I hope 1* forgives me

[Dale]

1*,

This is primarily for you and I hope you forgive me if you think I have violated any privacy issue or your respect on privacy.

I am ONLY responding this way because I have serious problems using Outlook Express as my mail source (kicks me off line or does so when I try to send and then my e mail is going into la la land, I guess) and some of my private messages through this forum apparantly are not getting to you.

And, I gave you my personal promise I would address the issue today.

Besides, I think what you asked me about can also be addressed my the other members here.....members who understand life and have very important and sound jusdgement and who give a **** about things that are just plain righteous.

But, again, if I am wrong....feel free to say so and I will appoligize, again, publically.

For those forced to look at this let me preface what I am about to say by saying that I appologize to you, too, but I was asked my opinion of what a friend of 1* had about the under appreciative public opinion when it comes to viewing law enforcement personnel.

What I am about to say, in my mind, also applies to members of the military, people in corrections....any posiiton of public trust.

OK, now for my views:

1*, I don't know of any policeman or law enforcement personnel that hasn't ever, at some point, questioned why he or she was in the game. If anyone says they haven't are either lying or they are egomaniacs who are dangerous to themselves and others.

I know I did many times and it usually comes as the result of a personal tragedy I was directly involved in.

I had two Officer friends of mine killed, in the line of duty, in front of my own eyes back in 1973 and 1974.

I had one other close Officer friend commit suicide four years ago.

But, those were not the only times I had to sit and wonder if what I was doing was the right thing.

I've had the chances, many times, to speak to young Officers and ask them why they joined and decided law enforcement was the thing they wanted to do.

It grated me to hear comments like, "I want to carry a gun" or "It's the adrenalin rush" or "(the) protect and serve (crap)", etc.

To me....the reason I joined....was to make a positive impact whether it be for our society or someone's life.

I know that may sound like some crap too but it isn't and it was very important for me. Why?

OK........back during the cold war (1960s) everyone was scared to death of what the world might become.......what other countries would do to us and consequently the American public looked upon the law enforcement types as a form of security.

Back then policeman had a small five square block (or so) beat and everyone in the area knew the cop...by name...family members' names, etc. Heck it was even that cop most would call even if they had a toothache.

It was during that time police were appreciated......respected........admired. They stood for the good things we all wanted in our society.

Then came the early 60s and JFK was murdered and the establishment was suspected of covering it up. J. Edgar Hoover was the ultimate in hypcritical power. Bobby Kennedy was killed. Martin Luther King was killed and soon the public pointed their fingers at the figures of law enforcement going beyond their boundaries.

Then....in the early 70s....and the Viet Name war......., Attica.......Kent State...... continued civil rights struggles......sentiment changed even more drastically towards authority and the police became a cemented part of the 'establishment' in the minds of many Americans and law enforcement suddenly stood for a figures that were 'dark'....feared.......less respected.

By now policemen no longer had that close personal contact with the people in their neighborhoods. Crime was sky rocketing and the need to spead out policemen in cars became a necessity.

Then comes the O. J. Simpson fiasco and, of course the well publicized Rodney King incident. Now cops were to be considered, by many, as an evil and vicious lot.

Because of that public sentiment will always be that the average policeman is impersonal....uncarring.........cold hearted..........lazy.........errogant.....etc.

OK....now my issues.

Somewhere.....some day........you will experience something that will tell you that you have impacted someone's life in a profoundly positive way. THAT IS WHY YOU ARE IN THE GAME!

That's why I was in the game and the reason most true hearted policemen and policewomen are in the game.

Don't worry about remarks that people might make that put a dimmer on your shift.

Ignore the ignorance that many people show when they glare at you.

Forget those that make stupid and off-colored comments that might be challenging your integrity, your values or your professionalism.

1*- you, your friend, or any other policeman have only one person to show your/their conscience to and that's to yourselves, and youselves alone. You don't have to justify anything to anyone.....not even the idiots out there.

Don't let the public arrogance and ignorance influence or bother you......never!

You have to keep focused as to why you are there. You lose that focus and someone is liable to be hurt or killed.

The ones out there that don't understand....don't want to understand.......can't understand.....either has never had a tragedy in their lives or have had one and it turned them bitter and they direct it toward the wrong person.

From what I have seen from you you are true of heart and you care about people. Be proud of that.

Tell your friend to be proud and to wear the badge proudly, also.

Your family is proud of you......they know.

Remember........if you don't violate your position of trust (and I know you never will) you will make a great difference....somewhere.......to someone.....sometime.....and that's a fact.

[colt45]

You tell him Dale,
Sure wish you where around when I hung up the badge and duty holster for the last time.
reading this back in 1998 I might have stayed on the force.

[oneastrix]

Dale, why would I have to forgive you? I feel no form of violation. Thank you for responding.

Your friends were killed before I was even born. That's the difference in time and era here. But nothing's really changed has it?

I, like you have burried a few. There is nothing more painfull. I've been in the game three years, and burried five. Three of which were lost in three minutes.

You do get bitter and hard. You have to. There is no way you can clean a dead child up off the street at an accident scene, and not get hard. It's impossible.

If an officer ever tells you that he has never cried over something he's seen in the line of duty, he's either a boot, or he's lying!

It's a small world, but Colt45 and I have something in common. I work the same beat he used to work.

Hey Colt, come out of the downtown/central station (2160) and head south on south Flores St. You'll find me before you cross HWY90. If you hit Burbank High School you've gone too far!

Thanks Dale........ I'm gonna go 10-42 on this thread now.....

[colt45]

Thanks for the invite.
I may just take you up on that when the snow starts flying up here, still can't get used to that stuff.
does the kangaroo court still searve that skooner of beer and thoes 2" thick staeks? boy I miss thoes.

[oneastrix]

I'm sure they do. Are you familiar with Tommy's Tacos or the Pig Stand? Those are the big cop shops nowadays when on duty....Not much has changed since you left. Monday night football at Hooter's or Crabby Jacks.....

[colt45]

Jacks is still open? we closed them down for serving minors about a dozen times.
tommy's doesn't ring bells but the pig stand does.