In a matter of a few weeks, I'll be just another private citizen again after 30 years wearing a star. In that time the profession has undergone tremendous changes....some good, some absolutely disastrous. The last few years have seen more of the latter unfortunately.
I started my career carrying a S&W Model 28 with 2 HKS speedloaders, Mace, a 26" wood baton, and a pair of handcuffs. Radios were the old MX bricks that had to be checked out at the beginning of the shift. Sometimes there weren't enough to go around, so only one partner got a radio. We also walked a lot of beats in neighborhoods not conducive to it because there weren't enough cars to go around. Dispatchers got frustrated calling a sector car for an 'A' priority emergency call, only to be told we'd respond as soon as the next bus showed up. Seriously.
Flash forward to today: cops have external vests with rifle plate options, semiautomatic pistols, nasty face melting pepper spray, lighter/smaller/ more capable radios, smart phones, body cameras, RCB collapsible batons, patrol rifles w/Aimpoint T2 sights. And even enough cars to go around....with ballistic panels in the doors!
That said, the changes to law and policy have been mostly detrimental to the performance of police work. Those of us in the profession know all too well that the actual "reform" that the profession needed was in the areas of recruiting and training. Those areas were either untouched, or further damaged by the meddling of academics or activists with an agenda that did not include public safety.
The last 4 years have been the only non-field position I've held in 30 years. I had high hopes for finally being able to impact training in a positive way. I think we did for awhile, but changing a culture takes longer, and takes the recruiting piece too. We dramatically improved the Academy firearms program, and this year finally got the opportunity to push those changes out for in service folks too. But the culture of "I'm a red hat. I don't need to show you. Do as I say" is very entrenched. There was resentment at the directive that you needed to be able to do and demonstrate what you asked people to do....every time. Part of it was lack of confidence. Part was just pure laziness. As I wind down, I see the laziness starting to again take hold. Efforts to interest my instructors in their own skill development fall on deaf ears. Most Police Firearms Instructors just don't really care about shooting when it comes right down to it. Sad but true.
I knew this was coming, and I've been making my peace with it. It's difficult though, to watch the learned helplessness take hold of the young guys still in the field. To watch the complete collapse of a 173 year old institution that you served for more than half your life. To watch the profession in many areas be dismantled by fools and malcontents.
I'm proud of what we did while we were doing it....but sad at watching the rot take hold. No builder would feel only pride and satisfaction watching a home he'd just finished be deliberately burned to the ground as he walked away. I wish I'd been able to make more lasting change. But we're only one small part of a crumbling institution. 565 sworn eligible to retire June 30. And resignations by young folks are outpacing retirements by almost 2 to 1. Several very 10-8 young cops, who I had a lot of hope for turning the institution around some day, told me in the last 2 days they're leaving.
I look forward to retirement. And I'm also heartbroken for the folks left behind. Sorry. The last few weeks have left me in a maudlin state for someone about to get the ultimate promotion.
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