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Golf Cart Mafia Consigliere Posts: 3147 **7/11/16 12:07 pm**

I was told a long time ago by a cop who is now one step down from chief of police of a large city, that there is a digression inherent to LE that is hard to avoid. I'll sumarize as best I remember it.

stages
1. Most people are good, there are a few bad guys
2. Most people are bad guys waiting to happen
3. Everyone besides the cops and my friends/family are bad guys
4. Only cops are good guys (this is why cops often end up divorced or with other cops)
5. Only I am a good guy

He may have been wrong, but I never forgot that, especially after he seemingly left phase 3 and married another cop.

If this is even remotely true, it speaks to the kind of constant training and deprogramming that needs to go on to prevent this condition. I am sure it comes from the jading that goes on from encountering people at their worst for years and years.

Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 6385 **7/11/16 5:24 pm**

delete[/img]

As a LEO Chaplain,

Golf Cart Mafia Associate Posts: 2109 **7/11/16 6:21 pm**

I have read the posts, taken mental notes, and can agree with the generalization "there are good cops and there are bad cops."

Unless one is married to member of law enforcement, or have worked with police officers, it is unreasonable for citizens to understand the motivation behind why men and women want to be an officer. Most genuinely want to "protect and serve" the communities they patrol.

I offer the following not so individuals can take them out of context and without full understanding of the complexity of what motivates police officers, but as a brief window into the motivation of men and women who are willing to literally place their lives on the line daily, often for people who have little appreciation for their efforts.

Like other emergency service personnel there are a variety of personality types that motivate the officer including:

Any one or more may fit the LEO, and it should be noted what makes a cop a good cop does not make a good spouse or parent, and herein lies the reason for high divorce rates.

Most are driven by internal motivations, generally possess a high tolerance for stress, and anxiety.

National rankings of stressful jobs does not place the LEO at the top of the list of most stressful jobs. Yet, law enforcement stress is unique for two reasons. One, while almost any single stressor can be found in another occupation, law enforcement stress involves all the different stressors in one job.

Two, law enforcement stress is different in that the law enforcement officer can experience "burst" stress. In a normal stress situation in other occupations, the stress building factors can be reduced for adapted prior to getting out of control. Law enforcement stress, however, moves the officer in many cases from complete calm into high activity and pressure in one "burst."

Police officers often do not have the luxury of entering a controlled situation. They are often reacting to problems rather than preventing them. When the officer arrives people expect them to take control of out of control situations.

Unfortunately, LEO stress goes untreated and with tragic results. As stated, divorce rates are above average, feeble coping tools are employed and the most devastating result is suicide among their ranks.

Just a few stress triggers include:

Add to these issues the inherent danger with their profession, inability to resolve community problems, witness of human suffering, critical incidents (mass shootings, child abuse, mass disaster, homicides, spousal abuse, etc.)
and you can begin to understand the load these men and women carry.

So, why do they do it? Admittedly, some strap on the gun and don the badge for the wrong reasons. Others, a vast majority, do so because they want to protect and serve the community they serve, to insure the oppressed are protected, and to insure everyone's rights are preserved.

At the end of the day, however, their number one goal is to return to their families alive.
_________________
God-Honoring
Christ-Centered
Bible-Based
Spirit-Led
(This is how I want to be)

Last edited by Cojak on 7/11/16 8:28 pm; edited 1 time in total

Acts Enthusiast Posts: 1865 **7/11/16 7:51 pm**

Lol I meant to say "personality profile ". Thank you autocorrect !! Smile

01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24285 **7/11/16 8:29 pm**

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 14803 **7/11/16 9:08 pm**

01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24285 **7/11/16 9:34 pm**

Cojak, Da Sheik:

Golf Cart Mafia Associate Posts: 2109 **7/12/16 8:00 am**

How does this sound for personality profile of cops?

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 14803 **7/12/16 8:48 am**

"Compared to the general population cops tend to be:

Pragmatic

Isolative

Prejudice

Conservative

Suspicious

Cynical

Assertive

Action oriented"

It's not just that it's one personality TRAIT, but a majority of cops fit a personality PROFILE. They may have different motivations for wanting to become a cop, but tend to be of generally a similar personality profile.

I don't know if this trait fits under "suspicious," but the one thing I've noticed about them (in general) is that any sort of irregularity in their environment triggers their suspicions and they may have a hard time finding a benign reason for any irregularity even if the reason IS benign. And that's just my own generalization and stereotype based on anecdotal evidence.
That said, the cop that slapped my wrist had a different personality from any other cop I've encountered.

Member Posts: 34 **7/13/16 6:23 am**

Thankfully, I have never experienced a bad encounter with an LEO. They do have a thankless job and the majority of them do outstanding work!

Bonnie,

Golf Cart Mafia Associate Posts: 2109 **7/13/16 8:00 am**

My involvement with LE sees a difference between traits an officers must possess if he or she can do their job effectively and what officers might become after the experiences they encounter:

Officers are often pragmatic, but often have to "think outside the box" to resolve some issues.

While some officers are loners, they become isolated the moment they put on a uniform and a badge. Automatically they stand apart from others, their uniforms and badges isolate them. Many are personable but are only as standoffish as the public perception makes them.

I see LEOs generally as conservative because they take an oath to uphold and support the Constitution.

Suspicious - they have to be suspicious in order to recognize the inherent dangers or issues most are not trained to see or understand.

If they become cynical it doesn't mean they begin that way but when they encounter so many insincere people who will lie without batting an eye, yes the can be cynical.

Biased but not prejudiced - in most cases. LEOs are trained to be biased - they must see things through laws and ordinances as a basis for their actions. While there are some who are prejudiced, most to those I've come in contact with (here in Alabama) are not prejudiced and only profile criminals.

Assertive - it they want to survive they had better be assertive. IN the day we live there are no routine stops. Every car pulled over, every response to a call holds potential for danger. If they enter a volatile or potentially volatile incident they must be assertive or they may not go home at end of shift.

Action oriented I like to refer to as proactive. Most, not all LEOs, like military, run to the fire while others run away. Shots fired, others hunker down and hide, the LEO searches to neutralize the threat to protect others.

Final thought, and this in light of my other post, when an officer approaches you and it appears he or she has an attitude, you don't know if he has just left a wreck scene with multiple injuries or deaths, walked away from an arrest of tragic domestic violence, or just been cussed by a belligerent who resisted arrest.

I encourage everyone, if the local department allows civilian ride-alongs, take the opportunity - especially if it's night patrol (But, don't be offended by what you might see or hear, don't be afraid of high rate of speeds and loud noises, and always do exactly what the officer tells you to do or not do).
_________________
God-Honoring
Christ-Centered
Bible-Based
Spirit-Led
(This is how I want to be)

Re: Bonnie,

Golf Cart Mafia Consigliere Posts: 3147 **7/13/16 8:39 am**

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 14803 **7/13/16 9:22 am**

I can appreciate that prior experiences might give a cop a bad attitude. Having a cop steal $20 out of my car gave me a bad attitude.

Another thing I've noticed about the local deputies. Twice when they were in our neighborhood (once in response to a young man in the neighborhood vandalizing my property and once when my neighbor called them about the riffraff that was coming in to play ball in the street with another neighbor), the deputies prided themselves on "scaring" the young men in question. I wasn't impressed with that attitude at all.

Re: Cojak, Da Sheik:

01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24285 **7/13/16 6:29 pm**