Armed and Moronic
Tim Dees
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
In a story that I am relieved to say did not appear on Officer.com, several retread celebrities have been sworn in as reserve officers of the Muncie, IN Police Department. CBS is entrenching itself as the premier source of misinformation about law enforcement with a new reality program called Armed & Famous, which will debut at some date when I hope I am out of the country or in a coma. This new show follows the highly successful CSI franchise, where the world has learned that DNA is routinely extracted from a discarded cigarette butt, analyzed in less time than it takes to plug the latest remedy for erectile dysfunction, and the suspect associated with the DNA located and arrested by people who aren’t even cops, and who only work one case at a time. Hey, if you saw it on TV, it must be true.
The newly commissioned cops are Jack Osbourne, son of Ozzy, Trish Stratus, who is apparently a wrestling star, LaToya Jackson, who wasn’t a member of the Jackson 5 (and now we know why), Wee Man, the 4′7″ skateboarder from Jackass, and none other than Erik Estrada, who played CHP Officer Francis “Ponch” Poncherello on CHiPs about 30 years ago. Comedienne Kathy Griffin has a TV show called My Life on the D-List. How far down the alphabet do you have to go for these guys?
It’s not that I object to celebrities being cops. Several have distinguished themselves as such. Dennis Farina, who has played a cop in several TV shows and films, was a real-life Chicago PD detective. Ernie Hudson was Senior Deputy John Barnes on the unappreciated and short-lived 10-8: Officers on Duty, and the prison warden on the OZ cable series. He is also a long-time reserve deputy sheriff in San Bernardino County, CA. 1960s teen idol Bobby Sherman made it to Captain as an LAPD Technical Reserve Officer, training academy recruits in first aid. The difference is that these folks went to work as cops to be cops, and to do police work. There weren’t any cameras following them around, trying to make their work entertainment for Joe Beercan.
I suppose that professionals in other occupational fields have gotten similarly irritated when their jobs were featured on other reality shows. Paris Hilton, who is famous for being famous, had a program where she and her sidekick were farmers. I don’t know that farmers were upset about that, but I hear that many of them are quite proud of being farmers, and might resent the implication that anybody can do what they do. I was taught that it’s not too cool to make fun of the way that someone earns their living. That ethic must not play at CBS.
The A&F cops won’t have a lot of opportunity to become loose cannons. They’ll have regular officers assigned as trainers and supervisors, and of course no one will go anywhere without the TV crew in tow. And if, God forbid, something should go truly sideways, that won’t make it onto prime time. The Muncie newspaper has already reported that the celebs’ academy graduation ceremony took three takes. My class only got one, and it resulted in having no class photo, because the officer that was detailed to take it was drunk. No retakes there. And there were probably other new reserve officers in the Muncie class, some of whom may intend to do actual police work, but we’ll never know who they were.
My principal objection is that this program threatens to cheapen the policing profession by inferring that anyone can be a cop. This is like truck driving school for cops. Take the course and you, too can be a police professional! Stop cars! Point guns at people! Search their houses! LaToya can do it! Why can’t you? Somehow, I just know that one of these play cops is going to show up on a talk show, speaking authoritatively about their “time on the street.”
Back in the 1970s, a Ph.D. criminology professor decided to complete an officer training course and do some field work as a uniformed officer with a city police department. He then published a gritty memoir of his experiences, which actually sold pretty well. What it did not emphasize what that the author spent about six months, all told, as a cop. This would not normally inculcate one with a vast array of experiences, but it has been parlayed into a highly profitable career as an expert witness, mostly for the plaintiff, in sue-the-cop civil cases. Get a little notoriety, and people will believe anything.
Maybe this will turn into a television trend, where former stars can breathe life into their dead careers by performing jobs normally left to those that are less fun to watch. This has real possibilities. “Mr. Daniels, you are charged with first-degree assault with a firearm. A public defender had been appointed to represent you, but in his place, please welcome Andy Griffith, TV’s ‘Matlock!’ Counsel, how does your client plead?” Or, maybe you’re about to go under the knife when the anesthesiologist tells you, “Take deep breaths, and count backward from ten. By the way, your liver transplant is going to be performed by Howie Mandel, host of ‘Deal or No Deal,’ but also formerly Dr. Wayne Fiscus in ‘St. Elsewhere.’ Quit trying to talk, sir. There’s a tube in your throat.”
If Armed & Famous makes it into a second season, I’ve got a great casting idea for them: O.J. Simpson. He wasn’t convicted of the felony, you know.
[…] Officer.com, a law enforcement website, came out against the concept of the new reality show on CBS featuring Trish Stratus which takes celebrities and puts them in the field as police officers. The article argues that the show degrades the job that officers do. To read it, click here. […]
First, I’d like to start off and say that my father retired from the local police department as a lieutenant after serving for 29 years. He is now a security guard for a local hospital and just received officer of the year from the corporation. That being said, I’ve seen what my dad does and has done in his life and being a police officer is no easy task. I think that what this show is attempting to do, is to show the general public that it is not easy. And that not anyone can do it. And, just FYI, the reason they shot the graduation 3 times, is because they wanted to get different shots and angles from the different graduates. It’s television, what do you expect? Also, when you said, “Trish Stratus, who is apparently a wrestling star” — Apparently? Do you not pay attention to anything in this world you live in? She is one of the greatest women’s wrestlers of all time, she’s performed for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, she’s world-renowned as not only a wrestler, but also as a body builder, fitness model, actress, etc.
I suggest before you bash something, you should give it a chance, watch it, and then form an opinion. Do some research, observe, and then you have a right to an opinion. Just like a REAL officer would do! Before you go and arrest someone based on their status in society, you research, observe, gather evidence. Try doing that before you cast judgment.
Thank you for your time.
Is there any way I can get there autograph in Muncy,IN. I live about 2 hours from there.
Scott
s.skorupa@comcast.net
lol go Trish and LaToYa!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ^_^
I completely agree with your take on the CBS reality show about cops. Police officers are heros who have spent hundreds of hours training to save peoples lives… it is not a game, nor is it entertainment. I would like to boycott CBS altogether for making such a horrible mockery of a profession that has only the best and the brightest. Real police officer’s do not have cameras following them around, so they can get the public glory of solving a crime (or a staged crime like these ‘celebrities’ are doing). I thank you and all the other men and women who protect our cities and towns everyday. You’ll are truly heros.
“his new show follows the highly successful CSI franchise, where the world has learned that DNA is routinely extracted from a discarded cigarette butt, analyzed in less time than it takes to plug the latest remedy for erectile dysfunction, and the suspect associated with the DNA located and arrested by people who aren’t even cops, and who only work one case at a time. Hey, if you saw it on TV, it must be true.”
