WELL, THEY’RE AT IT AGAIN. IN AN ATTEMPT TO DIVERT ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE RECENT POLICE SHOOTINGS AND CONFRONTATION COPS EXPERIENCE, THE POLITICAL CLASS IS ATTEMPTING TO PUT THE INCIDENTS DIRECTLY ON THE BACKS OF POLICE OFFICERS. THAT’S RIGHT, THE COPS ON THE STREET. THE ONES THAT ANSWER THE CALLS FROM THOSE IN NEED. IT MAY BE FROM AN ELDERLY AND ALONE PERSON WHOSE ‘FRIDGE ISN’T WORKING (I’VE HANDLED CALLS LIKE THIS.) MAYBE IT’S SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE SEVERE…LIKE A DECAPITATED INFANT…AND YES, I HANDLED THOSE CALLS TOO.
WITH SOMEWHERE IN THE VICINITY OF ONE MILLION COPS IN THE UNITED STATES AND GOD ONLY KNOWS HOW MANY CALLS FOR SERVICE ARE HANDLED EVERY DAY THERE WILL BE INSTANCES WHERE A POLICE OFFICER WILL BE REQUIRED TO USE SOME FORM OF FORCE. THIS COULD BE VERBAL COMMANDS (YES, MANY DEPARTMENTS CONSIDER THIS A USE OF FORCE.) MAYBE THE SITUATION DEMANDS A STRONGER USE OF FORCE. PEPPER SPRAY, A TASER OR, AS A LAST RESORT, A FIREARM.
AN OFFICER HAS A FRACTION OF A SECOND, IN INTENSE SITUATIONS, TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
ENTER NOW THE POLITICIANS AND POLICY WONKS FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE COUNTRY. OFFERING “EXPERT OPINION”…A LOT OF THESE COME FROM THE CLOISTERED WORLD OF ACADEMIA. MANY DEMAND BETTER TRAINED AND EDUCATED COPS. CLAIMING THAT COPS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO PASS A BACKGROUND CHECK. ALSO ADVISING THAT NO PSYC EXAM OR POLYGRAPH IS REQUIRED.
IT WOULD DO THESE OPINIONATED JERKS A WORLD OF GOOD TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE STATES “POLICE OFFICER STANDARDS AND TRAINING” BUREAUS WITHIN THEIR OWN STATES BUREAUCRACY. THIS DEPARTMENT IS TASKED WITH THE OVER SITE AND MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR LICENSED POLICE OFFICERS IN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE STATE. I RECENTLY SAW A “TALKING HEAD” LAMENTING THE POOR QUALITY OF POLICE OFFICERS IN OHIO. STATING, INCORRECTLY, THAT OFFICERS DID NOT NEED A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION. PUZZLED, I LOOKED AT THE REQUIREMENTS FOR POLICE OFFICERS IN A NUMBER OF CITIES IN OHIO. LARGE AND SMALL. UNLESS I MISSED SOMETHING THEY ALL REQUIRE A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION MANY REQUIRING A COLLEGE DEGREE. ADDITIONALLY, THEY REQUIRE A COMPREHENSIVE BACKGROUND REVIEW INCLUDING A POLYGRAPH EXAM AND A PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAM. HUMMM…. WONDER JUST WHAT IN THE HELL THAT GOOF WAS TALKING ABOUT. MY GUESS IS THAT HE JUST WANTED SOME FACE TIME ON TV. LOOKS GOOD ON A CV.
MORE TRAINING FOR POLICE OFFICERS IS ALWAYS A PLUS. MAYBE DEPARTMENTS NEED TO REVIEW THEIR HIRING PRACTICES. MAYBE SOMEONE SHOULD TEACH OFFICERS HOW TO DEAL WITH AMPED UP PROTESTERS/RIOTERS AND THOSE WACKED OUT OF THEIR GOURD ON ANY NUMBER OF DRUGS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON ALMOST ANY STREET CORNER. MAYBE THE PH.d WHO PONTIFICATED ABOUT UNTRAINED COPS COULD ADDRESS THAT..,.THEN AGAIN, MAYBE NOT.
MY LOVELY BRIDE A I WILL BE OUTTA’ DODGE FOR A FEW DAYS. CHECK IN TUESDAY FOR THE LATEST AND STRAIGHTEST. STAY SAFE!!