A Day in the Life....

So here it is...I will preempt this by saying that if there are questions from my 3 loyal fans, by all means hit me with them.

My shift runs from 3 in the afternoon (1500) to 1 in the morning (0100). That being said I have to start getting ready for my shift around 1400. It takes me that long to get all of my stuff on and to get my mind ready to work. It is a completely different mental state at which all cops have to be in. If you do not prepare yourself you can get hurt, your partners can get hurt, and you could shocked and surprised at half of the stuff we see. I have 45 pounds of equipment that I have to wear all the time. It sucks in the summer because we do not have a summer uniform, you can imagine the heat and sweat in 100 degree weather.

Once I am finally ready I drive to the division for roll call. At this time we sit around and listen to our Sergeants list off important information that has occurred, information we might need for that evening, and where we are riding (patrolling). This is also the time where we all sit around and joke with each other for about 15 minutes before we start dealing with the public. This is only time I see half of the platoon that is working, since our division is so large.

We sit at roll call and wait for a run to start off the day, this can take anywhere between 1 minute to an hour. It all depends on the weather and a full moon. Once we get that first run it is on. Most of the runs that we have to deal with are ridiculous and have nothing to do with police work. However, with the onset of a "community oriented police department" all calls to the police are answered. Most calls, even if I wanted to do something, I can't. I have no authority in civil issues, which really pisses people off. I have come to realize that I deal with adults who are children. It is amazing how I deal with the same individuals repeatedly in different areas of my beat. Once a shithead always a shithead. BUt that is a different entry.

It is important to discuss the mindset of a cop on duty. We are taught to expect the worse, pay attention to everything, and always prepare to fight. This basically means that we have to anticipate a fight, react quickly to numerous stimulus, and have in the back of our minds that we would have to take a life. People do not see a person, they only see a badge. This is part of the reason for the mental exhaustion I feel at the end of a shift.

With this mind set I am expected to perform numerous functions. In between answering calls for service I am expected to be looking for criminal activity. I am also expected to handle suspicious persons, traffic violations, disorderly situations, and conflicts that affect the peace. At each type of function there are a different set of rules, standards, and processes that I must follow, understand, and implement. I balance the rights of citizens, the rights of a community, and expected to act in a split second with issues that can ripple a lifetime.

It all breaks down to: riding around looking for crime and disorder, resolving potential problems in my beat, knowing who and where the problems are on my beat, restoring peace, being a deterrent, offering a presence of safety to residence, and being a face of the local government to citizens in the community.

While riding on duty I am expected to do all of these activities. In between I have to eat, which obviously is important. I do not get a lunch break so most times I have to eat while enroute to a location. I have actually eaten a hamburger, fries, and drink while traveling code 3 (lights and sirens) at 100 mph. It is rather exhilirating.

A quick example of my routine day, and the wide range of mental states occured the other day. I had made a bunch of stupid runs, where people were arguing over stupid things such as why the rain run off went in their yard, or why their neighbors were aloud to breath. A couple of us decided to go eat, after I ordered and we were joking around enjoying the time away from the public I get an emergency run. A guy got stabbed in the eye. The story ended up being straight white trash, but I had to immediately change mental status to prepare to use force (after all you don't bring a knife to a gun fight), I had to run to my car (with no dinner), I had to navigate through traffic code 3 (people get really ignorant when they see blue and red lights), assess the scene for safety, let others know where the suspect was, alert EMS of the status of the victim, set up crime tape, and get information and statements. THat is all with in the first 5 minutes. THen I had to hold the scene and wait for the detectives. I ended up being out on the run for 3 hours, of which 2 minutes was excitement. I ended up being able to eat at 2200. Then after I finally cleared for the rest of the evening I had to make more stupid runs and a lot of paperwork. I went from flat to extreme adrenaline and excitement and back to flat. This is what most police work entails in one form or another.

At the end of my shift I drive as fast as possible to get home. Mainly so I can see my wife, if she is still up. I have to bath every night I get home just to feel normal again. I am always afraid I am going to bring a disease, virus, or chemical home that is going to hurt my family. I can't even kiss my wife before I shower, cause I feel dirty and I don't want her to have to deal with it. I finally am able to fall asleep about an hour after my shift, if I am lucky and my adrenaline is not in overdrive. I usually have to wake up early the next day to go to court and then start all over again.

My job is rewarding, fun, exciting, boring, mundane, and scary. I ride around not knowing what to expect, but have to expect it. I believe this is where the notion that police are assholes come from. Granted we are sometimes, but most of the time we are so used to most individuals we deal with cussing us out, spitting on us, fighting us, or arguing with us that it is a facade we use in order to combat this type of behavior.

Policing is very misunderstood, and unless you have been a cop you cannot understand it. We have to deal with the scum of the earth, see horrors that t.v cannot replicate no matter how great graphics are, smell the smells and see the filth people live in (and raise children), wonder if today is the day we get hurt (or worse), be a face of strength and protection, and still have a normal life outside of our job. Being a cop is not a career or a job, it is a lifestyle. It is very difficult to adjust not only in my mental state from day to day activities, but dealing with ordinary people, my wife and family, and social arenas. I no longer take things for granted.

I love my job, it is probably the only thing that I could do and be happy. But, it is very difficult to explain. No one can understand what this job entails unless you walk in our shoes. I will say this, if you have an opportunity to ride with an officer you should do it. It only gives you a glimpse of the life, but one you will not forget.