This paragraph is completely unrelated and is only there to shed a bad light on this new REALITY TV show. Notice how I the word reality is in caps. You are comparing a scripted show, to a reality show. Good job.
“Trish Stratus, who is apparently a wrestling star”
Apparently you decided to not research the show at all before you wrote this article. She retired months ago.
“The difference is that these folks went to work as cops to be cops, and to do police work. There weren’t any cameras following them around, trying to make their work entertainment for Joe Beercan”
But the show COPS does this exact same thing. And I notice you haven’t written an article lambasting them.
“I was taught that it’s not too cool to make fun of the way that someone earns their living. That ethic must not play at CBS.”
Wow, now you are ASSUMING what the content of a show is, before it has aired. With viewpoints like this, I don’t understand how anybody can take you seriously.
“I suppose that professionals in other occupational fields have gotten similarly irritated when their jobs were featured on other reality shows.”
I guess you have forgotten about a reality TV show that has been running for over 15 years. A little show called Cops.
“The Muncie newspaper has already reported that the celebs’ academy graduation ceremony took three takes. My class only got one, and it resulted in having no class photo, because the officer that was detailed to take it was drunk”
You know, I would have rathered them film and take 3 takes of my graduation ceremony, then to have an OFFICER drunk at the the ceremony. And you are sitting judging them? You make me laugh.
“My principal objection is that this program threatens to cheapen the policing profession by inferring that anyone can be a cop.”
Most people can become cops. Unless of course they are disabled, or have a record.
“This is like truck driving school for cops. Take the course and you, too can be a police professional! Stop cars! Point guns at people! Search their houses! LaToya can do it! Why can’t you?”
So you know exactly how they were trained? were you there? Or are you full of it?
This is one of the most pathetic blogs I have ever come across.
Very Funny article with a lot of great points. This would not be one reality show I would watch, let alone probably read about.
what a waste of 8 paragraphs. you say not just anyone could be a cop, and later in the article you admit the officer set to take your class photo was drunk. sounds to me like, if you’re gonna have a chip on your shoulder about what you do, make sure the average joe beercan really isnt capable of doin your job.
I don’t know..what can possibly be worse than police brutality? Nothing else.
SHUT UP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had just printed out the article you refer to under the heading “Another REALLY stupid idea from the minds of Hollywood” to show my troops at roll call. I really take offense at the use of the word “reality” as in “reality shows.” These situations bear no resemblence to reality, and Muncie PD should be ashamed of themselves for being used in this manner.
Jerry Novak
Sergeant
El Centro PD
EL Centro, CA
Tim:
Wow! Having read all of your other blog posts, and all the comments left by readers, I am struck by how virtually ALL the comments left by readers to your other posts were extremely positive, while the comments to this one are almost all negative. It appears that most of these comments were left by non-law enforcement people, so the veracity of their comments is in some doubt, especially the comments that “anyone can become a cop”, etc.
In response to the folks that point to the show COPS as a reality show that is the same as A&F plans to be…I would suggest that there is a major difference between a REAL police department, with REAL police officers, allowing cameras to tag along in order to show the world what being a cop is like, as opposed to a group of quasi-famous people, pretending to be cops for the cameras. By the way, I really enjoy COPS, and I tape it almost every week. I get a lot of good material about how NOT to do things for my classes at the police academy.
Your readers may have surmised that I was a real cop, and they are correct. I believe that I am pretty open to new ideas, and I’m not outraged regarding this A&F show. I simply think its pathetic. Very little of what pretends to be “reality” gets shown on “reality TV”, and this sounds like no exception. Frankly, I’m also not too worried about Americans seeing this and actually thinking that its real police work. I am a little concerned for the safety of all involved, including the police officers that are probably being DIRECTED to take these “celebs” on patrol. On the other hand, if they are voluntarily doing it, then more power to them.
I do wonder why Muncie? Maybe its because the producers couldn’t find a larger department willing to participate? After all, they usually go after LA or NYPD, or the like.
In the final analysis, I suppose there’s no real harm done. Hollywood certainly presents plenty of distortions about policing already, and what Hollywood doesn’t provide, the main stream media distorts in their own way.
I do think this show sounds a lot more like the FOX network than CBS. Edward R. Murrow must be rolling in his grave over this one.
Keep the faith, and keep up the good work!
Oh, one more thing…..
Jack Osborne?????? Please!!!!!
Your just f***in jealous your not on TV.”Trish Stratus, who is apparently a wrestling star,(hope you get a bullet in your head a**hole)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Editor’s Note: This post was edited for profanity, but is otherwise unchanged.
The entire things is stupid and ridiculous. Period. The average citizen as no clue what real cops do everyday, day in and day out. Most is routine and boring and nothing for the cameras to get too excited about. but in a split second, without warning and most times without reason or rhyme, that cop is faced with death. Either by a suspect shooting them or by a car crash while trying to get to the scene to help John Q Public, or by a drunk driver while the officers trying to help change somebodys tire on a busy freeway where thousands of cars have gone by but no one else stopped to help. Cops are human and they make mistakes, give in to temptation and unfortunately sometimes break the laws beyond reason. Most are honest, sincere and dedicated professionals who are willing to defend and protect you even sometimes from yourself. Willing to even die for you, someone they don’t even know.
These types of shoes are funny in their own way, but they’re not reality and they serve little purpose.
For your infromation Tim Dees, “Editor in Chief” LOL, Trish Stratus “IS” a wrestler dumbass, and she’s pretty damn good at it! In fact, she can whip your fat ass into shape any day at any time! You know, it sounds more to me like you’re just jealous and you wish you had cameras to follow you around all day at the doughnut shop, but since your life is boring and meaningless you know that this will never happen for you. Yes, CSI can be fake I know that, that is why they call it a “TV show” ya big cry baby! And yes, Paris Hilton and Nichole Richie just shot the simple life to make fun of all southerners, but this is not the simple life, this wont be shown on FOX, it’s a CBS program. So that also means your wish for O.J. Simpson to be on the second season wont come true either!
Wow…..just wow. As the son of a cop, its funny to see someone take a reality show as being anything more than entertainment. So CSI is bad, Armed and Famous is bad (without ever seeing a single minute of the show) yet Dennis Farina (who worked as a Chicago Cop, the same as my father,) is ok to play a cop? I’m sorry, but you blasting away at a television show that you have either little information or as others have pointed out, wrong information doesn’t help make your point.
Its funny, I don’t recall too many of my fellow coworkers being upset or offended by Cliff Claven or Neuman from Sienfield. Yet its ok to make fun of Postal Employees.
