Bad Cops, no Donut
We have all seen it, experienced it and fallen victims to bad behavior by those who have worn the badge. Movies, media, and psychological factors help play a role in this, they depict cops as superhuman or dirty and corrupt. For everyone to fully understand getting to this point, you need to know what it takes to get hired,
Let’s begin shall we; First a person who decided to begin the process to become a Law Enforcement officer must get through a gauntlet of steps to achieve this goal.
First and foremost, the written application. Completing this form must be done concisely and accurately. It’s basically your life history rolled up in a few sheets of paper.
Your residential status, meaning are you a legal citizen of the United States. Then a history of residences pretty much from birth to current.
Employment history, every single job you have held. From the burger flipping, shoe salesman, to piano tuner. (Everything) Even jobs you pissed off the boss and were fired or ones that lasted only two days. This demonstrates honesty and a work ethic and is the part they call “reading between the lines.”
Now your Military experience which some employers give a veteran bonus. This includes branch of service, where you served and for how long. Advancement within the Military and any bad behavior in the Military. (Read between the lines)
Moving on to financial status, the viability of your money management. It’s not how much money you make that’s important, it’s how you manage it. Earning minimum wage is fine, if you use the money effectively and don’t fall behind on needless bills. You know, you make 12 dollars an hour and go out and buy a new high-end car.
Your criminal background: the arrest records, to include citations for even parking violations, everything is examined.
Drug use, this has been ever changing with Marijuana laws changing, here’s a tip, if you are asked if you use any illegal drugs and when, and you glance at your watch, you might have a problem.
Now the big one, the psychological portion; to judge how you would react to extreme situations and or your potential behavior in questionable dealings. You are asked a series of questions that to a person on the street seem odd. Like, ever have sex with an animal? This one was asked to me, and like normal people, you believe this is a crazy question. Me, being the funny kind of guy, I said back yeah, the gal was a pig. The examiner asked again, a little frustrated with my response, said, just answer the question YES or NO. I promptly said NO. Examiners generally don’t have a sense of humor.
The process is long, in-depth and they even go as far as talking to your neighbors and family. Good thing my friends didn’t have the same sarcastic sense of humor.
Ok, you get past the background, now on to the physical exam. A series of basic physical challenges. Push-ups, Run, Sit-up (All for time and count)
In Arizona it’s the POPAT (PEACE OFFICER PHYSICAL APTITUDE TEST):
99-YARD OBSTACLE COURSE: Run a 99-yard obstacle course consisting of several sharp turns, a few curb height obstacles, and a 34-inch-high obstacle that must be vaulted.
BODY DRAG: Lift and drag 165-pound, lifelike dummy 32 feet.
CHAIN-LINK FENCE: Run five yards to a six-foot, chain-link fence, climb over fence, continue running another 25 yards.
SOLID FENCE CLIMB: Run five yards to a six-foot solid fence, climb over fence, continue running another 25 yards.
500-YARD RUN: Run 500 yards (equivalent to one lap plus 60 yards of a standard running track).
Once completed and passed, there sometimes is a set of hypothetical situations you are presented with. These are judged by how you respond and how quickly you decide.
Congratulations, you did it, so far, but there is more.
Now there is a written test, this test is given which is timed and judged. Everything counts to include spelling and legible handwriting.
Stay with me now, it’s not over yet; oh, but there’s more.
Ok, no worries, you are applying for two positions, with 50 other applicants. EEOC plays a role with some agencies, so wherever you land you must be at the top of your game to pass this.
Ok, you were selected to be one of the two cadets to move on the academy, but its not over, you need to pass the academy and it would be recommended to be at or near the top. In most academies, the class is made up of cadets from other agencies in your area who are also the ones who passed the gauntlet of exams just to get to this point.
A little disclaimer, time change, tests change, and agencies in desperate need of officers do desperate things to meet their goals. (Hence where the Bad Cop no Donut comes in)
Ok so you made it past all challenges thus far, you got a badge, a gun, handcuffs and the basic tools to do your job. Now it’s on to Field Training.
The Field Training time varies from agency to agency, some as little as six weeks, others up to six months. This is where you are partnered up with a Field Training Officer which experience in the field (Patrol) Some agencies require you to be assigned three FTO’s with the cadet doing a few weeks with each, and your final phase with the primary FTO to make a final assessment prior to you going solo. In your final phase the FTO is usually in plain clothes and will only involve himself or herself if it’s a danger to the public or to both of you.
Each FTO completes an evaluation at the end of the shift, keeping track of learning behaviors. Making the same mistakes over and over are bad. Your FTO is not your friend, not your back-up, you are there to learn, so pay attention.
Ok, you made it, almost, you still have a probationary period of a year where anything that you do wrong could cost you your job. Once all this is over and you are a rookie with basic skills, you are always in learning mode. Keep that mindset, because laws change, training changes and bad guys change.
Ok, I wrote this as to what it takes to be a cop, all the scrutiny you must get through and continue all your career. Which brings me to the point of this article, Bad Cop, no donut.
I don’t know of ANY other career in which this degree of scrutiny is done to get into or make a lifetime commitment to. I’ve never heard of a mechanic, doctor, investor, scientist, or burger flipper having to do the same. I even don’t know of any requirement like this for politicians, do you?
Teachers, who are responsible for our children’s education and who don’t go through the same background are making the news.
“Teacher License Revocation and Surrender in North Carolina due to Sexual Misconduct”
Walter, Jennifer S. Journal of Music Teacher Education, 2018. DOI: 10.1177/1057083718754315.
“The sexual misconduct of school employees has become a more common issue in the United States, and there has been very little empirical research conducted to provide context or understanding of the prevalence of this problem. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the reasons for license revocation and surrender in North Carolina with special attention to licenses lost due to sexual misconduct. Analysis indicated that 688 (91 percent) licenses were revoked, and 67 licenses (9 percent) were voluntarily surrendered. The reasons listed for revocation or surrender were primarily sexual infractions with students (n = 458; 61 percent). Employment information was located for 302 of the 458 school employees (66 percent) who lost their licenses due to sexual infractions. Of the 302 school employees found, 69 were coaches (23 percent) and 36 were music teachers (12 percent). Conclusions and implications for music teacher educators are discussed.”
There are bad in every profession, the statistic for bad behavior is higher within other professions.
So, when you hear of a Bad Cop, take a moment to understand the complexity of the job, what it takes to be a cop, and what it takes to continue this career. The real percentage of Bad Cops is what?
In 2019 USA Today did a comprehensive study of police misconduct in recent years. their findings were these: 85,000 officers had been investigated for potential abuses/issues. 22,924 of those investigations were for use of excessive force (at issue in the George Floyd case) 30,000 were found guilty – lost police certification/prosecuted.
On average, just over 1 in ten officers are investigated. Just over a quarter of the time the alleged abuse is for excessive force. Approximately 3.6% of police officers hired turn out to be “bad cops” Over 99% of police officers never engage in abuse of force.
Keep in mind everyone is presumed innocent before proven guilty, cops also have this right. Also, just because a cop is investigated, it doesn’t mean he or she is a bad cop. However, when there is an ongoing bad behavior committed by one cop, resulting in a firing, doesn’t make the rest of the agency bad. The same old true with any other profession, including teachers.
If any employee doing bad behavior creates a cost to the taxpayer for continued bad behavior, it would be in the best interest of the employer to sever ties and remove the problem.
Any comments or rebuttals? Feel free to speak out, contact us.