Every one of us has traversed the gauntlet into gates of Policeland. However, I feel that sometimes we senior or the veterans tend to forget what is was like. This is not about hazing or rites of passage but a fresh view on how we treat and sometimes eat our young. If you watch the progression of a young officer today, many things are the same but there are some stark differences that are worth noting.
Go Back into Your Memory
I don’t know when or where you came into Policeland. I came on in 1980 in a larger city department. Every department is different and every locale is different. Back then was post-Vietnam, many of the officers were in the post-military college programs and all of the military vets looked out for each other. So I had an immediate hook in. What was unique then was college was accepted as a boost up to life, still today some scoff at higher learning. In the 1980’s, we were not the most technological group as compared to today. I recall having a change pouch of dimes for pay phones in my bag. We had pranks, some downright hazing going on then, but it was accepted I suppose back then. The supervisors supported, if not played along, for they wanted to see what you were made of, could you be trusted.
Advance to today and we are a far more politically correct, sensitive and polite society. We have a generation coming into our ranks that have grown up with anti-bulling rules and some find this behavior nearly barbaric. What was considered accepted then is unheard of now. I think as a society we have grown to accept protected classes and being more mindful of each other’s differences.
Today a New Passage
Anytime you come into a new squad, precinct or department there is a ‘new guy/gal’ alert posted. Voices quieten when you walk into the room. Can you be trusted or they wouldn’t get it immediately come into mind. All the eyes are watching you and the pressure is always on. It is really not as bad as you think, but perception can be your reality.
This new guy/gal stigma continues to haunt you throughout your career. Break into a new unit sometime. The newest detective gets this treatment. Often confused with seniority or time on the unit, it is the same. Get promoted and see what wonderful new assignments you get, the youngest sergeant or lieutenant will always get the crappiest job and have to handle the most problematic citizen complaints. Part of ‘earning your stripes’ is what it is passed off as but we all know seniority is great when you have it.
Back to today’s new recruits. We need to be mindful of the mix of gender differences, racial/ethnic differences and all of the other differences we have to encounter in the workplace. Small town verses big city. Veteran verses never served. Some even absurd I suppose. Speaking with new recruits they have a litany of questions such as. Being the new person is not knowing who is like you. Who can be a sounding board and just where a life ring is coming from? Who will have their back? Bottom line here is all you want is inclusion into this band of misfits called a squad. Now, if you are the true definition of the new person, straight out of the academy destined for the Field Training Officer torture course, it is worse. You are the true odd person out. You don’t even know how to do the job yet, so you really are on the outside looking in.
My advice here is that time will heal all of the wounds. I remind all that one day you will be the one dishing it out rather than receiving it. Seniority is a good thing and you don’t mind flaunting it, once you have it. Most of this is by design and the rest by karma. No, I am not telling the youngest to suck it up. Nor am I am telling the older ones to back off. There is a time and place for all of this frivolity, but it must remain within due bounds and decorum. Yes, every new officer must do these rudimentary tasks and handle certain situations, we can soft pedal you, so embrace the experience. If you are the FNG, remember that law enforcement runs off of its traditions, it is what builds and strengthens us into a unit. Not everyone starts at the top and most of this is building block process of training.
So when the fabulous new guy/girl shows up at your squad, exhale and think it out and proceed properly. If you are the FNG, welcome to the journey into Policeland, we too have trod this pathway as well.