Look, I don’t think there are too many intelligent folks who will look at this show and see it as a belittlement of the duty and sacrifice of law enforcement officers. If bad television about the police bother you, why isn’t there an outcry from you about “The Shield,” as that isn’t a great image of a cop? Vic Makey isn’t the best role model I could see for a cop, yet its a pretty popular show.
And please, like the average viewer of CSI looks at it as something more than just entertainment.
Editor’s Note: The problems caused for law enforcement by the technology and procedures shown on the “CSI” series are well documented:
The “CSI Effect”
What’s New with Interviews?
The Smoking Gun: When Real-Life CSI and Hollywood Collide
Criminals Get Tips From TV Shows
It seems to me that you already know exactly what the show is going to be about. You must be able to read the minds of the producers since they just starting shooting the show. How do you know that the intention of the show is to cheapen the policing profession by having anyone become a cop. Isn’t that how people become reserve police officers, they are at least at the beginning just anybody like you say. These celebs had the same training that all of the MPD reserves get, so do you really just mean to say that all reserve officers are not worthy of being policeman?
I am a 12 year veteran of the Muncie PD. I have watched the new “stars” train for the past three weeks. They have done everything 100 percent and have truley strived to better themselves. It is always sad when someone with knowledge of the situation makes inacurrant statements.
This is one of the least informed social commentaries I’ve read in a while. A friend of mine linked this up to me for a laugh. I am a forensic scientist & my passion for the field stemmed off of the original CSI series. Did you ever stop and think that someone will watch the show and be inspired to enter the force and do good for their community? How twisted is your ego? Yes, putting C-List celebrities on a reality show isn’t going to scream credibility but it may inspire a new generation to enter the field that you hold in such high esteem. With all due respect, sir, you did no research for this article and you neglected to look at the bigger picture. Look beyond your line of sight and realize that it’s not a bad thing to promote training to serve and protect.
Tim. I agree completely with everything you have said in this article. It is very apparent that you have upset the entire population of 40+ year old wrestling fans that spend all there time watching “fake” reality TV shows. Every individual you see on COPS is a law enforcement officer, and was one before he/she was shown on television. These “stars” became reserve officers for the main purpose of being on television. This webpage is called Officer.com and this show is a disgrace to real officers. The author of this article spent many years in law enforcement and this article was meant to be an opinion so if you dont like it, im sure there are many webpages filled with people like you that share your opinions.
They may have done everything 100 percent, but did they have to go through the whole process like any other average joe applicant? I’m really guessing not, but I don’t know for sure. I don’t know how the show will turn out, but I’m telling you, if they screw up, Muncie police will look like jackasses. Keep that in mind.
Oh, and to the comment that anyone can become cops, you are a complete moron for even thinking that. You know how many times it can take the average applicant to even get accepted passed the beginning of the hiring phase? Plus interviews and then the academy, which is no easy task, either. Do some research first, BUD, before you open your mouth. There are so many people out there thinking that anyone can be a cop that they are applying everywhere which means that you now have to STAND OUT of the crowd to be noticed by the hiring board. You can’t just be some average punk. And you are calling the blogger ill-informed?
Trish is very cute…But she need to shave them hairy arms…that is so gross females with body hair!
Tim, I totally agree. This show will do nothing except make the law enforcement profession a joke. Even if they are training “100%” don’t you think that once they are out on the street they may not be the best image of a police officer? And to all those who said that shows like CSI and the Shield don’t give off a good view of police officers, well they are TV shows, they don’t involve REAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS and “stars” that shouldn’t have any authority. And to all you wrestling fans out there, Trish Stratus, your wrestling queen is most likely a felon…boy just who I want out there cleaning up the streets. you people are ignorant to what police officers do and TV shows like this just feed your ignorance.
“Your just f***in jealous your not on TV.”Trish Stratus, who is apparently a wrestling star,(hope you get a bullet in your head a**hole)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Wow this redneck is really passionate about his raslin! Enough to wish death on someone! I think you need to get back to reality kid.
(please don’t tell me you’re NOT a kid because that will just make this all worse)
Great article and I agree, who is Trish Stratus? I’ve never heard of her either, I have better things to do then watch wrestling.
So what I don’t get about this whole thing is, if cops are supposed to be looked upon so highly, why is it that I spent 3 weeks in jail for a crime that I didn’t commit, no evidence against me, no witnesses, and no reason other than the fact that the cops were to lazy to listen to mysef and everyone else in the town that said it wasn’t me. Why is it that Cops have nothing better to do then harrass innocent people just because they think they can?
Well, lemon, sorry to hear that happened to you, but I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t sit in jail for 3 weeks for something that there wasn’t any evidence against you. If you did, you attorney messed up hardcore. Cops pretty much have one extremely stressful and dangerous job, they should be looked highly upon. Anyways, this is not an area to debate that. I think it is crap that the city decided to put these cops life in danger with these people. I hope all officers and there families had a say in this.
scp lemon….please…that’s all i have to say to you…if you spent three weeks in jail, you obviously did something to deserve it… but you are just a typical cop bashing “I pay your salary” ignorant citizen…it takes a special person to be a police officer and these moron “stars” are an insult to every LEO out there who worked their tail off going through the hiring process, then the acedemy to serve a public liek scp lemon…why do they do it? well that is because they want to help the community….and this show is such bs that it discredits every law enforcement agency out there…shame on you cbs….
Do you know what reality TV is known as in the industry? “Unscripted Entertainment.” The distinction is clear and important. Reality has nothing to do with shows like this. This article was a well needed lambasting of one of the worst ideas to come out of network TV in a long time.
There is a big difference between throwing several people on an island and seeing what happens, and putting several out of work actors, wrestlers, etc. on the beat with the knowledge that they’re only doing it for the money, and don’t have to be concerned what happens to their suspects or their community after their 6 months of semi-fame are up.
I’m not a cop myself, and I don’t always agree with what law enforcement does, but I recognize the need for it, and I recognize the difference between well trained officers and people put out on the streets with guns and cameras following them around, encouraging them to do something interesting for the show.
And just to clear things up so the WWE marks quit whining, Trish Stratus was a women’s wrestler, she retired about a month ago, and she was fairly well known within the industry. That doesn’t make her a household name, and certainly doesn’t invalidate the points made in this article. So stop whining, marks. Defending her honor isn’t going to get you a date.
Im considered a troll amongst my peers. So I think its great that they finally gave a midget a job as a cop. Unfortunately, I am also fat and very smelly too. So I dont know if thats tolerable amongst law enforcement. I always wanted to be a cop. But Im too lazy so I just sit on my fat behind at home and report wrestling news 24/7.
Big shout out to my man DeBlasi. Toodles!
You suck.
Editor’s Note: Merry Christmas to you too, sir.
Listen, son, if you think ol’ Stone Cold is gonna sit here and listen to this pile of horse manure you got another thing comin. Uh Uhh!! That little piece of a$$ Trish Stratus is one hot tamale and could open up a can of whoop-ass on you in less time than it takes for ol’ Stone Cold to down a crate of Steveweisers. That’s right, one beer, here she comes, two beers, yer little yella belly’s startin to quiver, three beers, dammit you just p!ssed yourself son, four beers, Trish pulls her right leg back into position, five beers, WHAM chick kick right in the side of the head and down goes your fat donut eatin a$$. Hell, son she knocked you out quicker than ol’ Stone Cold could finish a six-pack. What the hell is wrong with you? There ya are laying in a puddle of your own p!ss with that fat carcass of yours floppin around like a fish outta water. Stone Cold doesn’t have time for you to regain consciousness, I got an open crate of Steveweisers to finish off. Then after that maybe ol’ Stone Cold’ll get himself married again and beat up this wife too. Austin out, over.
Wonder if celebs appearing on a show like this will increase citizen participation in reserve units and citizen’s patrols… and if so, wouldn’t that be a positive result ?
hey wrestling morons….do you understand that you favorite “sport” is scripted and fake??? any LEO could take your precious wrestlers down with defensive tactics in a second….get a life.
I knew by submitting this little “gem” of an article that Tim Dees would pick up on it, and give it the law enforcement perspective. I did not, however, realize that the comments in this blog are like youtube, and any idiot could reply.
I’m glad that Tim is bringing exposure to this, as I wanted Officer.com and Cygnus Public Safety Group to. We’ll see how their reserve program goes, and we’ll see how their FTOs deal with these celebrities.
Remember the old line we used to get when we would stop traffic violators…”Why aren’t you out catching burglars and robbers?” I am wondering how the department justifies their officers’ time and money on something as imbecilic as this tv program.
Well I am not really sure where to start. I am an officer in Muncie, IN. I’ve heard many ups and downs on the subject of having celebs as OFFICERS. There are many people out there that seem have a big problem with having celebs as OFFICERS. I have read many articles calling them “fake cops.” Are celebs not human? Many people seem to forget that celebs are still human. They eat, breathe, sleep, poop, and can die just like every other human. Now thinking about that how many people (celebs) they had to ask in order to find just 5 that would take on the position? risk their own life? If they had no interest in being an officer, or the lifestyle of an officer, do you think that they would have really went through the ILEA (Indiana Law Enforcement Acadamy) approved training and go out every night from 6pm to 2am and put their own life on the line? Just because they are celebs, just because their is a camera rolling, just because they may have a million dollar lifestyle does not mean they can’t get shot at, attacked, spit on, ect. How many of you (people that are not officers) can say you would risk your life? Even try it out for a month? They may be taping for just over a months time but it only take a split second for some dumbass that doesn’t want to go to jail and end up doing something stupid. Tomorrow could be the end for me or any fellow officer. There is a lot of bad light on officers everywhere not just here in Muncie, IN. but if it wasn’t for officers (payroll officers or reserve officers) who would keep you safe? Cause we all know that your local crak-whore isn’t going to come to the rescue!!!!
Also to the person that said why Muncie, IN and not LAPD or NYPD…..Why not Muncie, IN? I think that people will be able to relate to a smaller town, than a city giant.
Wow, is it just me, or does anyone else realize how many positive post’s that there are for this guy “after” December 8th?!! “Where were you on the night of December 9th 2006? I know where you were, you were UP LATE ALL NIGHT LONG MAKIN’ FONEY MESSAGES TO MAKE YOURSELF LOOK GOOD NOW WEREN’T YOU??? HUGH, HUGH!!! Or maybe you just decided to pay abunch of people to go online and make GOOD COMMENTS about your posts!!! YOU DID DIDN’T YOU!!!!!!! Welp, case solved, wow, I watched ONE night of Law & Order and ALREADY, I think I can become an Officier of the Law!!!! Damn that Law & Order, Damn them!!!! They aughta’ be ashamed of themselves!!!!!!”
Assassin’s Note: You see, you couldn’t get anyone to come on here and give an authentic story “FOR” you because you haven’t really earned the respect for anyone to agree with you, unlike “Trish Stratus”. Oh, and I’m really sorry we dumb “raslin” fans keep comin’ up in here and defendin’ her, no, actually I will not apologize for a “Beautiful” young woman who has earned her respect from fans and her peers just because you started a topic without any knowledge (really, you don’t) about “some” of the stars of the show! Furthermore, you really sound more like one of those old men who can’t stand it when a younger guy takes over their job and actually does it better! Cops do get a bad rap from alot of people. Most of them are people who have done somethin’ wrong but make up excusses and blame the cops for their problems, then there are dumbasses like you who, just like alot of the members of my family, make stupid remarks about somethin’ when they don’t even know the whole story about it in the first place!
One more thing, don’t come on here cryin’ about how these stars are gonna make the Muncie PD look bad because if they are gonna make anyone look bad it’s gonna be themselves. They are the ones who will make the mistakes and all the Muncie PD has to do is be the professionals that I am sure they are! Plus, it’s not like these stars are gonna take any officiers jobs at the cost of this show! This isn’t American Idol where anyone can be an idiot for 5 seconds and get instant fame like William Hung!!! So quit acting like they are becoing actual police officers and that they are an insult to every police officer who “worked their tail of” in the police academy to become an officer, because this isn’t “American Idol” where they “Actually” do become a singer in less than a year!!!!! GOOD LORD!!!!!!GET A LIFE!!!
I think that as long as these “celebs” are held to the same standards as any other reserves then there is nothing wrong with this show. If people are offended by these semi-celebrities becoming reserve officers then maybe we should scrutinize the standards to become a reservist because obviously these “celebs” have met those standards. Also to all of the pro-wrestling fans getting defensive about Trish Stratus: I have a ton of respect for the athleticism it takes to be a wrestling actor but it is just that, ACTING. To say these people are professional athletes is fair but to say that Trish can fight any better than anyone else is just plain silly. Also, her being a fitness guru doesn’t mean she can fight any more than it means Ronnie Coleman can fight, get a grip on reality.
all i know is we had a huge party at ball state on friday and it got busted by weeman and trish and it was a joke! Over 700 people weeman got sacred and locked himself in the cop car as the crowd mobbed the car hitting it and chanting weeman..it was quite funny but scary thinking that he had a gun..
For all of you who posted who are not sworn Law Enforcement Officers. You have no clue what it takes to get hired, through the academy, then through Field Training and Probation. You don’t have a clue as to how clean your backround needs to be to become an Officer…hint, your record is only a small portion of it.
The author of this article is well informed (retired Reno PD) and qualified to speak on this issue. Jack Osborne certaintly would not get hired on with my agency (tell me there are no skelotons in his closet). This is a complete joke, I hope to god they aren’t armed and given the incredible power to use deadly force.
For all of you who made the “COPS” argument, there is a difference. They are actual Police Officers, and they certaintly did not enter the profession to become famous.
Exactly why are we letting these wrestling morons change the issue into how well known their FORMER wrestler used to be? Aren’t there enough sites featuring similarly surgically enhanced women on the Internet (many less dressed than Stratus ever was) for them to play on instead posting here?
The point of the article was about how contrived A&F is. Trish Stratus proves that completely. If this were real life instead of “reality”, Stratus’s Canadian citizenship would preclude her from being an American police officer. She would have needed to seek dual American citizenship BEFORE training as a Muncie officer for real. Without CBS and the MPD breaking that simple rule, she never would have gotten on the show. THAT messing around with the truth is what the article was pointing out.
For that matter, Wee Man’s height, Jackson and Estrada’s ages (both are 50 or older) and Osborne’s admitted recent drug abuse would probably have disqualified the rest of the group from becoming real Muncie officers as well. How ironic is it that, in order to follow Muncie police rules, each “used-to-be” had to have at least one Muncie police rule waved, modified or broken on their behalves?
BTW, when comparing this show to something similar, I suggest that you choose the dismal failure known as “Celebrity Boot Camp” instead of a well respected, long running show like “Cops”. If you change the military to police, eliminate the vote-off/taking someone with you encounters and replace scheduled challenges with the randomness of the police radio, “Celebrity Boot Camp” becomes “Armed & Famous”. How bad must this concept have stunk years ago if FOX decided not to do it again? Think about it. The people who gave us Darva Conger said no to “Celebrity Boot Camp 2.” What does THAT say about the strength and respect of this concept?
Ideas, Ideas, ideas for a new TV show… CBS is milking the law enforcement reality franchise. Some people say that this is going to be just like COPS. I doubt it! 20 retakes, staging crimes, the producers are going to make it exciting. COPS, on the other hand, is mostly unscripted footage of a regular officer on the beat. And one more thing: 10-8 was the closest to real police work on tv, second only to COPS, the “Law and Order” franchise and Dragnet (another short-lived “cop show”). The public don’t want to see real police work. They want to see explosions and crimes solved by the time they finish their dinners. But it should NOT be passed off as the real thing!
I see some of the folks from CopWatch.com made their way over to this article comment area…….
Lemon. Don’t fret. You will soon be back in jail for something you didn’t do. Jails are full of innocent people. What a moron you are.
Citizen of Muncie:
>>>>
Your point is well taken, and I didn’t mean to imply that Muncie was any less of a city than the coastal communities. Rather, my point was that I was a little surprised that the producers of A&F would actually go to middle America and choose a police agency with less glitz than they usually want.
If, in fact, these celebrities actually met all the requirements that any other citizen would have to in order to become a Muncie Reserve Officer, then more power to them. I guess, from reading here, there is some question regarding citizenship for one person, and the recent drug use reported for Osborne would be a non-starter at most agencies. The age thing for the others is a stopper for regular employment at most departments, but not necessarily for Reserves.
If they can do it, and want to do it, and are responsible in their roles AND respectful to the citizens of Muncie, then what the heck? Let’s all dial it back a notch, and wait to see how the show turns out.
But, to pretend that its any more than a group of actors, doing stuff for entertainment value, is just baseless. That’s not a bad thing, it just is.
The rest of us actual coppers, current active-duty and retired, know what we did, and what it took to do it. Some citizens know it, too. And, of course, some never will. That’s life.
Kudos to all the coppers and other personnel in Muncie for putting up with this. I hope you all stay safe, and have a warm and happy Christmas season.
Stay safe, and wear your vest!
Steve Ashley.
Citizen of Muncie,
I also live in Indiana and I know for a fact that you do not have enter the ILEA to become a Reserve. In my county at least, you have to complete a 40 hr. Pre-basic and a short county reserve academy. Correct me if I am wrong, but to my knowledge they did not actually go through the 15-week ILEA. Also, I know they are humans, we all do, But, what upsets a lot of us is the fact that all of them did have many factors that would have gotten a normal applicant disqualified. As stated before, their ages (max for applicant is 35 up north), drug use history, suicidal history, and I’m pretty sure at least one felony charge would not have stood up to a normal everyday applicant. Once again, people with power bend the rules to fit their needs. And Muncie PD should have known better than to bend those rules because that really will not help them with applicants in the future. Kids are not dumb and they will think about that before applying there. COPS just documented what went on. This show will want to show their “stars” doing the work and so on. There is a difference. POlice work is not a freaking joke and not something that should be toyed with like this. I think Muncie will realize this sometime now. The city is just enjoying its time in the spotlight. Too bad that spotlight is blinding the moronic stuff going on over there. Don’t get me wrong, I’m okay with Muncie officers, but the department staff and city have some thinking to do about this.
“I am a 12 year veteran of the Muncie PD. I have watched the new “stars” train for the past three weeks. They have done everything 100 percent and have truley strived to better themselves. It is always sad when someone with knowledge of the situation makes inacurrant statements.”
Sarge, he’s done it before and will do it over and over and etc.
Snide is more his style than is accuracy.
Lordy, lordy! Look what the cat dragged in… “Wee Man” as a R/Police Officer? Yes, I can see that being a “role model” for our youth to look up to, urinating in public in uniform. Hmmmmm…
While other actors may be more respectable, these are after all actors doing it for money too I am sure (and career rejuvenation or to generate some sort of acting career).
Respect goes out to the likes of Ernie Hudson and those doing the job for real behind the scenes of their own accord.
Tim Dees, you are dead on sir.
It would appear that CBS knows they are on a sinking ship with A&F based on their recent announcement. When the show starts it’s normal run on Wednesday nights (January 17), it will be up against American Idol’s audition shows. These episodes, other than AI’s finale, are usually the highest rated ones all season long. A&F won’t cut into that at all. Also, CBS is premiering A&F on consecutive nights (January 10-11) which drops one more week off A&F’s run. They know this tripe will get horrible ratings and are putting it up against TV’s #1 rated show just for the built-in excuse when the poor numbers roll in. It would also appear that they are setting up A&F (assuming 5-6 episodes) to be done (or pulling it early) by the time February sweeps starts. CBS seems to be setting A&F up for a bigger “smackdown” than Trish Stratus ever encountered in a WWE ring. The good news in bad A&F ratings is the next hot shot TV producer might think twice about turning another police unit into their own personal soundstage.
I love this article, it is dead on. Keep up the good work.
The reason he came to Muncie is because he was from muncie when he was young and still visits his friends there and thought it would be a great place to start out.
for those of you who dont know trish stratus, shes only one of the greatest wemons champions of all times and the most reconized wwe diva in history so maybe you need to do some catching up!
Wow, I can’t believe the ignorance that I’m reading on here. Both from people who are both in agreement and disagreement with this article. People are totally forgetting what reality TV means. Its unscripted entertainment. No one has yet to see the show but has already made assumptions about how the show will be portrayed. It’s a hard fact that you don’t know that as of yet so to bring in your false sense of intelligence and to attempt to bully people into thinking you’re making legitimate points is rather ridiculous. Unless you’re in the editing room reviewing these tapes, don’t act like you know what it’s all about. And for the wrestling marks, stop making stupid comments and making this all about defending Trish’s honour. If people choose to live in their ignorance and insult the woman, inform them of the facts and move on. When you behave like two year olds with temper tantrums, the only thing you’re doing is convincing people that you’re a bunch of idiots.
Clarifying some facts here, it was confirmed by several Municie reserve officers that it takes 40 hrs of training to become an official reserve officer. Perhaps those 40 hrs are spread out in normal cases but for the celeb’s case, they completed their 40 hrs within the week and as far as local media reports show, Stratus and Osborne passed all of the requirements without any problems. They also attended classes regarding police enforcement, constitutional law and ethics. They’ve done exactly what is required of them to become reserve officers. I have yet to see an official report that highlights the intentions of this show. People on here are simply complaining about what this show will do. It could be a complete failure, it may not, but the fact remains, that being considered a reality show, the shows aims for an entertainment value. COPS has the same entertainment value based on real life experiences. They may have more experience on the field but don’t use the excuse that they’re at least real cops, because according Muncie regulations, these celebs are also offical reserve officers and are qualified to patrol and carry a handgun.
I’m sure there are so legalities that were sidestepped such as Osborne’s drug past in normal circumstances would hinder his chances of joining the police force, as well as Wee Man’s height or Erik and LaToya’s age. I saw someone bring up Trish’s Canadian citizenship. When Trish began working with the WWE, she was issued an American working VISA which allows her to work within the United States. In fact, the VISA was a requirement for her WWE career since most of the time, she was working in various American cities. Also, I think it’s pathetic that you people judge the intentions and the status of these celebs. LaToya and Jack may be well known more for their relations with certain family members, but Wee Man is well known within the world of slapstick comedy, Erik is known practically worldwide to an older generation of people and Trish Stratus may not have worked in Hollywood but she’s an A-list celeb within the wrestling world. She’s perhaps the most successful woman to ever step foot into the WWE. That doesn’t make her a Hollywood sensation nor does it provide reason why everyone should even know who she is, but please, that gives none of you the right to devalue her achievements within her career by making it seem like she’s a nobody. Hell, it doesn’t give you the right to do the same with any of the others either way. Surely they are some type of celebrity because I’m pretty sure more strangers would recognize them than they would you and I.
Using well known people is a way to get the ratings or gain some interest but I highly doubt that this show aims to embarass or humiliate the profession of being a cop. In fact, from promos that have been shown, they’re also highlighting the training as well as the patrol that these celebs and their trainers deal with. Yes, it’s entertainment and yes, they aren’t the kind of cops we see driving through our streets, BUT, the fact that this show is also providing viewers with an understanding of the training and the abilities required to do the job, doesn’t that show some respect towards the profession? Doesn’t that illustrate the various tasks, hours and ethics that police officers need to enforce while on the job? These celebs are a miniature representation of what police officers go through. As long as they honour that role, respect it and work hard to do it the best they can as would any other police officer, celebrity or not, why is that bad? People quickly use the excuse that the celebs are there because of the money or to rekindle their fame, Erik doesn’t need a reality show for people to remember him and I don’t think he’d need the money. Wee Man is still landing current projects and is a well known figure to the current generation of younger viewers as well as some of the older ones. Doubt he’d really need the money and fame to do this show. There isn’t a wrestling fan that doesn’t know the name Trish Stratus. Her work in the WWE has made her a multi-millionaire. She’s well known in Canada and has already landed roles in various televised events such as hosting events, shows and has appeared on comedy skits such as Mad TV. She’s well known to the fitness world and one of the most popular fitness models out there. I don’t think she’s strapped for cash and in the career world she comes from, she’s about as famous as they get. If wanted fame, she could’ve stayed with the WWE, she could’ve asked to be in a WWE movie production. She doesn’t need this but she’s doing it anyway. Don’t judge these people simply because their celebrities. That doesn’t make everything about fame and money. Perhaps they want the challenge. They’ve all showed committment towards this project and have strived to give it their best. You can hate the concept of the show and you can disagree with it. Hell, you can love it as well, but be a little fair minded here and recognize both the possible drawbacks and positives that this project can bring and don’t fault the celebs for working their butts off. They’ve sacrificed their time, their energy, they’ve studied books, ran 16 miles, did push ups, took gunning lessons, they’re patrolling the streets in cold of winter, they’re participating in community services in Muncie, they staying up till the wee hours of the morning patrolling. Not one of you can accuse these people of not taking this challenge seriously. How many of you would even bother sacrificing all of that even for a month? Fact is, not many people would, so again, don’t judge their intentions as if it were all about money and fame. If this shown can get just one person interested in this profession than it’s done something worthwhile.
Since I was one person that Maurice attacked as being “ignorant”, let me respond with some facts he ignored or glossed over. He said “I’m sure there are so [sic] legalities that were sidestepped …” Exactly how many legalities should a police officer of any rank be allowed to “sidestep” before they are officially no longer performing their duty? I assumed that police officers were supposed to uphold the law, not break or “sidestep” it if they can benefit financially or famously from it. One cannot realistically depict what it takes to be a Muncie officer of any rank if you have to break the rules in order to have the show at all.
Specifically on Trish’s citizenship, yes, she did receive a work visa when she signed with WWF (which renamed itself WWE in 2002). However, Armed & Famous is NOT a WWE production. Her visa acquired to work for WWF/WWE should be no longer valid. Depending on what type of visa she applied for and received, her WWE visa could be shifted to another employer if there is valid time left. However, since neither of us know which of the three types of visas Trish received (B-1, H-1 or TN), anything else would be a guess. However, Trish would not be allowed to film Armed & Famous on her WWE visa. When she did not renew her WWE contract, her visa for that employer became invalid. It would have to be changed to either the production company, CBS or the MPD, but I’m not sure which. Most police departments would not train and induct someone with foreign citizenship, even if they had a valid visa. At most, I’ve heard of foreign officers coming to the USA for short-term observational visits. However, these are already fully accepted officers in their own countries, not somebody like Trish.
Trish could legally become a Canadian police officer now as a Canadian citizen. However, without some intervention, she would not have been allowed to train in the MPD system. THAT, along with the reasons I listed why the other cast members may have been excluded from the MPD in real life, is why this show was a sham even before the training and filming started. We don’t need to see the episodes to question how many of the cast members may have been excluded from the MPD system if its rules were followed properly.
As for me, I had a family member who was a deputy sheriff. He tested and earned his position fairly and legally. His career ended when he was injured by a hit and run driver (never caught to this day) as he was helping another stranded motorist while off-duty. His inability to work due to the temporary disability eventually cost him his marriage. Maurice, I LIVED through the sacrifices that officers make every day and have seen the consequences of their service, yet you just blindly lumped me in with others you call “ignorant” about the issue.
Here’s some free advice, Maurice. If you ever do feel the need to fight someone again, don’t just close your eyes and swing. By doing so, it’s much easier to injure an innocent person instead of a guilty one.
My mom has seen first hand what this show is all about. She was seeing a show in a small bar in Muncie when Estrada and a whole freaking cameral crew showed up. He instantly went up to the mic and told everyone how he was investigating a possible theft. They then went on to STAGE an investigation. The owner of the place was ticked b/c it made his place look bad. There is some first-hand experience of what this show is about. I don’t have to wait for the show to come on to know what is going to be shown. They kept redoing takes to get his lines right. This is not a “reality” show or anything for that matter. It is there to show how these ppl can be cops. It is rediculous and upsetting. And yes, other Muncie officers were there standing around… great use of the force! They want money and spotlight… prove to me that they don’t. I’m so freaking ticked about it I could scream. I’m sure they are “staying up to the wee hours in the morning” redoing takes and other stuff AND probably getting paid a lot more than a real officer next to him/her. Reserves do not get paid in my county. So, spare me your arguments about how “they are doing it to display true police work.” Okay, but let’s see that from someone that is 1.) ACTUALLY QUALIFIED OFFICIALLY TO DO THE JOB (These ppl should have all been disqualified in the process of hiring) and 2.) DO NOT HAVE A WHOLE DAMN CAMERA CREW FOLLOWING THEM AROUND AND ASKING THEM “COULD YOU CUFF HIM AGAIN… AND MAKE IT LOOK GOOD.”
I will add again that most or all have disqualifying factors that would not have been good if they would have been normal civilians. That is not an ignorant statement. I’m very well-informed of hiring standards for this state. That is probably the one factor that is most disgusting about this. Also, COPS camera crews are trained in police tactics and know how to handle themselves. These morons filming it are most likely NOT and could get someone killed. COPS is one camera guy and sometimes a second DOCUMENTING what is going on. They do not ask to the right light or if they could retake the scene. They film it and aire it. They concentrate on police work not on the specific officers doing the job. This Armed and Famous show wants to display “celebs doing police work,” so naturally they want to concentrate on the celebs. There is a difference.
I just find it hilarious, the number of people bashing Tim for not knowing Trish Stratus is (or was if that is the case) a professional wrestler; who cares, that is not the point.
Let’s face it; reality TV may be “unscripted” but SURELY there are going to be those producers who want a little extra glitz in a shot, and will “suggest” a way to do something. If you honestly think that all reality tv is completely unscripted, than there is something to be said about your naivete. The article even mentions that there were THREE takes to finish the filming of the graduation; where is the unscriptedness in having to have multiple takes, for something that happens ONCE in real life?
This is just another attempt to capitalize on the vast popularity of police dramas in TV’s current line-ups; nothing more, nothing less.
First off as a fellow officer, I agree with what Tim is saying. And for the most part all the criticism is that you didnt know Trish was a and I quote:” wemons” champ. This show threatens to degrade law enforcement. I am concerned that people will think its just all fun and games and not realize the consequences until someone gets killed.
Let me first start off by saying that I did not call you ignorant TJ, you simply assumed that because you obviously feel you were among those who I made mention of. You feeling slammed for being called ignorant is your conscience, not mine. Show me once TJ where I defended the side stepping of legalities TJ. Please, because I’m reading over my last comment and I don’t see anywhere I added a ‘but’ into my sentence that tried to condone or legitamize those actions. I simply brought it up as a valid point that legalities were obviously side stepped for some of the celebs. What’s the point in arguing something I never disagreed with to begin with? In the real world, Wee Man is the only one who wouldn’t have a shot in hell in becoming an officer when it comes to the physical duties required in both training and patrolling. Like I said, this is reality TV, it’s looking for unscripted entertainment, otherwise they would’ve just used regular cops that are already looking towards training to becoming a reserve officer. I never once said that I even like the concept of the show but I’m not gonna sit and pass judgement over something that hasn’t happened yet. It’s easy for many to see the drawbacks to a show like this but believe it or not, there are many Muncie residents and officers in general that feel a show like this may offer some perspective on the type of things they go through becoming cops and as cops. In that, legalities don’t matter seeing as how regardless of a man being too short or having a drug past, he’s still running the miles that would be expected of someone in his position, he’s learning combat maneauvers, learning ethical and constitutional law, he’s still being tested and he’s still going through all that a reserve officer would need to go through. The quality of the work they go through is one thing that isn’t being side stepped. I’m sure most people who end up watching this show won’t sit and contemplate whether all of those celebs could really be eligible to be a cop in real life but I think they would focus more on the actual tasks being performed and they will be seeing what’s expected of training cops and sworn in cops using five people who have never done anything like this before which would further highlight the hardships in undertaking a profession such as being a police officer. Again, I’m not condoning the concept of the show but there are many people here who have felt free to add their reasons why this show will jeopardize the way people look at the police profession, I’m just exacting the same free speech to point out some of the positives that could be gained from it. Only time will tell how this show affects the people who watch it.
Trish’s working VISA wasn’t issued by the WWE. She handled it herself and the WWE only provided the required paperwork as proof that she is in fact using the VISA for working purposes. Otherwise, she was required to handle a lot of the work and is one of the reasons why her VISA was postponed because she had problems with her paperwork. The fact that the WWE weren’t directly responsible in handling and attaining her VISA for her, I’m sure that the VISA wasn’t only applicable to her work with the WWE since she has done work with other American productions outside of the WWE banner without any problems. I think it’s safe to say she has the proper VISA required to continue working the United States, otherwise, she would’ve never been able to leave the airport in Toronto without the proper paperwork done. Even if the police department may grant her the favour of working without the proper VISA, I’m not sure Canada or the United States will grant her the same favours which is why it seems more likely than not that she is in fact working in the United States right now with the proper documents to show for it.
My cousin is in an officer and serves in one of the New York City departments. Believe it or not TJ, you aren’t the only one who’s seen first hand the type of life and sacrifices that a police officer makes. Believe it or not, you’re not the only who’s lived through it so don’t use your experiences to degrade my opinions simply because you feel that you can assume that just because I don’t agree 100% with you that I mustn’t know anything about what it’s like seeing this type of things first hand. I have seen it. And since we’re giving advice, some for you, perhaps you shouldn’t be so quick to assume…I’m sure you know the rest of the saying.
And again, you being offended by use of the term ignorant is by your conscience. I never once pointed out your name and in fact, I used the term ignorant to describe the people who already acted like they knew exactly how this show and how officers would be portrayed. I used the term ignorant for the people who wasted so much space name calling and talking about Trish being the greatest woman’s champion of all time when it’s completely irrelevant to the topic. I used the term igorant to describe the many people who were judging Trish as being a stupid bimo, slut, etc. based on very little that they know of her. She’s a well spoken woman who’s in fact very intelligent. People are just stereotyping her personality and intelligence because she’s a blonde who many may find to be attractive and she happens to have breast implants. I’m sorry, that’s just ignorance to me. And I also called it pathetic that people were making this an issue of how famous these celebs were and people trying to create their own ideas of what these celebs and their intentions of doing this show are. I only read one of your comments TJ and that was referring to the issue of Trish’s citizenship and I addressed that issue. Not once in that paragraph did I mention anything about being ignorant or any other insult of the kind. Not once in your comment did I see you say anything that predicted exactly how the show would go. Not once did I read anything of you making mention of the status of these celebs, their intentions, insulting their intelligence and you certainly weren’t one of those spamming up the boards about Trish and her wrestling career. So if you didn’t say all of that, perhaps you were thinking those things and felt offended because otherwise, the only thing I responded in your case was about the citizenship deal. And once again, that advice about not assuming, yet again another great opportunity to point out why shouldn’t assume things. Next time you want to waste an entire comment about being offended, perhaps you should find out first if you were a target to begin with.
I have seen the first episode of this horrible apporation of an attempt at reality based - law enforcement t.v. and all I can say is Muncie P.D. you should be ashamed of yourself. I have been employed in the private security industry for seven years now as an armed field officer and as an F.T.O. as well as a defensive tactics, and firearms and deadly force instructor. I also have a B.A. in Criminal Justice and I am currently completeing Minnesotas P.O.S.T. board required training to be licensed as a peace officer in our great state. With all my years of experiance and training, I dont care how much time these people spent in some academy, work with them I would not! This whole show is simply based on entertainment value and station ratings period!!! I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Dees in his very accurate evaluation.
P.S. I’m certain if he actually watches an episode or two he will laugh as hard as the rest of us did.
Chad M Kleinschmidt.
Let me first of all say that i am not in law enforcement and I personally do not know anyone in law enforcement. I do however have the utmost respect for anyone in that line of work.
I would consider myself an average t.v. watcher and I have watched this show and find it enjoyable. Does it make me think that just anyone can be a polics officer - no! Many of you comment/complain that this is not a “reality t.v show” because they did more than one take on certain things. Well, that’s what television is, reality or not. It is put on for entertainment value.
i think most viewers will know that this is NOT the typical traing or typical anything for that matter of the life of a real police officer.
When it come down to it, it’s just a t.v. show and will not change anyones mind on how they view law enforcement.
As for me, I will still watch the show but will also still respect officers who are on the streets every day and night putting their lives on the line.
Thank You!
AS A RETIRED POLICE OFFICER IT MADE ME SICK WATCHING FIVE MINUTES OF THAT TRASH AND THE OFFICERS COMPLIMENTING THESE IDIOTS. I’LL BET THAT NONE OF THEM COULD EVEN PASS A BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION TO BECOME A REAL POLICE OFFICER. THE PERSON ON THE PD WHO ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN SHOULD BE PUNISHED FOR CONCOCTING THIS GEM OF AN IDEA. IT WAS SHAMEFULL.
If that is the requirements for becoming a Reserve police Officer then why the hell doesn’t any other State use those requirements.
I took a 40 Civilian Deputy Sheriff corse at out Sheriff’s Office in Ohio. To become a Reserve Deputy Sheriff or even a Full Time deputy I STILL have to take a Full OPOTA course which id 15 weeks of Officer training.Plus other training required by our Sheiriff’s dept.
I am just that a Civilian deputy Sheriff. Know as the Sheriff’s posse in a National Emergency. Guess the State of indiana has no REAL requirements to be a GOOD Reserve other than to put ‘STARS” through a 3 weeks 40 hr. course no different to what a Non-commisioned Officer in Ohio can complete.HEY to even be a security guard we have a 120 hr. course that is required. That’s more than an Indiana Reserve has and all they can be is that, A SECURITY GUARD. So as far as I’m concerned 3 weeks training and a camera crew to make 2-3 takes to make it look good is and WILL NOT be acceptable to ANY Police dept. in the U.S. These are National Security Professionals that we are laying our lives in the hands of. Imagin the Iraqi’s shoving a :lil kitty cat: at Latoya??
I used to think that the show was going to be stupid. Now I am seeing that each person is growing from the experience. I do see that police officers are gett upset do to the fact that they are getting the lime light as for cameras on the force… hummmm S.W.A.T. now has 3 shows. Cops all have cameras running around there shows court tv, A&E all have shows with real cops and shows made out of them. I have many friends that are police officers some undercover they are all just people that do a job. Some wish they were educated to do other jobs all tell me that there are a bunch of BIG egos on the force. This web site its self is a type of media and most cops would love to be on a show. I hear a bit of jealousy here. If this show helps someone decide to be a police officer then is it not benefiting you all. I have heard a lot of Good advice from each of the stars of the show. Its funny how many people get upset when others are blessed. Eric Estrada being criticized for being famous but had a father dung drugs and on welfare. Latoya being in an abusive relationship Jack being on drugs and getting cleaned up all are powerful experiences to glean from. If they are out there protecting and serving and using there celebraty to make the message louder and more clear for someone that needs to hear it why are you other cops so easy to criticize them. Look at the outcome. I know many police officers that have there own control issues at home. I know that many take the control of being on the force how with them and use the force on there wife and kids. What I am saying is we all have things that need to be over come in our lives and this show is showing that from the cops side and the civilians. I don’t think they have done retakes on any of the true police work. Miss can you please get hit again by your drunk boyfriend we did not get the shot.
What a disgrace to all of us in blue. I think it is even more pathetic that the Chief offered Jack Osbourne a job after….How may good potential Police Officers did he turn away because they didn’t spend $30000 on a university degree. It about as corupt as you can get I think.
I am in total agreement with you on this one - keep up the good work;)