Walking Away

Your statements are so general that they are wrong.

I'm neither knowledgeable about nor inclined to research practices in 40-some European countries, but since you give no indication which countries you think you're talking about, I'll just give an example I'm familiar with, the largest German state Northrhine-Westphalia.

After selection, you are assigned to the state's civil service college for a three-year combination study time during which you have to get your bachelor in police work, pass all practical police training modules, firearms training, etc., and complete a number of field training experiences. After that you are usually assigned to a readiness platoon for six months or more where you work in larger units under close supervision. After that you are assigned to your permanent duty station where you never patrol alone.

The only way to avoid this three-year course is if you already have completed a law degree. In that case, you can be admitted to a condensed 4-month practical course followed by a 6-month leadership intership, to prepare for higher positions in police administration.



You answer evinces a lack of familiarity with the American process of the last few decades.

In the U.S. the potential recruit attends college for two or three years, (a few agencies now require a four year degree. Most do not) or he does an enlistment in the military, generally three or four years.

THEN he pursues the initial civil service testing, followed by a background investigation, etc. Then he goes to the six month training academy where he has to pass all practical police training modules, firearms, etc. including a number of field training experiences.

Then, upon successful completion, he is assigned to a field training program lasting some months to a year.

Then he's assigned to a permanent duty station, where he is still considered inexperienced and closely supervised and his assignments chosen accordingly. He remains on probation throughout this period, generally around two years, during which time he may be dismissed for any reason.

In effect, the two systems are nearly identical. The only difference is completing the college/enlistment portion pre-hire or post.

Unless you believe that a "bachelors in police work" is of more value to a policeman than a recruit who studies accounting or computers, etc. I can assure you that it is not.

-Or, unless you just think everyone else does everything better than we do.
 
Memphis is desperate for new cops. Its not uncommon for a young person to get hired, get trained, serve just a few years and then start applying for a police job elsewhere. They never really wanted to work there. They just needed a place to start.
I imagine a lot of big cities have the same problem.

I don't blame them at all. That goes for any recruits who have to deal with sinister city officials and higher-ups who are using society's low-life trash to do their dirty work.
As stated before, it's all part of a master plan.. hopefully people are finally understanding why the perpetrators of the big plan want the 2nd Amendment to be gone.
 
You answer evinces a lack of familiarity with the American process of the last few decades.

In the U.S. the potential recruit attends college for two or three years, (a few agencies now require a four year degree. Most do not) or he does an enlistment in the military, generally three or four years.

THEN he pursues the initial civil service testing, followed by a background investigation, etc. Then he goes to the six month training academy where he has to pass all practical police training modules, firearms, etc. including a number of field training experiences.

Then, upon successful completion, he is assigned to a field training program lasting some months to a year.

Then he's assigned to a permanent duty station, where he is still considered inexperienced and closely supervised and his assignments chosen accordingly. He remains on probation throughout this period, generally around two years, during which time he may be dismissed for any reason.

In effect, the two systems are nearly identical. The only difference is completing the college/enlistment portion pre-hire or post.

Unless you believe that a "bachelors in police work" is of more value to a policeman than a recruit who studies accounting or computers, etc. I can assure you that it is not.

-Or, unless you just think everyone else does everything better than we do.

Since you list no location by your forum handle I have no idea what area of the US you base your info on.
But I do know it does not apply to most, if not all smaller departments.

Here is a link that shows the Iowa requirements, nothing like all the high falauting stuff you list as the US "requirements"
Your list sounds like a federal one.

How to Become a Police Officer in Iowa
 
Last edited:
Ματθιας;140798264 said:
Anyone who has grown up in Albuquerque, knows to stay away from APD.

I grew up in Los Angeles. We knew about the LAPD long before anybody had heard of Rodney King.
 
.....-Or, unless you just think everyone else does everything better than we do.

^^^ This seems to be the main bee in your bonnet.

I have no interest in playing topper here. If we have departments that require all you describe, great. I checked out requirements randomly across a half dozen states and found nothing like it anywhere.

Mostly: Showing the equivalent of two years course work (not even a two-year degree) in any "social" field, or two years military, pass the entrance test, academy, and "field training", which seens to mean you are assigned to a training officer buddy and already working as a cop in the wild.
 
