One of the few things that I regret not doing back in my career as a policewoman was: keeping a journal. Eleven years working in one of the nation’s top crime infested counties in the 1980’s has left me with memories that will forever haunt me.
Names of the ‘subjects’ and ‘victims’ I don’t remember, but the incidents are and the adrenalin of the memories still run through my veins.
Making of a PIG Tale:
Have you ever heard these three words?
STOP, FREEZE, POLICE!
Under certain circumstances those three words are very powerful. Those words can change a man or woman’s life, and a police officer is trained to identify when to use those words.
Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a police officer?
The process of becoming a police officer involves mental, physical and emotional adjustments. Drawing from personal experience I can tell you that you can’t begin to fathom what lies ahead once that decision is made.
Becoming a police officer with Metro-Dade County back in the 80’s involved a 2-step process: Application and Training. Any weak link in the process can lead to termination. It all began with the application, which was then reviewed and followed by a criminal background check. If you pass, you get to go through the green light which was followed by a series of exams.
Beginning with an E.E.G. Test (electroencelograph) this is nothing more than a lie detector test. Hopefully you answer all their questions successfully and move on to the next exam: A psychological evaluation.
Talk about pressure! How would you like to answer questions like: What do you think of when you turn door knobs? Or Do you count light poles when you drive? (Hey! I count light poles!) ~ They had me questioning my own sanity!!
After the psychological testing then one had to pass a rigorous physical examination that not only involved a standard blood and urine analysis, but also testing of ones physical stamina under the eye of a stop watch. Your skills at swimming, running, jumping over hurdles as well as scaling 10 feet walls with your bare hands were put to the test.
The next exam involved ‘Dry Firing’ a handgun for 2 minutes; both left hand and right hand were tested.
If you made it this far and have passed all these exams you now qualify to enter the ‘Police Academy’, where the real mental and physical conditioning and discipline begins.
Again, any failed exam during the academy training will disqualify you from becoming a police officer.
Every day would begin with a 5 mile run, followed by academic studies in Basic Law Enforcement such as Police History (dating back as the old west and how it has evolved in today’s culture), training in CPR, State Laws and Statutes, document preparation such as the O/I report (Offense and Incident), Traffic Accident forms and the not so popular Traffic Citation reports (aka: traffic ticket).
Other topics covered: Basic Crime Scene Investigations and Techniques on how to interview suspects and criminals and detection of details etc. One also learned how to drive a police car under pressure, on wet surfaces traveling at high speed. Other training involved Radio Operations and learning Police Jargon and Codes; these help keep police communications uniform and brief which is really useful during high peak times. The Q-codes as well as the Alpha-codes are used in the military service also: example: QTH -QTR (what is your location and time) the Alpha-Codes is used to keep uniform spelling that is being transmitted via the police radio and allows the dispatcher to understand clearly what is being said…very crucial during traffic stops, an H can easily sound like A …and it could be the difference between life and death.
A very important teaching in the Police Academy is: THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE GUN, but in all things police related hand guns are necessary ‘tools’. Training also covered the use of handguns. They taught how to shoot from 50 yards, 25 yards, 10 yards, 5 feet and 3 feet. Each one required a different technique to be applied.
In conjunction with this one was required to learn ‘Hand-to-Hand’ combat as well as how to manipulate a nightstick. (that could be an art form in and of itself). Pretty much this covers the Basic Law Enforcement Training at the Academy.
It is with great pride on graduation day that many in “Blue” can stand shoulder to shoulder with men and women who will ‘Willingly” sacrifice their life to Protect the lives and property of others and WEAR THE SILVER BADGE WITH HONOR.
From my personal experience as a police officer of 11 years of Silver Badge, there was no greater satisfaction than being able to help others. Whether helping change a tire (yes, I can change tires), consoling someone at the scene of an accident or apprehending a robber or murder suspect.
Police work may not be for everyone, but for those that CHOOSE that path, they will find a sense of human connection, camaraderie and accomplishment through service.
Just to give you a taste of the kind of head line news Dade County, Florida use to report (Miami Herald July 28, 1985)
DADE COUNTY MURDER RATE LEADS NATION FLORIDA’S CRIME FIGURES HIGHEST OF ANY STATE
Daisy Says: Pride- Integrity- Guts
Hi Daniel, thank you for stopping by. I’m glad that my personal experience could shed some light.
~Daisy
I read similar article also named Police Story: A PIG Tale, and it was completely different. Personally, I agree with you more, because this article makes a little bit more sense for me