Constable On Patrol — C.O.P.

Posted by ERUDIO in Law Enforcement on Oct 29th, 2009

He remembers his first gunfight and his panic attack and the shotgun malfunctioning.

If there were no police officer it would be necessary to invent one.--- Erudio, with apologies to Voltaire

The slow motion agony of it. He was a newbie big city cop. On the street in a black-and-white, six weeks, a green rookie. His sergeant riding with him. Training Day.

They got the “Officer Down!” call and the sergeant said nothing, hit the lights and cut through the streets at pursuit speed. Riding to the scene, his mind raced through the scenarios of his training routines. The noise of his heart was hammering in his ears, louder than the cruiser’s whooper.

The car skidding to a stop. Other black-and-whites already there. (To this day, he still just cannot remember grabbing the 870 pumpgun from the cruiser’s console rack.)

Jumping out. A cool spring morning. Breath foggy in front of faces. Hoarse voices, fear, determination, anger.

He vividly remembers the bright red blood trail on the yellow grass between the houses. And the first two victims lying dead with people around them. And the other cops hunting among the houses. Then the gunfire from somewhere to his left. Rapid double-tap pistol fire and the hollow BOOMs of shotguns.

He was alone, crouched, realizing his hands held the shotgun, hearing everything magnified, the colors so vivid, coming up behind a house.

Seeing the shape of a man with a gun firing at other officers ducking behind a line of cars.

He remembers his panic attack. Lifting the shotgun, seeing the bead drop into the channel, the man shape on the bead, the terrible effort of pulling the trigger. At first it felt stuck. Finally, the liquid jolt, the recoil of the 12-gauge. The BOOM hardly heard at all.

The man shape not moving, (how could I have missed at this range?), the man shape no longer firing at the other cops.

The shape turning to aim at him now. Muzzle flash straight at him. Remembering a rock fight with some kids when he was little and the WHACK of rocks on his chest.

Nothing working right. Hands numb, like thick gloves. Trying to pump the shotgun slide but everything so slow, stupid, dreamlike, sluggish, then lining up the bead on the shape and firing the second load of buckshot, BOOM, the recoil numb and unfelt, (knowing the bead was on the perp, the man shape firing, the third pump of the shotgun slower than the second, the panic attack making everything almost impossible), and the shotgun lurching again, BOOM,

And now at last, slowly, the man shape falling, ever so slowly falling forward as if through molasses… then finally down and no longer firing.

Chest aching. He wondered if he was hit. Couldn’t feel anything. Wait. A slug in his vest, no, two, right over his heart. Trying to breathe, gasping for air. The stubborn shotgun hanging from one arm, muzzle smoking.

And the sergeant and other cops gathering around you, their eyes shining, and the sergeant saying, “He had the angle, had us cold from where he was.”

You saying, “Something’s wrong with the shotgun, couldn’t, couldn’t pump the slide…”

“What? I never saw anybody pump an 870 that fast in my life! It sounded like an automatic! You saved our collective ass!”

A story from another old friend of mine. Erudio has been fortunate in a wealth of friends.

Since that fight many years ago, that friend has served the public with honors, became a training officer himself, and distinguished himself in many ways.

Years later, he was decorated at the White House by a serving president, for valor in saving the life of a child— at the certain grave risk of his own.

His willingness to serve, and his college degree in Sociology, both prepared him for the most important work that he has done, reacting to the wide range of social issues that daily confront any good law officer.

Cop car

Police work is highly dangerous and brutally stressful.

People depend on police officers and detectives to protect their lives and property. Our imperfect society requires their vigilance. On, or off-duty.

Education requirements range from a high school diploma to a college degree or higher. A degree helps prepare an officer for promotion.

Job opportunities in most local police departments will be excellent for qualified individuals, while competition is expected for jobs in State and Federal agencies. Applicants with college training in police science or military police experience will have the best opportunities.

Uniformed police officers have general law enforcement duties, including maintaining regular patrols and responding to calls for service. Much of their time is spent responding to calls and doing paperwork. They may direct traffic at the scene of an accident, investigate a burglary, or give first aid to an accident victim. In large police departments, officers usually are assigned to a specific type of duty.

Many urban police agencies are involved in community policing—a practice in which an officer builds relationships with the citizens of local neighborhoods and mobilizes the public to help fight crime.

Police agencies are usually organized into geographic districts, with uniformed officers assigned to patrol a specific area such as part of the business district or outlying residential neighborhoods. Officers may work alone, but in large agencies, they often patrol with a partner.

While on patrol, officers attempt to become thoroughly familiar with their patrol area and remain alert for anything unusual. Suspicious circumstances and hazards to public safety are investigated or noted, and officers are dispatched to individual calls for assistance within their district. During their shift, they may identify, pursue, and arrest suspected criminals; resolve problems within the community; and enforce traffic laws.

