I was listening to Roy Green this morning and he read this letter written by a Police Officer. I thought I would pass it along.
THE LOUSY COP
The Author of this artical was Trooper Mitchell Brown of the Virginia State Police. He was killed in the line of duty two months after writing this artical.
Well, Mr. Citizen, its seems you've figured me out. I seem to fit neatly into the category where you've placed me.
I'm stereotyped, standardized, characterized, classified, grouped and always typical. Unfortunately, the reverse is true.. I can never figure you out.
From birth you teach your children that I'm the bogeyman,
then you're shocked when they identify with my traditional enemy.. the criminal!
You accuse me of coddling criminals...... until I catch your kids doing wrong.
You may take an hour for lunch and several coffee breaks each day, but point me out as a loafer for having one cup.
You pride yourself on your manners, but think nothing of disrupting my meals with your troubles.
You raise hell with the guy who cuts you off in traffic, but let me catch you doing the same thing and I'm picking on you. You know the traffic laws..... but you've never gotten a single ticket you deserve.
You shout "Foul" if you observe me driving fast to a call, but raise the roof if I take more then ten seconds to respond to your complaint.
You call it part of my job if someone strikes me, but call it police brutality if Istrike back.
You wouldn't think of telling your dentist how to pull a tooth or your doctor how to take out an appendix, yet your always willing to give me pointers on the law.
You talk to me in a manner that would get you a bloody nose from anyone else, but expect me to take it with out batting an eye.
You yell something's got to be done to fight crime, but you can't be bothered to get involved.
You have no use for me at all, but of corse its OK if I change a flat for wife, deliver your child in the back of the patrol car, or perhaps save your son's life with mouth to mouth breathing, or work many hours overtime looking for your lost duaghter.
So, Mr. Citezen, you can stand there on your soapbox and rant and rave about the way I do my work, calling me every name in the book, but never stop to think that your property, family, or maybe even your life depends on me or one of my buddies.
Yes, Mr. Citizen, it's me .... the lousy cop!
