Sometimes change stands out, you can't help but notice. Then some examples of change are lost upon the modern world. I have mentioned many times my dad's best friend was Sgt. Joe Mathews of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Joe was a man's man, and an old style trooper - a real American hero in my eyes. But he came from a different time......
Many of the men that helped in my law enforcement education were left overs from the 1960's and even a few from the 1950's. Boy has the world changed.....
The daily news is a constant reminder are large portion of the population has zero respect for the law, and those that uphold the standards of society. Not long ago I was talking with a homicide detective about how we did things different just 30 years ago..... He was telling me his dad (a former police officer) would question, ".....why the hell are you doing that, why don't you just blah blah blah....." to which the modern officer said, "....uh because we would go to jail if we did that." The cost of our society is sometimes guilty people go free to prevent innocent people from going to jail.... In other words we have laws in place to protect people, but I can tell you there are always a work around.
This month marks 37 years since I graduated ranked #1 in my class from the police academy. I promise you today's officers are not getting the same training we got all those years ago......
For instance, (keep in mind this was before cameras were every where) we were instructed in a manner that would almost guarantee the person you were talking to would strike you...... We were taught this method to enable us to charge an "innocent" person with assault on an officer.
I have owned a throw-down for years..... I first learned what a throw-down was in the academy. For those of you that are not skilled in dirty tricks...a throw-down is a weapon, most often a pistol that does not exist on paper. Their purpose is to "throw them down" next to the body of a person you just shot....if you can't justify the shooting.
How many times have you heard a family say, "......but he didn't own a gun.... or that doesn't make sense, where did he get a gun or maybe something as simple as.....WTF." My personal throw-down is a Smith & Wesson 38, that was originally purchased by the St. Louis police department but has not shown up on paper during my lifetime..... I only mention my gun because I am pass the day of needing to justify my actions. Or maybe because I cut my own grass......
My personal favorite talked about during the academy was the value of a gas can and matches. We were told if we happened to shoot someone in our yard, we should place a gas can and matches next to the body, then claim they were threatening to kill us or our family with fire....... Yes, those words came out of an instructors mouth...... This was about the time I decided the blue line was a very thin line and probably dotted, between good and evil.
The world has truly changed..... for years people in positions of authority have learned how to "work" the rules and as the public has figured out their game actions of the few have greatly impacted the masses. We have all heard stereotypes are built around at least a little bit of truth..... Bad cops, clergy, teachers, coaches and practically every position of power has some members that cost the profession to have the respect once held by society.
What examples have you seen in your life?
