Now hiring
So you want to be a police officer. You know, wear a big badge, carry a gun, order people around, and drive a high powered car. Wow! Sounds good, but wait a minute. There’s a little bit more. Facebook recently published an ad (by a chaplain) that advertises for new police officers. The ad goes like this:
Now hiring
Seeking an individual who understands the following (and doesn’t really care too much):
Work twelve-hour shifts, sometimes with no breaks
Get yelled at by people who called you for help
Work on 4-6 hours of sleep
Miss family gatherings, birthdays, and holidays
Get paid an unreasonable salary for the things you see
Routine court appearances on your day off
See, smell, and move dead people
Hide emotions in scenarios you couldn’t ever imagine
Possibility of being injured or dying, or being exposed to coronavirus
Potentially be killed for no reason in an ambush
Physically struggle with violent criminals
Work tons of overtime in a profession that is understaffed
Have your body worn to the point you can barely walk
Have crazy thoughts you can’t make stop
And much, much, much more … like … Much more, seriously
If you’re interested, please apply at your local police agency.
Yes, I’ve overstated the situation, at least a bit. But being a law enforcement officer these days in not exactly a “walk in the park.” It used to be that media commentators declared, “There go our finest.” Today, they are more likely to document police activities, and say, “It looks like the police have gone too far again.” Respect disappears in the face of litigation.
Consider the police officers working a serious accident on a major highway, listening to the honking of horns and hearing the disgruntled drivers upset because the road is blocked and the fact that they might not get home in time for supper.
Consider the police officer who had to work a crime scene where someone was killed and a lot of blood was scattered everywhere. They want to go home to the comfort and security of a family life, but when they share their experience with a spouse or significant other, the response is not supportive; instead, the suggestion is made that you’re in the wrong profession. I personally have ministered to law enforcement personnel who have had a great deal of difficulty handling these situations, and I can attest it’s real.
Consider the emotional shock and enormous stress that occurs when a police officer is killed in the line-of-duty, and the thoughts that it could have been me clouds the minds of the other officers.
Consider the hundreds of laws and regulations police officers have to remember. When they remember them all, it is routine; but if they mess up even one, it goes against them even when they say, “I’m sorry.”
Give a cop a break! They’re human beings, too, and most of them simply want to help you stay safe and enjoy a good life.