The Four Traits that Make a Good Probation Officer
I know that most of us hear the
majority of our close friends and family say that they could never do our job
for one reason or another.
I have had more
than a few tell me, with absolute sincerity, that they would make a probation
officer (or great police officer). I
usually just nod my head and say something like, “oh really?” Never mind the
fact that everyone knows that (your
non-LEO friend) suffers from anxiety and that they have what many
call a slight “anger management”
problem. Then there is that little drug
arrest they think no one knows about, or the two DUI’s after the
divorce. Or, based on their Facebook statuses, they are not exactly Tom
Clancy when it comes to writing.
A lot of people think they can do our job. Some
even think they can do it better. Thanks
to 85% of TV shows being in some way or fashion about law enforcement work,
most think they have a grasp on what the job is like or what it really takes to
do the job. Most of the portrayals of probation
officers or parole officers are not at all positive. More than likely, most folks just lump us in
with police officers. We won’t even get
into the ones that ask why we don’t become cops instead of probation
officers. My experience on the streets and doing probation work have taught
me what traits make the best probation officer.
1. Common sense
Unfortunately, common sense
cannot be learned or taught. You either
have it or you don’t. The PO’s who have
it, know it. And they can recognize it in other cops too. Cops who possess this
trait tend to gravitate towards other cops who have it. The
ones who possess common sense will usually evolve into PO’s who have “street sense.”
PO’s with street sense usually
developed this trait while growing up in less than ideal conditions versus
those who grew up in suburbia that included a community pool with annual beach
vacations. I’m not saying that those PO’s
who went to college right after high school on their parents dime can’t develop
or have the same grit. I’m merely saying that it’s not as common.
The ultimate PO’s
possess both book smarts and street smarts.
A rare combination.
2. Critical thinkers
Just to become a PO requires a person to have above
average intelligence compared to the general population. In reality, you better
be a whole lot smarter than your average Joe.
This is where great PO’s separate themselves from the herd. Your average
PO can quickly analyze a situation and come up with a solution. The great ones can come up with multiple
solutions to a problem while the event is unfolding and pivot quickly as the
situation evolves. This is similar to the great chess player
who can see 3 to 4 moves ahead, even factoring in possible moves from his
opponent. Having only one solution to a problem usually works well in most
professions. Not in probation work.
Especially with
the highly charged political cluster our profession has evolved into. It
used to be easy. Probationer
breaks the law, same probationer goes to jail. But, the times have changed. Now it’s probationer breaks the law, give probationer
other options other than jail. Now we
are encouraged to enforce in that probationer a victim mentality where they
never really gets that they need to take responsibility and they need to fix
it.
I do have to say
that Evidenced Based Practices seek to address and fix this and has a higher
degree of success. But not very many
agencies have gone this direction. It
requires more people with smaller case loads and more resources. It requires changing the way that the
probationer thinks and that is a big barrier.
3. Thick skin
This may be the most important. Anyone
who is trying to excel above the group is usually met with jealousy and
opposition. Many PO’s are perfectly fine
with doing the bare minimum. Living a life of mediocrity. The ones who try to take it to the next level
are usually met with the worst that people can put on them.
To be proactive in law enforcement
means you will anger and even enrage a lot of people. They will play mental
mind games with you in order to break your will. They will try every low down dirty trick to
keep you off your game and even question why you chose this vocation. They will question your manhood (or
womanhood). They will question
your race. Your motives will be questioned.
Really mean things about your mother will be said to your face.
4. Cultured
This is where some disagree. Let me explain about culture. There have been many experts who have held
advanced degrees that have written extensively on the topic of
probation. I have read many of them.
A great PO is one
who can immediately identify with a wide group of people. This can only happen
if they has lived a life that has exposed him or her to different cultures. This includes that they have actually seen
and have experienced different parts of the country. It also helps if they
have been outside of their small town bubble where not everyone
looks or has the same beliefs as him or her.
I know that many
who are reading this may work in small
towns or communities and feel that they have the advantage
because they know everyone. To a certain degree they may be right. In the city where I work, I’m considered a “come here,” meaning, I’m not from
the city where I work.
And that has its
advantages also. I know no one. I favor no
one. All start on the same footing with
me. I’m not related to Fred, the town
dirt bag, who thinks he can call on me every time he doesn’t agree with his PO. I have never worked at the warehouse
distribution center mill in town where the Vice President of Operations
has just been stopped for DUI and has dropped my name. I
have no allegiance to the “from
here’s” who carry on their secret cliques against outsiders.
In short, the
best PO’s have “been around the block” and are not easily swayed by “good
ole boy” politics or intimidated by the local power players.
These, by no means, are all of the traits. Just the top ones in my view. Do you have more to add?
Stay safe!
P. O. Doe
#probation
#probationuncovered
Twitter - @PODoe2015
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Email - probationuncovered@gmail.com
