What It Takes
A lot of people from all over ask Coplife what kind of courses should they be taking to advance into law enforcement. A lot of people think I am full of crap when I tell them to avoid degrees in "Criminal Justice", which has become the new feelgood buzz in adult education. I place this misnomer of ekeing out a career in CJ based upon television, but thats another post for another day.
Anyways, I recommend to young adults thinking about copping that they should focus on English and writing courses, and probably a minor of Psychology isnt a bad thing either. I get the funniest looks when I say this face to face, but so much of street level policing is being able to talk to people from all walks of life, and to communicate with them. Then, having to explain the events into a detailed, sequential report. I like to think I am pretty well versed in writing and communication, but fresh out of college is no substitute for life experience either.
Its interesting to explain this to people, then to have to look at reports written by 15-24 year veterans of street patrol stuck in the old ways of IBM Selectrics and four colors of white out who still type narratives like this:
UPON ARRIVING AT THE CALL I SPOKE TO PARTIES WHO AGREED TO LEAVE AND THE DISPUTE WAS RESOLVED TO EVERYONE'S SATISTFACTION. PARTIES TOLD TO COME BACK LATER TO PICK UP PERSONAL ITEMS.
Stop shouting! Of course this is a made up narrative based upon an actual one reading very similar. I think I used too much punctuation in my example though. You can't teach old dogs new tricks, but the young pups can learn it the right (write?) way. Take the English classes. Every CJ class I have ever taken has been 100% useless to me as a street cop.
Anyways, I recommend to young adults thinking about copping that they should focus on English and writing courses, and probably a minor of Psychology isnt a bad thing either. I get the funniest looks when I say this face to face, but so much of street level policing is being able to talk to people from all walks of life, and to communicate with them. Then, having to explain the events into a detailed, sequential report. I like to think I am pretty well versed in writing and communication, but fresh out of college is no substitute for life experience either.
Its interesting to explain this to people, then to have to look at reports written by 15-24 year veterans of street patrol stuck in the old ways of IBM Selectrics and four colors of white out who still type narratives like this:
UPON ARRIVING AT THE CALL I SPOKE TO PARTIES WHO AGREED TO LEAVE AND THE DISPUTE WAS RESOLVED TO EVERYONE'S SATISTFACTION. PARTIES TOLD TO COME BACK LATER TO PICK UP PERSONAL ITEMS.
Stop shouting! Of course this is a made up narrative based upon an actual one reading very similar. I think I used too much punctuation in my example though. You can't teach old dogs new tricks, but the young pups can learn it the right (write?) way. Take the English classes. Every CJ class I have ever taken has been 100% useless to me as a street cop.