The Mind Of A Cop

Cops. Just mention the word and some people’s brain cells will start firing like over-heated popcorn as they recall their own encounters with “the law.” Though some of their memories may be accurate, others can be as close to reality as Dr. Seuss was to being a cardiac surgeon.

For instance, if they’ve had a traffic ticket recently, their grey matter may conjure up images of a bug-eyed ogre ripping off a citation and stuffing it into their palm with all the gentleness of a prostate exam.

Maybe they were stopped for DUI, and recall the officer as a ringmaster who forced them to perform acrobatic maneuvers on the side of the road like a downtrodden circus animal. Step right up, ladies and gentlemen, and witness amazing feats of balance while this person stands on one leg, touches their nose and recites the alphabet, all while under the influence of a mind-altering substance…

But if they were saved from a violent assault or pulled from a burning vehicle as smoke clouded their consciousness, their mind may generate images of angels clad in polyester appearing from nowhere, rescuing them moments before they became just another name in an obituary column.

Images can be deceiving. The word “cops” conveys an image―a mental picture often based on some personal encounter with law enforcement. The reality behind this image, of course, is the living, breathing soul who wears the uniform. Remove all their equipment and they’re human beings, just like everyone else.

Human beings who shoulder more responsibility than most would ever dream of.

It’s not a stretch to say your personal safety, along with the protection of your family and property rests in the hands of these armored strangers. But how comfortable are you in placing this responsibility―this blind trust―in people you don’t know much about? And, in exchange for the safety and protection they offer, are you willing to accept the darker boundaries they must occasionally cross in order to provide it?

If those questions make you squirm a little, maybe it’s time you got acquainted with some of society’s troubleshooters. Beyond the generic title of officer, these people have names. They have lives. They’d also like to reveal some things to you about law enforcement…if you’ll keep an open mind.

It’s challenging to describe what it’s like to be a cop to someone outside of law enforcement, just as it would be for a new mother to describe the childbirth process to someone who hasn’t passed a seven-pound human through their body. But if an explanation isn’t at least attempted, can anyone really appreciate what goes on in the delivery room, or out on the streets during patrol?

While this book contains a variety of “war stories” from police officers, you’ll also be exposed to the facts behind these stories, which are often left out of police-reality television shows. The adrenaline rush that comes with a high-speed pursuit or raiding a crack house certainly makes good viewing, and for those in police work, the effects can be intoxicating. But what the edited segments of excitement on television don’t reveal is the tremendous toll policing takes on some officers―the high divorce rates, depression, reduced life expectancy and stress-related health problems. As such, sometimes it’s their own quest for survival, as much as it is the law, which influences a cop’s actions and attitudes when dealing with the public.

Compiled from interviews with patrol officers, investigators and counselors, this book provides a realistic look at the complex world of those who protect and serve. Its goal is to provide a more complete understanding of what life behind the badge is really like…an informative, yet entertaining look at the total package.

Because the material presented within is only a sampling of the hundreds of thousands of sworn officers across the nation, there will always be those whose feedback would fall outside the consensus of the thoughts expressed within the chapters. But if you grouped a hundred officers together and asked for their responses to the issues posed throughout the book, more often than not, a significant majority would respond in a fashion similar to what has been written.

It’s been said that every cop has their own personal reasons for putting on the badge. I was reminded of this one summer afternoon as I walked across a parking lot in uniform. A little girl, about four-years-old, separated herself from her mother’s grasp and trotted towards me. Without saying a word, she tightly wrapped her small arms around my leg. “She likes hugging police officers,” her mother explained. That simple act of kindness left me speechless. It also reminded me what I was doing represented a righteous cause, though it was often imperfect work performed by a flawed person.

I’d like to thank Heath Dingwell, Ph.D., a fellow writer and former professor of criminal justice, for his invaluable insight and assistance in providing interview material for this book. I’d also like to extend my appreciation to all the officers who agreed to be interviewed during our compilation efforts, for this project would not have been possible without their candid feedback. Some were comfortable in allowing the publication of their names; others chose to remain anonymous because of the sensitive nature of their comments. Each of these officers has our utmost respect for the jobs they do, and for the personal risks they encounter every time they roll onto a scene to answer a call.

Finally, what you are about to read may or may not contradict your opinions regarding those who wear a badge for a living. I hope perhaps it will do a little of both, for we live in a world full of contradictions. Just take a look at rapper-turned-actor, Tracy Marrow, a.k.a. “Ice T.” In 1992, he was the lyricist with a band that released Cop Killer, an obscenity-laced song which promoted the killing of police officers.

Today, he plays a cop on a successful television series.

If that makes sense, then maybe our world isn’t such a confusing place after all.