Joining the Police

Author
Discussion

Derek Smith

46,422 posts

254 months

Monday 5th July 2021
quotequote all
Dibble said:
It's not just the risk of being assaulted on duty. Dealing with the dregs and being repeatedly exposed to trauma will damage you mentally, no matter how robust you think you are. There is the constant worry of missing something with safeguarding, the cumulative damaging effects of working shifts and the fact that assaults on police are massively under reported and under recorded. You're much more likely to be assaulted - and more seriously - outside the big cities, because there are far few officers to attend and to back up.

Just because you don't know officers that haven't been assaulted doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Thankfully, serious assaults on officers are pretty rare, but they do happen. Less serious assaults are common and I'm amazed there are a discrete group of 12 officers who've never been assaulted throughout their entire, cumulative careers.

I'm not saying there aren't work and other stresses for people working in cyber security, but I'm pretty confident no one in that field has had to squeegee a jumper from the pavement, review and grade tens of thousands of indecent images of adults having sex with children and young babies, or do a line search for "bits" of a person after an RTA or a train suicide, been first on scene at a cot death, been first on scene at a domestic murder where the male party had repeatedly battered the female party to death with the pointy bit of an iron, swinging with such force that the entire walls, floor and ceiling of the kitchen looked like a Jackson Pollock painting, leaving nothing of the woman recognisable above the shoulders other than a bloody stump where her head used to be.
Some of the scenes don't bear remembering. One of my PCs turned up to a bloke who'd died while sitting a couple of feet from an electric fire. She was in a right state (so was he of course, and the bites from the cats didn't help). I sent her home to hubby and she took an extra day off, then was back to work. Apologised of all things.

I've had sleepless nights of course but then, who hasn't? Apart from promotion chasers.

I was injured a number of times in my early career. I had no expectations that I'd come through without physical scars and I wonder where this miraculous dozen police. I don't particularly blame those who injured me; often if I'd been more experienced, I'd not have been hurt.

I broke three vertebrae in 1978 and it's only been recently where it's given me a bit of stick. I'm pleased that that doctors' prognosis was 20 years out. My knees are damaged, a couple of broken toes, chipped shin bone which means the slightest knock takes months on occasion to heal. An arthritic jaw from a double punch - I blame that bloke. A colleague, Lefty, can’t turn his head to the right. About the same as the ex rugby players at my club of similar vintage.

However, the worst for me was the mental damage. Four and a half years of torture for my wife and kids while I was off with the fairies. I’m better now, but it’s a bit like my right shin. It wasn’t pleasant, but was totally avoidable. All they had to do was follow guidelines, especially those that got in the way. On top of that, and making it worse, was the way I was treated by those trying to ensure I didn't claim anything.

The job, at least for me, had compensations that outweighed the physical damage, and by some distance. I've worked in teams in dangerous situations where we had to look after one-another. There’s a buzz to that. I’ve chased offenders on foot – much more exciting than blues and twos.

I’ve saved lives, and there’re people out there who wouldn’t be if it wasn’t for me. I’ve gone into a mob, of a thousand or two, with five colleagues to rescue two coppers who were being viciously kicked, one on the ground and being stamped on. When we dragged them back to police lines, other coppers applauded us. That’s one memory that’s worth limping for a few days.

Pothole

34,367 posts

288 months

Monday 5th July 2021
quotequote all
Cliffe60 said:
They have the same choice as anyone else if they don’t like the job.
I really resent the current public attitude fired up by the media that unless you work for the NHS, emergency services or military, your job is second rate and somehow inferior and unimportant.
The job I was describing ( not mine), is in cyber security, which left unchecked would bring the country and world’s economy down quicker than the police walking away.


Edited by Cliffe60 on Monday 5th July 11:01
I reckon that might be a photo finish. Nobody sitting in the warm with hot and cold running pizza and coke is going to be hailed as a hero in any universe. Get over it.

Red 4

10,744 posts

193 months

Monday 5th July 2021
quotequote all
Cliffe60 said:
I know about a dozen recently retired or soon to be retiring coppers and none have even had a scratch on duty, that’s about 300 years service between them.
I think outside the big cities , the chance of getting hurt , is pretty low.
I was medically retired as a result of injuries received in the execution of duty. My injury is permanent, it has got worse and, having tried all treatments known to medical science, the only option is now pain management. A serious assault ended my career.
TBH I'm glad to be out but not so glad to carry the injury for life.
Having been a regular at The Police Treatment Centres (Charities set up to help sick and injured police officers) I think you are underestimating the number of officers who get hurt and, possibly, the nature of those injuries. I've met some officers who were pretty knackered.
My injuries were not sustained in the city.

vonhosen

40,497 posts

223 months

Monday 5th July 2021
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Of course they can leave & that's what I did.
Now I earn more & work less.

edthefed

721 posts

73 months

Monday 5th July 2021
quotequote all
I did my full 30

Physical injuries in that time

Numerous broken bones
Bitten
Serious neck injury that almost left me paralysed
Hearing loss (noise induced through work)
Also Disarmed a man with a gun who had just robbed a petrol station, had a man charge at me with an axe, had someone trying to take my head off with a length of 2x2
The list goes on and on those things are easy to deal with

Ive also been diagnosed with PTSD arising from a "domestic" murder, father killed mum and then tried to kill the very young daughter. Mum was clearly deceased on our arrival, toddler barely alive and despite our best efforts she died en route to hospital.

Even now years later i have nightmares, wake up at night back at the scene, still covered in the blood of a 2yr old and feeling responsible for the death of a child

Red 4

10,744 posts

193 months

Monday 5th July 2021
quotequote all
Sorry to hear that edthefed.
I think some people underestimate the psychological effects certain jobs have on police officers but we are all human after all.
No shame in admitting stuff affects you. I know I think about a job very similar to the one you describe from time to time.
I hope things get easier for you.

Don Roque

18,063 posts

165 months

Tuesday 6th July 2021
quotequote all
Cliffe60 said:
I know about a dozen recently retired or soon to be retiring coppers and none have even had a scratch on duty, that’s about 300 years service between them.
I think outside the big cities , the chance of getting hurt , is pretty low.
Ooh, are they taking transfers? laugh

In all seriousness, anyone with experience of a mixed force area will tell you the chances of running into trouble outside of a built up area are pretty good. The line at training school, no longer applicable since the cuts, went something like "laugh all you like at the chaps going to the rural stations and make your jokes about shifts spent chasing sheep off the road. In the towns you'll be wrestling with drunks every day. In the sticks you won't be, but when you do your backup will be 30 minutes away rather than just around the corner".

Although in truth, in some areas you'd be lucky to get there in 30 minutes in an advanced car, with that being a number they pulled out of thin air to make a point.

Pothole

34,367 posts

288 months

Tuesday 6th July 2021
quotequote all
Red 4 said:
Sorry to hear that edthefed.
I think some people underestimate the psychological effects certain jobs have on police officers but we are all human after all.
No shame in admitting stuff affects you. I know I think about a job very similar to the one you describe from time to time.
I hope things get easier for you.
Nothing compared to that one time the cyber security blokey had to stay after 5 pm, though, is it?


Edited by Pothole on Wednesday 7th July 13:14

LosingGrip

Original Poster:

7,948 posts

165 months

Tuesday 6th July 2021
quotequote all
Don Roque said:
Ooh, are they taking transfers? laugh

In all seriousness, anyone with experience of a mixed force area will tell you the chances of running into trouble outside of a built up area are pretty good. The line at training school, no longer applicable since the cuts, went something like "laugh all you like at the chaps going to the rural stations and make your jokes about shifts spent chasing sheep off the road. In the towns you'll be wrestling with drunks every day. In the sticks you won't be, but when you do your backup will be 30 minutes away rather than just around the corner".

Although in truth, in some areas you'd be lucky to get there in 30 minutes in an advanced car, with that being a number they pulled out of thin air to make a point.
My patch is 240 square miles. Mostly rural.

Furthest point of the patch is 40 minutes from my station. I’ve done it in 30 before. But that was perfect conditions. No traffic as it was 0615 on a Sunday. The roads are st.

Nights we have two of us. Nearest back up will be an hour away. Further if they aren’t at that hub station.

Twice I’ve had to call for assistance. Both times backup was fairly close as in 20 minutes.

We often talk about different policing skills in different areas. Some of the cops in the towns come across as rude in my mind at times. Knowing if they wind someone up and end up fighting back up is a few moments away.

We have to be friendly with them.

Maximus Decimus Meridius

1,230 posts

47 months

Tuesday 6th July 2021
quotequote all
Pothole said:
Red 4 said:
Sorry to hear that edthefed.
I think some people underestimate the psychological effects certain jobs have on police officers but we are all human after all.
No shame in admitting stuff affects you. I know I think about a job very similar to the one you describe from time to time.
I hope things get easier for you.
Nothing compared to that one time the cyber security blokey had to stay after 5 mp, though, is it?
Speaking as a psychologist I have treated police officers who have some terrible problems.
Given what some of them experience it is unsurprising. Some of the things will be totally alien to the average person on the street.

anonymous-user

60 months

Tuesday 6th July 2021
quotequote all
Maximus Decimus Meridius said:
Pothole said:
Red 4 said:
Sorry to hear that edthefed.
I think some people underestimate the psychological effects certain jobs have on police officers but we are all human after all.
No shame in admitting stuff affects you. I know I think about a job very similar to the one you describe from time to time.
I hope things get easier for you.
Nothing compared to that one time the cyber security blokey had to stay after 5 mp, though, is it?
Speaking as a psychologist I have treated police officers who have some terrible problems.
Given what some of them experience it is unsurprising. Some of the things will be totally alien to the average person on the street.
I’m not unsympathetic but surely you know what you’re getting into when you join the police?

