Quite right. After 3 months of road patrol my son realized how much
easier it was to be a cop from the pilot's seat of a helicopter
although, in the end, that turned out to be much more dangerous.
Chuck Norcutt
Andrew Fildes wrote:
> That's becoming the norm here. It says 'high school grad.' but in
> reality, entry is so competitive that you'd need to be exceptional or
> have relatives already in to vouch for you. The training is six
> months, even if you have a degree. The entry process is by exam,
> aptitude testing, interviews and psych evaluation - fairly rigorous.
> It is unusual to find any cadet at the academy younger than 21y.o. and
> many are in their mid-twenties, having spent some time preparing
> themselves to apply.
> However, given all that, ridiculous things still occur. Someone
> pointed out after that dreadful Democratic Convention in Chicago all
> those years ago that the Chicago Police were the best educated force
> in the US. It made little difference. In joining the police you enter
> a brotherhood with a rather suspicious view of the world. Years of
> dealing with the dregs of society conditions you into an 'us and them'
> attitude and every civilian becomes a potential antagonist or
> criminal. It's a two-dimensional view of the world found in many who
> constantly deal with social problems of various kinds.
> Occasionally I speak with an ex-student - smart lad with a good
> university degree and one year into the force. He was never
> politically liberal in sentiment but his world view has become much
> harder and darker. His first posting is a city area where sweeping up
> the whores and addicts is routine. Grim work creates a grim outlook.
> I can laugh at the nose-blowing incident but I can see where it's
> coming from. Older, less well educated officer feeling left behind,
> marginalised, seeks amusement or self-righteous justification by
> becoming officious in the extreme - 'dress'd in a little, brief
> authority.' Wasn't it the UK recently that an officer was punished for
> making 'judgement calls' and deciding to let people off with warnings?
> Perhaps he had that in mind? It's a fine balance between exercising
> the law and applying common sense - not all officers are up to the
> task so simply falling back on the absolute letter of the law is far
> safer.
> Andrew Fildes
> afildes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>
>
> On 30/01/2010, at 3:53 AM, Chuck Norcutt wrote:
>
>> Quite possibly true for many local cops but the New York State Police
>> have much higher standards. Training is 26 weeks and, apart from
>> passing a highly competitive exam, candidates must have a minimum of 2
>> years of college education or 1 year with 2 years of military
>> experience. Many candidates (such as my son did) have a full 4 year
>> undergraduate or even graduate degree.
>
--
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