Well I can completely understand why they feel that way with the way things are happening over the last ten years and more so today.

At one time, "Most" of our people had respect for law officers but just last week a fire bomb was tossed at a police car by...............

A lawyer and a legal secretary !!
 
I don't want to say how I really feel, the internet would ban me for life.

But the mob is like a child throwing a fit and now we have to accommodate them in any way they want otherwise we are racists, biggots, you name it.

I never had a problem with peaceful protestors.... make your voice heard, absolutely, LEO's walk with the crowd or take a knee for a prayer. This has my support. But this rioting, looting, setting buildings on fire and even the killing of innocent people has NOTHING to do with justice for Mr. Floyd.

I don't care what Floyd did in the past, the knee on the neck is wrong and no one in this country was denying that. Now, all those democrats do is a knee jerk reaction just to please the mob. Giving in to the child that's throwing a fit. Even Chief's laying on the ground, hands behind their back. These people make me sick.

All it takes is common sense. This whole incident don't make no sense and I wish we had a truly independent agency that would investigate.
 
Some people have difficulty distinguishing between protestors and rioters. In DC alone, over the weekend, there were "tens of thousands" of protestors. Of them, and of the protestors throughout the country, what percentage were rioters, do you suppose?

Some people have difficulty in distinguishing between bad cops and the great majority of officers doing a difficult job well. What percentage of cops are bad actors, do you suppose?

I suspect the percentages are similar.

The cops joining the legitimate protestors are doing a great thing, a powerful, healing action, for their communities, for our society. They are saying they are part of the community. They are showing that they are trying to be part of the solution.
 
And a bad cop is a cop kneeling on a handcuffed, helpless man's neck for eight minutes, killing him.

(But, ya also gotta ask yourself, which is the greater abuse of trust, the more heinous act?)
 
Last edited:
I've worked with some of the best over the years....and a few bad actors.

Glad I'm retired.

I don't think badly of those that seek employment elsewhere.

Officers' and their families don't deserve the additional stress.

.
 
Since you list no location by your forum handle I have no idea what area of the US you base your info on.
But I do know it does not apply to most, if not all smaller departments.

Here is a link that shows the Iowa requirements, nothing like all the high falauting stuff you list as the US "requirements"
Your list sounds like a federal one.

How to Become a Police Officer in Iowa

If you read my first answer, you'll see I'm referring to major U.S. departments. My list is neither highfalutin nor federal. My experience is with agencies here, like NYPD, PAPD, MTAPD all 1000+ outifts, then with other guys from Chicago PD, DC Metro PD, etc.

I think I met an Iowa City K9 handler once, but I have no knowledge of what goes on out there.
 
Last edited:
When I went through the police academy in 1969 there was a large sign in the front of the classroom that read "Common sense and good judgement". I don't think that sign is there anymore.
 
When I went through the police academy in 1969 there was a large sign in the front of the classroom that read "Common sense and good judgement". I don't think that sign is there anymore.

Common sense is not as common as it once was.
 
You're missing the point. This isn't only about recent events.
I absolutely agree that this isn't only about recent events. I think no one in the country thinks it is only about recent events. I was giving an especially egregious example of bad police behavior.
 
49985883676_ca59bfc2c7_b.jpg
 
The second department that I retired from was a small high dollar bedroom village near a large city. When we needed to hire replacement officers, which was often, we had to go to what I called "rookie mills" and hire people with absolutely no experience. Most of these officers had been turned down by major departments for one reason or another and they would stay for a year or so and then leave for some other department. With few exceptions they were not any good when we got them and useless when they left. Some were fired for lying on offense reports and making a false reports to other agencies. These actions were not tolerated by our chief.

The point I am making here is background investigations, training and discipline will sort out the bad ones and decent pay and benefits will help retain the good ones. Good people are hard to find and even harder to retain. Fair and knowledgable leadership at all levels is of paramount importance to the rank and file officers.

I thought it was interesting that ICE hired one of our lying officers without ever checking his background with our department.
 
I was burned out when I retired in '97. Part of what drove my decision, after 30 years, was the fear of becoming the flavor of the month in the media. It's not just the officer now, it's also their family & home that become a target. No longer worth it IMHO, and I can't blame anyone for leaving, or others who seek alternative careers.
 
Back
Top