I was a police officer for five years in Georgia (2014-2019). It’s hard to put into words how hard this article hits home, to sort through the impact the job had on my family and me, and to know the continued impact it has on a dwindling number of friends who have stayed the course and remained on the job.
I was a police officer for five years in Georgia (2014-2019). It’s hard to put into words how hard this article hits home, to sort through the impact the job had on my family and me, and to know the continued impact it has on a dwindling number of friends who have stayed the course and remained on the job.
I see a two-fold problem with policing as we know it. For decades now, we have come to expect more and more of our LEOs. We needed a mental health expert, we needed a marriage counselor, we needed a swat sniper, we someone who knew how to talk to kids who had been traumatized, etc. I could dwell forever on all that was and is expected of a good law enforcement officer. We demanded perfection, and anything less was insufficient. What’s more, we demanded it on a budget.
Enter into this already untenable scenario a very vocal and influential element of society that think everything America traditionally stood for was vile and racist. Taken to its extreme end, this philosophy sees the Constitution itself as garbage. Since our laws (and therefore law enforcement) are beholden to that document, law enforcement became the de-facto enemy and required defunding. The only trouble was (and as mentioned in the closing part of the article) no one thought about the cans the rest of the world had been kicking down to local police station for years. Just defund the police. No one considered the folks who might actually need or want the police to be around, or what might happen if the machinery came grinding to a premature halt. Defund. That was the refrain I heard. That was the refrain that thousands of experienced and disheartened officers across the nation felt when they turned in that badge they’d worn with so much pride.
We are seeing the results of this dolly now. I believe it is too late for some cities. An agency can replace bodies, but when a department has people with combined experience equal to several hundred years flowing out the door, there is no salve for that.
It is early, and I am rambling, but I am reminded of what my first Sergeant (a better leader and man I have not found) told me when I called to tell him I was thinking about hanging it up: he said emphatically, “if we don’t have good people in policing, we are doomed.” By we,” he meant all of us.
I know you are proud to be the mother of someone who helps other people out every single day. Sounds like you did a good job as a parent. You and your child have my thanks and respect.
Well said. Did you know that criminal law started with seven crimes? Admittedly that was long ago but IMO part of the problem is the burgeoning list of crimes.
Yup- tough sledding for a law & order liberal these days. I knew people would come to their senses but a lot of bad happened, and a lot of good cops left, in the interim.
I was a police officer for five years in Georgia (2014-2019). It’s hard to put into words how hard this article hits home, to sort through the impact the job had on my family and me, and to know the continued impact it has on a dwindling number of friends who have stayed the course and remained on the job.
I see a two-fold problem with policing as we know it. For decades now, we have come to expect more and more of our LEOs. We needed a mental health expert, we needed a marriage counselor, we needed a swat sniper, we someone who knew how to talk to kids who had been traumatized, etc. I could dwell forever on all that was and is expected of a good law enforcement officer. We demanded perfection, and anything less was insufficient. What’s more, we demanded it on a budget.
Enter into this already untenable scenario a very vocal and influential element of society that think everything America traditionally stood for was vile and racist. Taken to its extreme end, this philosophy sees the Constitution itself as garbage. Since our laws (and therefore law enforcement) are beholden to that document, law enforcement became the de-facto enemy and required defunding. The only trouble was (and as mentioned in the closing part of the article) no one thought about the cans the rest of the world had been kicking down to local police station for years. Just defund the police. No one considered the folks who might actually need or want the police to be around, or what might happen if the machinery came grinding to a premature halt. Defund. That was the refrain I heard. That was the refrain that thousands of experienced and disheartened officers across the nation felt when they turned in that badge they’d worn with so much pride.
We are seeing the results of this dolly now. I believe it is too late for some cities. An agency can replace bodies, but when a department has people with combined experience equal to several hundred years flowing out the door, there is no salve for that.
It is early, and I am rambling, but I am reminded of what my first Sergeant (a better leader and man I have not found) told me when I called to tell him I was thinking about hanging it up: he said emphatically, “if we don’t have good people in policing, we are doomed.” By we,” he meant all of us.
Thank you for your service.
I am the mother of a Police Officer. You stated it very well. I truly appreciate your comment. Thank you, for your efforts on the job.
I know you are proud to be the mother of someone who helps other people out every single day. Sounds like you did a good job as a parent. You and your child have my thanks and respect.
Thank you, very much. Truly.
Well said. Did you know that criminal law started with seven crimes? Admittedly that was long ago but IMO part of the problem is the burgeoning list of crimes.
I do not disagree. It’s a shame we do not judge legislators by how many laws they do NOT pass.
Thanks for your service
Wonderful comment; I couldn't agree more
Yup- tough sledding for a law & order liberal these days. I knew people would come to their senses but a lot of bad happened, and a lot of good cops left, in the interim.