The Forgotten Cop

**dla4079** · 12-28-06, 10:19 AM

A dedication:

The Forgotten Cop

What would the average citizen say if it were proposed that Police Officers be assigned to a neighbourhood which was inhabited by no one but criminals and those Officers would be unarmed, patrol on foot and be heavily out numbered?

I wager that the overwhelming public response would be that the Officers would have to be crazy to accept such an assignment. However as you read this, such a scenario is being played out in all areas of the country.

~ ~ ~

We are Correctional Officers, not Guards (who are people that watch school crossings).

We work at minimum, medium, and maximum security Correctional Facilities.

We are empowered by the Province to enforce its Penal Laws, Rules, and Regulations of the Department of Correctional Services.

In short we are Policemen.

Our beat is totally inhabited by convicted felons who, by definition, are people who tend to break laws, rules, and regulations.

We are out numbered by as many as 40 to 1 at various times of our workday and contrary to popular belief, we work without a side arm.

In short, our necks are on the line every minute of every day.

A Correctional Facility is a very misunderstood environment.

The average person has very little knowledge of its workings.

Society sends it's criminals to Correctional Facilities and as time passes, each criminal’s crime fades from our memory until the collective prison population becomes hordes of bad people being warehoused away from decent society in a place where they can cause no further harm.

There is also the notion that prison inmates cease to be a problem when the are incarcerated.

Correctional Facilities are full of violence perpetrated by the prison population against the prison population and facility staff.

Felonies are committed daily but are rarely reported.

They are called "unusual incidents" and rarely result in criminal prosecution.

Discipline is handled internally and, as a rule, the public is rarely informed of these crimes.

In the course of maintaining order in these facilities, many Officers have endured the humiliation of having urine and feces thrown at them.

Uncounted Correctional Officers have been kicked, bitten, stabbed and slashed with home made weapons, taken hostage, murdered and even raped in the line of duty, all while being legally mandated to maintain their Professional Composure and refraining from any retaliation which could be the basis for dismissal from service.

In addition to these obvious dangers, Correctional Officers face hidden dangers in the form of AIDS, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B and C.

Courts are now imposing longer sentences and the prison population is increasing far beyond the systems designated capacity.

As the public demands more police on the street, governments everywhere are cutting police in prison where violence reins supreme, jeopardizing all those working behind prison walls.

Although you will never see us on "911" or "Top Cops" we are Law Enforcement Professionals.

We are the "FORGOTTEN COP," hidden from public view, doing a dangerous beat, hoping someday to receive the respect and approval from the public who...

"WE SILENTLY SERVE."

**cwtlady** · 12-28-06, 06:26 PM

To all the correctional officers...thank you.

**Star Man** · 12-28-06, 07:17 PM

Yes, Thank you. C/O's do a job that even most road LEO's wouldn't want to do. It takes alot to be with the scum of society 8-10-or 12 hours a day. We drop them off and are done with it, while you have to listen to them long after we leave.

**TXCharlie** · 12-28-06, 09:33 PM

I don't know how you do it...

I do wish that they would prosecute prison crimes.

Each assault on a C/O or fellow prisoner should result in another assault conviction to add to their sentence (the goal being to keep them in prison forever if they are still a danger to society).

I don't care if they have to double or triple the court capacity and the prison space (or make them sleep on bunk beds like Navy sailors despite Federal rulings - States should fight the Feds on that point, too). Drug them to keep them passive, for all I care.

And if you're attacked, I think deadly force is in order to protect yourself, if it's permissible under the laws outside the dirty gates. Just my two cents.

**Retmilleo909** · 12-29-06, 12:35 AM

Correctional Officers are the unsung heroes of law enforcement, as you have to deal with the dregs of society on a daily basis, which few are capable of doing.
I salute you for your services to your community and society.

**cwtlady** · 12-29-06, 09:11 AM

Originally Posted by TXCharlie

I don't know how you do it...

I do wish that they would prosecute prison crimes.

Each assault on a C/O or fellow prisoner should result in another assault conviction to add to their sentence (the goal being to keep them in prison forever if they are still a danger to society).

