewer cops.
Add in drugs and the percentage goes even higher with the people on our case loads. The ones that don't do the drugs, alcohol or stupid are likely part of item 11 above.
Be safe!!
P. O. Doe
#probation
#probationuncovered
Twitter - @PODoe2015
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Email - probationuncovered@gmail.com
