A true reflection on the police farce?????

POLICING

FASCINATION STAGE    Years 1 – 4

For most officers, this is their first time outside of the middle class bubble. They have never seen a dead body, never seen life threatening injuries, never dealt with a family disturbance, never witnessed the shit some people call “home life”, and never really understood the phrase “Man’s Inhumanity To Man” until now. Everything is new to them. You can identify them by the amount of fancy new equipment they carry. A ten billion candlelight power torch, pens that write in the rain, a ballistic vest rated to stop tomahawk missiles, and an equipment bag large enough to house a squad of marines. They love it, they show up early for their shift. They work way past the end of their shift without even considering an O/T slip. They believe rank within the job is based only on ability and those in the upper ranks got there by knowledge and skill in police work only. They believe everyone is competent, everyone is on the same page and working towards the same high minded goals. When they finally go home to their significant other, they tell them everything they did and saw. Some of the more “eaten up” purchase a police scanner so they can hear the radio calls while at home.

HOSTILITY STAGE    Years 5 – 6

They now show up for work about 2 minutes before their shift, and they are hiding about 30 minutes before end of the shift, writing reports so they can just throw them in the sergeant’s in-box and leave ASAP. They have to get to their second job to earn money to pay for the divorce that is pending. They gripe about everything, drink excessively, chase women, and hate the public, politicians, media, etc. They feel they have more in common with the hookers, thieves, druggies, etc. but hate them too. Those pens that write in the rain are no longer needed. Writing traffic tickets can be a lot more trouble than they are worth, even on a nice day. To write one, or to write anything while standing in the rain, is a sure sign of an insane person. Their spouse is no longer interested in hearing about all the gore and heartache. They get the “you spend more time with the cops than you do with me” speech.

SUPERIORITY STAGE    Years 7 – 15

This is when cops are at their best. They have survived changes in administration. They know how the political game is played, both inside and outside the job. They know who they can trust and who they can’t. They have select friends within the job, and stay away, as best they can, from the nuts and boot-lickers. They know the legal system, the judges, prosecutors, defence solicitors, etc. They know how to testify and put a good case together. They are usually the ones that the gaffers turn to when there is some clandestine request or sensitive operation that needs to be done right. These cops are still physically fit and can handle themselves on the street. They will stay around the station when needed, but have other commitments, such as a second spouse, a second girlfriend (sometimes both), and most of their friends are non job.

ACCEPTANCE STAGE    Years 16 – ?

Now the cops have a single objective… retirement and pension. Nothing is going to come between them and their monthly payslip. The boss, the force, the idiots around the station, and the creeps on the street can all go to hell, because they could come between them and “sitting on the beach”. There is no topic of discussion that can’t somehow lead back to retirement issues. These guys are usually sergeants, detectives, scenes of crime officers, community, or some other post where they will not be endangered. They especially don’t want some young stupid cop getting them sued, fired, killed, or anything else causing them to lose their “beach time”. They spend a lot of time having coffee, hanging around the station, and looking at brochures of things they want to do in retirement.

RETIREMENT STAGE   

The retired cop usually dies within five years of retirement, saving the force a bunch of money. Of course, nothing is ever 100% true, but if you are a cop, were a cop, know a cop, then you will certainly recognize some of the above statements!!!!

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13 Comments on “A true reflection on the police farce?????”

  1. annette Says:

    I think that may apply to many jobs.
    Doctors, nurses, teachers,and………. checkout s!!!
    I think we all start off eagerly, very eagerly, turning up for work early, leaving late, we are all excited about our new jobs and want to prove ourselves.
    As you say, when we get to over 5 years, we find everything frustrating and we’re running out of steam. We are tired.
    7-15 years we get another burst of ethusiasm, we’ll probably feeling a bit old and want to try to act like we are young again.

    16 years?
    Yep, retirement.
    Before if possible.

    As for the dying, I hope not, not when you have worked hard all your life and needing a nice retirement!!!

  2. Metcountymounty Says:

    I think I moved out of the the hostility stage a year or so ago, thankfully with marriage in one piece, but only just!!! I was having the kitbelt conversation a few weeks ago with one of my friends, the only things I have on mine now are cuffs, baton (which never gets used) CS (which never gets used) gloves in pouch (used all the time) and a field first aid kit which unfortunately gets used all the time too. everything else is pointless really and costs too much!!!

