CB rant - Posers

[countybear]

Few things irritate me worse than a poser. If you want to call me a "brother" LEO, than you had better have done your time earning it and have had your ass out here on the street with me. This job isn't easy, it isn't glamorous, and it surely isn't free. Every experience in street law enforcement is a priceless lesson learned, often at the expense of comfort, convenience, and/or personal safety. The men and women who wear the badge that I wear (or another much like it) all earned it through blood, sweat, tears, divorces, push-ups, pain, and testing their personal limits physically, spiritually, and emotionally.

No one promised it would be a cakewalk, and we have all of our own choosing entered this arena, not for glory, certainly not to get rich, and undoubtedly through a calling higher than self, if we have managed to stay with it for more than about 2 years. The guy who was unpopular in high school, and seethes with bitterness enough to take this job to “get even” with those who picked on him never last beyond the first few months, actually. He rarely even passes the psych in the first place. Especially when he realizes just how tied our hands are when dealing with the public, he's gone. Vengeance certainly doesn’t belong to us, it belongs to the lawyers, after all… (along with the BMW, the trophy wife, and the heated swimming pool).

The uniform is flashy, the cars fast, and the street becomes a mistress of sorts, but as I've often tried to explain to folks: A golfer keeps playing because of the chance of duplicating that one great shot straight to the pin; a gambler keeps gambling to hit another big payoff, a crackhead always wants to feel that wild 'first high' again, and cops keep being cops because there's always the chance that they can win one too; by saving a life, changing a life, or taking a predator off of the streets before he strikes again. It is an addiction all its own, and an adrenaline 'dump' can be one of the most habit-forming substances introduced into the bloodstream. Slamming an isolation cell door behind a guy who just beat his wife and kids in a drunken rage as he screams profanities at you just has a certain ‘satisfaction’ which is indescribable. You just have to be there…

Its not really a life anyone sane would envy, but it is one that many like to claim (especially when convenient). I believe that there’s a reserve unit somewhere, made up of strictly speeders, DWI offenders, and goodtime Charlie’s, and I’ve pulled over every third member. These guys ‘used to be’ a cop, or ‘ride with a cop’, or drives a Crown Vic or Impala with push bumpers and a TBL tag. I really get a kick out of them sometimes, but usually I just remind myself that I must be a figment of mass envy and shake my head as I stroke out a summons.

Going to the academy is the first step of earning the right to call yourself a cop, hitting the street and doing your time out there is another, but making it back home shift after shift, and then even raising a family on a cop's pay is also part of the 'dues' we pay to call ourselves 'cops'. That's the part that the 'reality' TV shows never cover, because it's just not exciting enough I guess. Did you ever see Ponch and John pulling extra shifts working security at the amusement park to make ends meet? I didn't think so.

Trust me when I say, the end of the month is never a dull moment around my house. Given that I chose this job over my degree field, some accrued experience in the private sector, and another job that paid about 60% better, I literally chose to be in one of the most underpaid, yet perishable careers known. Think me mad? Sometimes my family would agree with you. My ex-wife certainly would.

There was a time in my life that I wanted to do this job more than I wanted to breathe, but even then, I knew what it took to earn the right. I held enough respect for the job never to claim it before I had earned it. Working corrections (on my path to ‘earning’ it), I was the first to volunteer my capacity as a jailer, often before the question was even asked. I took pride in what I did, because I did it and did it well. I honestly believed that I was capable of more, yet it wasn’t worth having if it was given to me. Ambitious, I wanted to prove my worth so I’d never have to argue the point with a superior. Yeah, I screwed up at times like anyone else, but never out of malicious intent.

We deal with a lot of people who claim titles, tout authorities, and grasp at kinship with us, but very few are willing to make the commitment to do what we do, especially for what we do it for… I actually appreciate it when someone says, “I’d never be able to do what you do…”, because at least they are being honest with me and themselves. It’s the ones that say that they have, do, or will, yet have no concept of what that means who are in need of reality in high doses. If you want to say, “I’m a cop” to me, your ass needs to be out on the street ‘with’ me. Titles mean nothing, but honor is everything. Claim only what you’ve earned, and never attempt to impress someone by claiming what you haven’t.

Like George Patton once said, when we have the grandkids sitting on our laps by a fire, and they ask what we did in the great World War II, we won’t have to tell them that we shoveled shit in Louisiana. If Almighty God blesses my life with enough longevity to see a grandchild, I can honestly tell them, “I shoveled shitheads in Louisiana, and what a ride it was…”

/rant off.

[BigDawg]

I sir stand up and salut you, you have a way of saying just what myself and many others think. You have a way with words that I can only dream about. Thank you again for putting on paper (or computer) how I feel too.

I am a true blue officer, I hold this job with high honor. I do my job with integrity, tact, and I can hold my head high after the shift is over.

To have someone come on here or up to me and call me a brother, when he has never shared blood with us on the streets is a slap in the face.

Again CB, thank you my Brother.

[Five-0]

Preach on my brother.....and if there are ever to many shit heads to shovel in LA I'm only two states over. Let's face it, the amusement park is here right now and I need some OT.

[Cross240]

[gozling]

you have a way
a magical way of saying things

[Resident Smart Ass]

Well Said Well said!

[kjlaw]

Countrybear you say the things much better than I ever could.

I could only come up with Posers Suck!!

[Wolven]

As usual, CB..thank you...an absolutely wonderful post.

[Hannah87]

Good thread! Couldn't say it any better.

[narcodog]

Very elegant and well said. Screw all the others. I wish i had a talent for words. I'd rather use a combination of four letter words.

[baumshoe]

nice thread..Way to go CB

[Motorwaycop]

Eloquent as ever.

But what are these push ups you speak of.

[ex401mp]

I agree 100% with what you wrote. Too bad I am much too blunt to put it into words so well. So in the spirit of bluntness= FUCK THOSE DAMN POSERS AND WANNA BE'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Car 4]

Eloquent as ever.

But what are these push ups you speak of.

It is strictly an American thing, Motorway. Don't quite know how to explain it except to say that police trainers have a streak of sadism.

Once again, Countybear, you speak for all of us. What was your degree in, anyway?

Car 4

[MacLean]

I'll translate - a push-up is what you blokes call a press-up.

[gozling]

I'll translate - a push-up is what you blokes call a press-up.

no, I am sorry I have to correct you.

a push up is a type of bra... duh!!!!

[MacLean]

no, I am sorry I have to correct you.

a push up is a type of bra... duh!!!!

Never been a boob guy, so I missed the reference.

[gozling]

Never been a boob guy, so I missed the reference.

it is ok.. you are forgiven...
a push up bra is for the ladies who have no boobies...
makes them bigger...


so what is this man push up you are all talking about?
I will have to ask paul

[Star Man]

Very elegant and well said. Screw all the others. I wish i had a talent for words. I'd rather use a combination of four letter words.

HAHAH,, Me too. Well said CB.

[121Traffic]

Great post.