I don't care if they have to double or triple the court capacity and the prison space (or make them sleep on bunk beds like Navy sailors despite Federal rulings - States should fight the Feds on that point, too). Drug them to keep them passive, for all I care.

And if you're attacked, I think deadly force is in order to protect yourself, if it's permissible under the laws outside the dirty gates. Just my two cents.

I agree with all that. Good post.

**Crimebytes2** · 12-29-06, 11:18 AM

We have many LEF members who SILENTLY SERVE. Thank you!

**10-42Adam** · 12-29-06, 11:35 AM

+1. Great post.

**mavriktu** · 12-29-06, 07:42 PM

Been there----Done that,you DO have our respect.

When I was in corrections it was me and 1 deputy for 150 inmates,fight broke out on the block,you went back solo,(couldnt leave the control room unmanned),was glad to get to the "road" where it was a damn site safer.

**HardNoseBull** · 12-29-06, 08:37 PM

As one who proudly and silently serves, that was a great post and I want to thank every member who has responded with kind words, it means a lot to guys like me. I appreciate.
GOD BLESS AND STAY whether your on the Road or the Range

**Ducky** · 12-29-06, 10:09 PM

My dad and my bother both served as COs. It takes good people to work a job that hard and not crack.

**hush29** · 11-05-07, 02:50 PM

I have alot of respect for CO's. I don't think i could handle that type of law enforcement.

**BigDawg** · 11-05-07, 03:32 PM

All C/O's have my respect. I did the job in the county jail for a year and a half before going on the road. I didnt like it at all, but I thank God for people who do it.

**countybear** · 11-05-07, 03:35 PM

Originally Posted by glock32

I worked in corrections for two years before going to the road. Your nothing but a glorified babysitter that no street cop respects.

I got my start in corrections. I was a professional then, as I am now. I left some damned good officers behind there, who liked that environment more than the street. I have just as much respect for them now as I did then. You are entitled to disagree, but if you are here to troll, I have a box that I'll be happy to stick you in.

**Cidp24** · 11-06-07, 02:59 AM

COs have my complete and total respect. It's a job I do not want but one I'm glad they do.

Neg rep on the way

**Pudge** · 11-06-07, 03:13 AM

I wouldnt do a CO's job for all the money in the world, they have my respect.

Add me to list of neg reppers.

**mack** · 11-06-07, 05:24 AM

I want to thank you all for defending Corrections Officers, we are often made to feel like the red-headed step-children of Law Enforcement. It feels good to have you circle the wagons around us when attacked. Thanks!

**213th** · 11-06-07, 05:27 AM

I haven't done either LE or CO, but I've observed both to some extent, and I don't think I'd want to be a CO. Atleast not for a career. Up here they work week on week off 12's. I know I wouldn't want to spend that long of a stretch on the inside.

Glorified babysitter? I bet your opinion would change if all the CO's in the country walked out of their jobs.

**Wolven** · 11-06-07, 07:52 AM

Originally Posted by Star Man

Yes, Thank you. C/O's do a job that even most road LEO's wouldn't want to do. It takes alot to be with the scum of society 8-10-or 12 hours a day. We drop them off and are done with it, while you have to listen to them long after we leave.

True. Always thought we got the better end of the deal...arrest and drop off. I am sure the COs really appreciate some of the finer citizens of the county we drop off.

I used to stop them at the door before they unloaded by passenger and apologize if it was really bad (those ready to fight, super drunk or half dressed-not in a good way).

THey definately do a job I would not want to do..so thank you!

**Cidp24** · 11-06-07, 12:03 PM

I'll even go a step further. I think that those LEOs that have a habit of egging a mouthy or uncooperative suspect on or stirring them up before getting to the jail are complete asses. The CO that gets handed a suspect that is already prone to be uncooperative and has been egged on by the arresting officer or another officer gets the short end of the stick. As a supervisor I have been known to make the offending officer wait in the jail while the suspect is booked to "cover" the CO, whether the CO really needs cover or not. It usually gets the point across. COs have a job that is just as important and in many cases as dangerous as an LEO, usually for less pay. They do not deserve uncalled for BS while trying to do their job.

Rant over.