Some agencies have special geographic jurisdictions and enforcement responsibilities. Public college and university police forces, public school district police, and agencies serving transportation systems and facilities are examples. Most law enforcement workers in special agencies are uniformed officers; a smaller number are investigators.

Some police officers specialize in a particular field, such as chemical and microscopic analysis, training and firearms instruction, or handwriting and fingerprint identification. Others work with special units, such as horseback, bicycle, motorcycle, or harbor patrol; canine corps; special weapons and tactics (SWAT); or emergency response teams. A few local and special law enforcement officers primarily perform jail-related duties or work in courts.

Male cop in a cop car.

Sheriffs and deputy sheriffs enforce the law on the county level. Sheriffs are usually elected to their posts and perform duties similar to those of a local or county police chief. Sheriffs’ departments tend to be relatively small, most having fewer than 50 sworn officers. Deputy sheriffs have law enforcement duties similar to those of officers in urban police departments. Police and sheriffs’ deputies who provide security in city and county courts are sometimes called bailiffs.

State police officers, sometimes called State troopers or highway patrol officers, arrest criminals Statewide and patrol highways to enforce motor vehicle laws and regulations. State police officers often issue traffic citations to motorists. At the scene of accidents, they may direct traffic, give first aid, and call for emergency equipment. They also write reports used to determine the cause of the accident. State police officers are frequently called upon to render assistance to other law enforcement agencies, especially those in rural areas or small towns.

State law enforcement agencies operate in every State except Hawaii. Most full-time sworn personnel are uniformed officers who regularly patrol and respond to calls for service. Others work as investigators, perform court-related duties, or carry out administrative or other assignments.

In addition to the common benefits—paid vacation, sick leave, and medical and life insurance—most police and sheriffs’ departments provide officers with special allowances for Police and detectives maintain law and order, collect evidence and information, and conduct investigations and surveillance.

Workers in related occupations include correctional officers, private detectives and investigators, probation officers and correctional treatment specialists, and security guards and gaming surveillance officers.

Most police and detectives build upon their formal education and learn much of what they need to know on the job, often in their agency’s police academy. Civil service regulations govern the appointment of police and detectives in most States, large municipalities, and special police agencies, as well as in many smaller jurisdictions. (Candidates must be U.S. citizens, usually at least 20 years old, and must meet rigorous physical and personal qualifications.)

community cop

Most departments require 1 or 2 years of college coursework. In some departments, a college degree is required. Law enforcement agencies encourage applicants to take courses or training related to law enforcement subjects after high school.

There will be competition for positions in law enforcement. Many entry-level applicants for police jobs have completed some formal postsecondary education. A very significant number are college graduates. You will be competing with them.

Prepare yourself well. Many junior colleges, colleges, and universities offer programs in law enforcement or administration of justice.

And give yourself a physical edge as well. Physical education classes (and participating in sports) are also helpful in developing the competitiveness, stamina, and agility needed for many law enforcement positions.

Another boost you can obtain from higher education— knowledge of a foreign language is a great asset in many police agencies and urban departments.

Here’s a bonus tip— many agencies pay all or part of the tuition, for officers to work toward degrees in criminal justice, police science, administration of justice, or public administration.

AND they will pay higher salaries to those who earn such a degree!

Information about entrance requirements may be obtained from Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies.

For general information about sheriffs and to learn more about the National Sheriffs’ Association scholarship, contact:

National Sheriffs’ Association, 1450 Duke St., Alexandria, VA 22314. http://www.sheriffs.org
Information about qualifications for employment as a FBI Special Agent is available from the nearest State FBI office. The address and phone number are listed in the local telephone directory. http://www.fbi.gov
Information on career opportunities, qualifications, and training for U.S. Secret Service Special Agents and Uniformed Officers is available from the Secret Service Personnel Division at (202) 406-5800, (888) 813-877, or (888) 813-USSS. http://www.secretservice.gov/join
Information about qualifications for employment as a DEA Special Agent is available from the nearest DEA office, or call (800) DEA-4288. http://www.usdoj.gov/dea

Information about career opportunities, qualifications, and training to become a deputy marshal is available from:

U.S. Marshals Service, Human Resources Division—Law Enforcement Recruiting, Washington, DC 20530-1000. http://www.usmarshals.gov

For information on operations and career opportunities in the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, contact:

U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Office of Governmental and Public Affairs, 650 Massachusetts Ave., NW., Room 8290, Washington D.C., 20226. http://www.atf.gov

Information about careers in U.S. Customs and Border Protection is available from: