Clarity.
Certainly.
I've noticed in the military, police, and other positions of percieved authority, that quality potential candidates are shying away. A lot of this seems to have to do with viewpoints on politics, establishment, and authority. As it did a few generations ago, the current generation seems to be questioning the state of our government and the type of authority it imposes. Much of that mindset seems to stem from the Iraq War and also the post-9/11 militarization of many police organizations, especially so those in large cities or high-visibility departments.
This is all based on personal experience. I was a college freshman on 9/11. I was a reservist then, and quit school to go active duty the next year. I was one of VERY few. The idea now is that there is more money and a more satisfying life in the private sector, with more education. I see that now as we receive new soldiers fresh from training. The number with GED's or continuing-ed deplomas are rising, and the number with college education are dropping sharply.
This is applicable to police organizations as well. Many are lowering education standards in an attempt to lure recruits, and some are following the military idea of tossing big money bonuses at potential candidates. I keep up with departments at home, as the plan IF I leave the military is to enter law enforcement. Many have lowered standards from a 4 year degree, to a 2 year, and in the case of prison guards/county jailers, some have gone to high school diplomas as the only ed requirement.
The problem with this is that the younger guys who generally make up ideal police candidates who have the necessary education and life experience are choosing private sector employment. Public service is no longer "en vogue". It is more popular to down the government and it's representatives while being aloof to anything not concerning their own little bubble of the world. The attitude is very self-serving. This is becoming apparent even in traditionally conservative area's of the country. I'll use northwest Tennessee and western Kentucky as an example as that is what I call home. Even there, at schools like UK and UT, Murray State (my alma mater), and Austin-Peay, liberal mindset has become more and more prevalent, much of it thanks to former-flower-child educators who have not let go of their hippie university days and many of whom have no fear of pushing the "question authority/America sucks" agenda in their classrooms, just as my world-civ professor tried with us a few years ago. Not a bad point to make unless it is emotionally charged and made not as a belief but used as the winning hand in a popularity game.
What this leaves are people who are not bad folks but who tend to lack the education and life skills for policing, especially in the big city. Small town guys with traditional values, which is great, but who have not seen much of the world outside of that small town. Also, lots of folks who don't have the aptitude or critical thinking skills for the job are getting through the system.It's not that any of them are necessarily bad people, but lots have not led the lifestyle or had the education to make functional police officers.
Unfortunately, some bad folks are slipping through. Minor drug offenses, juvenilie records, and other "small" incidents are being overlooked as many federal and local agencies are pushing hard to fill overstressed and dwindling ranks.
Also, lots of departments, as they've become more and more militant, are turning to the military for new officers. In fact, the number of police departments recruiting at the Fort Lewis career fair nearly doubled from 2005 to 2007 (the two years I've actually been to the career fair for legitimate information). This is not bad, except that they are getting recruits like the guy in the article, who are combat-conditioned, hyper-agressive, and far less restrained.
I apologize that my first post was so juvenile, but that bit about PTSD really got me. I and several I know have been diagnosed, and have seen what it can do. I'm doing much better than some, but it's still hard. I'm sure the cadet in the article was joking, and I'm a big fan of graveyard humor, but it has it's time and place, and public just ain't it. Sure we can argue free speech, but that RIGHT also come with the RESPONSIBILITY of consideration, especially if you are preparing to accept a job in the public spotlight.
Hope this didn't bounce around, but it's late and I'm running on caffeine, cigarettes, and lots of holiday excitement. This is our last Christmas as a whole family (two Iraq tours and a year in Korea in the space of five years will do that to a marriage) so we made it a pretty big blowout for our son.
I hope this leads to more adult discussion than I've been able to provide as it is a serious issue and a very poor reflection on the direction American law enforcement is taking.
