Hello all, Officer J here, this is my first post to the new blog.  I’d like to take a minute to introduce myself and why I am here.  For nearly the last (14) years I have been an officer for the largest agency in my jurisdiction.  Over the years, I have been faced with unrelenting adversity, have had to look deep into some of the worst situations humans put themselves in, had to keep my sanity, and also fight for the good people of the community.  All the adversity and evil I have faced over the years, pales in comparison to the landscape for police officers today in our country.

Growing up as a poor child in a rural community, I remember viewing the local police officers almost as Gods.  It was not uncommon to see an officer walk into a restaurant and everyone would turn around, after they realized who had entered they would look upon the officer with such admiration and respect. I saw those officers as real life superheroes, that were pure in heart and mind.  “Can you imagine putting on that shiny badge and helping good people every day for your job?” I used to ask my mother when I would see an officer.  It was apparent to me from an early age that being a police officer was the only thing I could do with my life.  I always felt a tug on my heart for police work.

In order to obtain that goal, I worked hard in school and tried my best to stay out of trouble.  As a young adult the hard work didn’t stop, I even went to college and received a criminal justice degree while working multiple jobs.  I was on a mission and nothing was going to get in my way or change my mind.  Finally, I was hired and accepted into the police academy, and let me tell you it was tough!  The academy felt like it was going to drag on for the rest of my life.  It took months and months of training just to be able to serve and protect the community, and I felt like it was worth every single minute.

All that work and training culminated on graduation day!  I remember graduating from the police academy like it was yesterday.  All my family arrived in support of me, I was so proud I felt like my chest would bust.  After we graduated we had our badges pinned on our freshly pressed uniforms.  That was exactly what I had been waiting on.  I was an actual police officer, now I could get to work and help the good people of my community with all their problems.

As a new officer, I thought I could fix every problem I was faced with, put every criminal in jail, and solve every crime I had to investigate.

Then………

Over the years, I was utterly beaten down by all those problems society actually has, all the evil that exists, all the problems with the system, all the other cogs in the system that have zero accountability, all the terrible ways people actually treat each other, all the deplorable ways children are taken care of by their jackass parents,  all the children who are abused and sexually assaulted, and last but surely not least all the bullshit with the administration of the department I work for.  ALL these issues are issues that I have had to deal with on a daily basis.  While dealing with these it was also expected that I just keep my mouth shut.  Not to mention doing all this with a constant target on my back.  It gets to the point where you tell yourself daily, “Just keep my head down and keep on doing your job to the very best of your ability.”

Even with all these problems, I still thoroughly enjoy my job and when I can actually help a good person it is one of the most rewarding feelings someone can have.  

Most of the veteran police officers I have spoken to over the years feel exactly the same way.  Even with all the issues we are faced with we all take great pride in our careers and how we carry out our duties.  We act professionally and act impartially even though we often know how the situation will end.  

Even rookie police officers have already come to the realization that police work is a thankless job.  It also quickly becomes apparent every movement and action is scrutinized by every part of the system, the public, and the administration.  They still scrutinize us even though they have never had to face the same situation they are scrutinizing.

The current cultural climate for police officers is one of distrust and disgust.  I never thought during my lifetime that society would feel the way they do for police officers, just because the media is telling them to feel this way.  If the truth was displayed to the public or even true statistics on police work they would support us.  We all know that isn’t going to happen anytime soon.  I am still proud to be a police officer and I know that a large sector of the public are proud of police officers and the work we do.

After working in law enforcement for as long as I have I know that officers have skin as thick as steel and will not let this affect them.  Can you imagine what utter pandemonium would ensue without police officers.  What about a world with police officers who simply give up?  It would be like the movie The Purge every single day.

This is why Officer E and myself started this blog.  Officer E and myself have worked together for years and he is one of my best pals.  We are going to focus on the things that piss police officers off, the good things police officers are doing, and break down the myths of police work being spun by the media.

Please feel free to contact us and share your opinions or positive stories involving police officers.  We may post about what you send us.  Also, please pass this blog onto other like minded people and officers.  We want to help get the truth out there.  Unlike the rest of the world now, this is a 100% pro-police blog.  

Always watch your six and keep your brothers and sisters in blue safe.