Springboard #6

[trustfund_agent]

"People gotta talk themselves into law and order before they do anything about it. Maybe because down deep they don't care. They just don't care." - Martin, High NoonI've seen High Noon, actually. Great movie. But that's not really the point of this

Comments

[sergeant_cassel]

I think this is also a side effect from the fact that the police department is one of the easiest professions to get into these days.

Sad, ego-puncturing, and true, though I like to think that I'm old enough that I missed that E-ticket.

[trustfund_agent]

I have a lot of local friends who complain about how most of the public they're assigned to serve and protect think they're the dumbest people on the planet. It's not fun for them, or the rest of us for that matter.

[sergeant_cassel]

The sad thing is that it's not exactly unwarranted. The LAPD in particular has that reputation. There was another department who beat up one of their own undercover officers. They've lowered the standards a lot in an attempt to take quantity over quality, but that's where administration comes into play.

[trustfund_agent]

They may not be the brightest profilers and psychologists in the world, but I've worked with some guys from LAPD. They're hearts are in the right places, and that's what matters for me.

[sergeant_cassel]

That is the most important part. Having worked through most of the detective bureau, I've yet to run into anyone that I honestly think can't hack it, but I can't say we're perfect either.

Sergeant Kevin Cassel, LAPD. Nice to meet you.

[trustfund_agent]

Agent Angela Malone, FBI. I used to be stationed out in LA, but now I'm riding a desk in DC.

No one's perfect. That's the beauty of humanity, isn't it?

[sergeant_cassel]

*nods*

If they judged people by how much of a screwup they can be, I probably wouldn't have a job.

[trustfund_agent]

Me either.

[sergeant_cassel]

I've never done anything else with my life. Don't even think I'd know what to do.

[trustfund_agent]

Oh, I could probably go home and live off my dad's money for the rest of my life, but -- how boring would that be?

[sergeant_cassel]

At least you have that, I'd -- well, I'd probably be playing professional tennis.

[trustfund_agent]

Professional tennis isn't that bad.

Not that I've ever played.

[sergeant_cassel]

No, there's nothing wrong with it. I still love it. Just not something I'd ever considered as a career. I'd be getting my butt kicked.

[trustfund_agent]

Ahh -- gotcha.

[sergeant_cassel]

I'm like Andy Roddick without the supermodel girlfriend: consistent but not consistently great.

[trustfund_agent]

Well, that sucks -- if you have to be Andy Roddick, you should at least get the supermodel girlfriend to go with it.