  3. Emma Says:

    That kind of sums up what I have been lead to believe, I have a friend who used to come and see me at 9.30 because where I lived there was no radio contact for some reason….obviously a long time before mobile phones where used..xx

  4. ted Says:

    It all rings true to me.

    I’m at the retirement stage. Under 2 years to go. I’m now in a dayshift/backshift ofice job.

    After 25 years mainly doing all 3 shifts at the sharp end I’ve earned it.
    I miss the buzz of response policing but not the stress or the paperwork.

    I hope to get more than 5 years of retirement though and I’m still on my first marriage.

  5. Plodnomore Says:

    Retired 2 years and am now concerned at the 5 year average lifespan after retirement mentioned above. Never did a full 30 years as I joined after retirement from the Army but was employed on the front line till the day I retired. On my last day, went for a final walk around my patch to say farewell to several people and tidy a couple of things up. Stopped a couple of drivers for using thier mobile phones whilst driving and rather than give them FPNs, used summary justice and gave them the opportunity of writing out 100 lines that in future they would only use a handfree phone when driving . Both accepted that option and duly reported to the Police station before my shift ended with the said lines. The rest of my shift laughed when the word got out, the Sgt smiled and the Insp just shook his head in resignation. It was the SMT where I received the flak on my final interview. Stuff ‘em. Don’t miss the job but miss the people. Now counting down the days and will blog you again in 2 years 9 months and 4 days (if I’m still here).

  6. Metcountymounty Says:

    when I first joined we used to get the weekly news letter from the force and it would have notifications of retired offices who went on to have a chat with the big guy, the best one I saw was a guy who retired in 1960 and passed on in 2001. I sincerely hope I can get to 40 odd years worth of pension drawing but it won’t be for a while yet!!

  7. Jacqui U Says:

    As a spouse (the one and only – that I know of!) of a retired Met Police Officer, let me give you all hope. Some make it beyond 5 years!!

    We retired to the South of France and life is GOOD. Hang in there, and so will you!! Whenever it gets really bad, tell yourself that it will be worth it……


  8. There is another stage – Blogging stage! Gives you another 10 years at least!

  9. cheekyfaces Says:

    I hear that also from some police that I know.the ones fed up with the bullshit and timewasting stuff……great post :o )

  10. Twining Says:

    Southwest, how will I find you in London?

  11. PC Bloggs Says:

    1-4 years…? You clearly don’t work in Blandmore! Here the honeymoon period lasts about twelve months and the hostility 12 years.

    Also, you forgot the DVU stage, when suddenly a job sitting behind a desk risk-assessing victims of arguments becomes more attractive than policing.

  12. Stephen Brown Says:

    Pre-1997 I was the officer commanding Ta Kwu Ling Police Station on the Sino-British Border in Hong Kong. I received a call one day from our public relations people (PPRB) who’d had a request from a European lady asking if she could bring her grandfather to Ta Kwu Ling (TKL) as he used to work there.

    All was duly arranged, including permits to enter the Frontier Closed Area, and the big day arrived. Ten seconds of chat with the Old Boy caused instant panic as we’d expected nothing like it! What we’d prepared was completely insufficient to commemorate THIS visit! The Old Boy was 100 years old and had RETIRED before the Second World War!

    Everyone was hugely impressed and he was an instant hit with everyone in the Station; people were lining up to shake his hand! Venerability is much respected in China, unlike the UK. A very special meal was produced with an alacrity which included all of the favourite dishes the Old Boy had mention in his chats with the Staff, which he tucked into with gusto. A tour of the Border followed, with stops to visit places he remembered. The it was back to the Station for “snacks and brandy”. He left a very happy man, and his grand-daughter was overwhelmed by the hospitality shown to them both.

    It felt really good to help an Old Boy celebrate 50 years on an index-linked pension! He gleefully kept reminding us that he’d taken home more in pension than he’d ever earned!

  13. Just resting... Says:

    Does anyone keep a record of these things? My next door neighbour is well over 90yo. He retired from plodding when he was just over 50. Have to say that this guy has done NOTHING with his life, utterly NOTHING but potter around an allotment occasionally and go for his nightly pint at the Legion Club. You could set your clock by him. But, no new career, no little business interests on the side, no world travel, no part-time volunteering for good causes, no wine, women and song, no nada. It’s life, Jim, but not as we’d choose it to be!


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