Michigan State University (MSU)
Snyder Hall
Officer 1: Before we get started with the question and answer portion, painting a picture of one officer's experience may be helpful. We're all different and one cop's story applies to one cop. Hearing what we go through - and my colleague will also share - may help you.
Police work can be organized into 4 areas:
- Good: We communicate with people all day. A lesson to remember is to be present. Technology can distract from the important human connections. Stay in the moment because opportunities to seek understanding, or be understood, may only come around once.
- Bad: 99% of police encounters are on people's worst days. No one calls us to share their joys and successes. We can go from zero to 'Oh no!' in 5 seconds flat. Making decisions in escalated situations is stressful. Stress, over time, can take a toll.
- Ugly: Work impacts home. One of my days included five people shot early in morning and a welfare check that ended by discovering a drowning victim. When I punched out and went home, the first thing I was asked was, "Are you going to cut the grass, or not?" Cut grass was important to the loved one asking me but compared to my day, the grass was...almost as important to me as it was to my loved one. It's hard to disconnect from the craziness at work.
Professionals have been helpful. Grass cutting represents conversations that can be disrupted by the stress of what we do. Remembering Batman helps. Batman wears a bat suit at work, but when he goes home he takes off the bat suit. Bat suit deals with craziness... home can't be crazy. Therapists are helpful for transitioning from work to home.
- Change: It's OK not to be OK. Old School policing was the opposite. If you weren't OK, they'd say, "Maybe you need to find something else to do," or "Are you sure you can hack it?" Self care, therapy and the employee assistance program (EAP) are all encouraged now.
Questions & Answers with MSU Students
Q: Do [sergeants] have authority to mandate mental health checkups for road officers?
A: Yes. Sergeants and peer support are there to help officers on the road. As a sergeant, I love them up and tell them I love them.
Q: Do you have any advice for [someone interested in the] police academy?
A: You're learning multiple things at once, with tests and PT [physical training] mixed in. It was harder than undergrad. You have to love it... love will get you through. You don't learn what you need to, but they do the best they can. On day one [of the actual job] you go from classroom to $h!tville. The road is not like the police academy.
Q: Is there a separate training for K9?
A: You need a minimum of 2 years on road patrol before trying out for a specialty unit. Many of the units have a waiting list after testing. There's a physical component, oral interviews and other testing depending on the unit. Dive [SCUBA Rescue and Recovery], undercover, drones, negotiators and K9 all have a process. Our SWAT Team is called START.
Q: Are special assignments capped?
A: Before any special assignment, there's a two year minimum on road. Some assignments are 3 or 5 years. Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) is 10 years. After each assignment, we go back to the road for 2 years. K9 works the road for the lifespan of the dog.
Q: Can you bypass [police] academy if you have prior fire[-fighting] experience?
A: MCOLES certification is required to be a police officer. If you're not a sworn officer, you have to go through the [police] academy. Municipal, County, state troopers require [police] academy [training].
Q: Do military police have to go through the academy?
A: Yes because they don't know the laws. They get valuable life experience but still need [to complete an] academy. Sponsorship for [the police] academy is great.
Q: How easy is it to switch departments?
A: Easy... sometimes too easy. If you did well in the academy and you have a good work record, people want good cops. Switching within a state is sometimes easier because of certifications. Across state lines is tougher because of certifications.
Q: What made you [Officer 2] switch from a bailiff job to LPD road patrol?
A: A girl... plus the pay is higher. Law enforcement is different up here; there's no take home car. Where I was, you could take the police car home each night.
Q: Does LPD offer EMT [Emergency Medical Technician] / LEO [Law Enforcement Officer] duel training?
A: Up until 2 weeks ago the answer was no but a START team member with prior military experience is cross training. There are opportunities to innovate.
Q: What's the most crucial role you've learned about society?
A: [Officer 2] Patience... you're always walking into the unknown and have to be aware of biases. People cuss and hate you but can be hugging you in 15 minutes. We're all one mistake away from prison or death. People make decisions because something happened in their lives.
Q: Is there anything you had to unlearn to be successful?
A: [Officer 2] You're going to have issues: relationships, financial, no hot water... struggles. Taking my struggles on the road is something we unlearn. Prior to law enforcement, I was shyer. Police work puts me in hard situations and shows me I can do the work. Seeing someone on their worst day is difficult. We're glorified social workers and often parents to people.
Q: What's a case that proved this is not like TV?
A: Generally we know little about the crime. Community solves crimes. Lag time between getting a warrant and kicking a door... getting stuff wrong often and having to say sorry...it's not like TV.
On TV crime is solved in 45 minutes. Reality means most detectives work Monday- Friday. A Saturday crime may find a detective interviewing witnesses the following Wednesday: Monday might be catch up day, Tuesday might be court. Criminal justice is a big wheel with many spokes and police are one spoke.
Q: Do prescription drugs (Adderall) prevent police service?
A: No but they do comb through your background. We have diabetics, people with ADHD, etc.
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