From Dispatch to Patrol

After working the last couple months in dispatch I feel like I would like to go back into patrol.

What has changed my mind ?

I have been watching and listening to issues in Iraq through the people I worked with while there 3+ years. From day to day in some ways it has gotten better there but in a lot of ways it is way more stressful for civilian police trainers than it ever has been. All I have to say about that is, it's hard to train Iraqi Police in civilian police strategies, tactics and thoughts when the security is such that those in charge want to point blame at the experts. It seems to me that there were no Iraqi crime standards to start with, (war is war) and "the police" are highly reactionary creatures who only deter crime under normal civil conditions. Police do not stop crime but most all in America start out thinking they are going to make a difference so, that's what drives the police to try to appear action oriented (before crime). The only place I have seen that we truly make that kind of "active" motion is to get involved with the public and kids to get them to want to make change themselves (COPS Community Oriented Police Services).

Well, after doing the triple, double check I have decided that I would really like to do some more work with my local police. They are a great bunch of guys but dang if a lot of things have not changed while I was gone. Anyway, I start full time next week and look forward to getting back into the swing of things.

Until next time
-Ed