Bigends

5,667 posts

134 months

Tuesday 6th July 2021
quotequote all
Cliffe60 said:
Maximus Decimus Meridius said:
Pothole said:
Red 4 said:
Sorry to hear that edthefed.
I think some people underestimate the psychological effects certain jobs have on police officers but we are all human after all.
No shame in admitting stuff affects you. I know I think about a job very similar to the one you describe from time to time.
I hope things get easier for you.
Nothing compared to that one time the cyber security blokey had to stay after 5 mp, though, is it?
Speaking as a psychologist I have treated police officers who have some terrible problems.
Given what some of them experience it is unsurprising. Some of the things will be totally alien to the average person on the street.
I’m not unsympathetic but surely you know what you’re getting into when you join the police?
True, personally never had any problems (that I know of) following any of the nasties I attended, however everybodys threshold is different

Maximus Decimus Meridius

1,230 posts

47 months

Tuesday 6th July 2021
quotequote all
Cliffe60 said:
Maximus Decimus Meridius said:
Pothole said:
Red 4 said:
Sorry to hear that edthefed.
I think some people underestimate the psychological effects certain jobs have on police officers but we are all human after all.
No shame in admitting stuff affects you. I know I think about a job very similar to the one you describe from time to time.
I hope things get easier for you.
Nothing compared to that one time the cyber security blokey had to stay after 5 mp, though, is it?
Speaking as a psychologist I have treated police officers who have some terrible problems.
Given what some of them experience it is unsurprising. Some of the things will be totally alien to the average person on the street.
I’m not unsympathetic but surely you know what you’re getting into when you join the police?
I'm not entirely sure what your point is Cliffe60.
Are you suggesting that because/ if people have an idea what they may be dealing with then their experiences should not affect them ?

edthefed

721 posts

73 months

Tuesday 6th July 2021
quotequote all
I never had a problem till after i retired when things came back to haunt me.

As for the comments "you know what you are getting"

Nothing can prepare you for turning arriving at a scene to find a young mum stabbed to death, a toddler stabbed repeatedly and seriously injured and whilst you try to stem the bleeding / give mouth to mouth whilst at the same time dealing with the father / husband still armed with a knife and intent on causing more injury !

I must have missed the training that prepared me for that !

superlightr

12,899 posts

269 months

Tuesday 6th July 2021
quotequote all
edthefed said:
I never had a problem till after i retired when things came back to haunt me.

As for the comments "you know what you are getting"

Nothing can prepare you for turning arriving at a scene to find a young mum stabbed to death, a toddler stabbed repeatedly and seriously injured and whilst you try to stem the bleeding / give mouth to mouth whilst at the same time dealing with the father / husband still armed with a knife and intent on causing more injury !

I must have missed the training that prepared me for that !
i think it can well be a cumulative effect, perhaps no one single event but a build up.

This I believe can happen in all manner of jobs which involve different levels of stress.
I think traumatic events (such as the police experience) may accelerate the stress for sure but a steady build up does occur for many people I believe.

My theory maybe bks.

Kaelic

2,696 posts

207 months

Tuesday 6th July 2021
quotequote all
Some great but sobering reading in this thread.

I am probably the opposite of what the some of the retiring cops are doing, I am a Network/Cyber security full timer who is becoming a special at the ripe old age of 46!

When people have asked me why, I say why not? I work Monday-Friday full time (but from home) and with child all grown up its time to go and do something for my community, even if it's checking the local park is safe or something, but at least I will be doing some good with my spare time.

I know specials are a bit meh, but even if I am the second person in a normally single crewed car/van I can be there to help the regular or at least (hopefully) help ease the pressure on regulars.

Have a very close friend who went special > regular > arv and he was a big infulence, but I have no aspirations of ever going regular.

One thing I would like to ask is what is the opinion of regulars on specials at the minute? I am hoping to be an asset rather than a hinderance but its going to be a steep learning curve for a couple of years but something I am looking forward to!

Cheers and keep safe!


LosingGrip

Original Poster:

7,948 posts

165 months

Tuesday 6th July 2021
quotequote all
Kaelic said:
Some great but sobering reading in this thread.

I am probably the opposite of what the some of the retiring cops are doing, I am a Network/Cyber security full timer who is becoming a special at the ripe old age of 46!

When people have asked me why, I say why not? I work Monday-Friday full time (but from home) and with child all grown up its time to go and do something for my community, even if it's checking the local park is safe or something, but at least I will be doing some good with my spare time.

I know specials are a bit meh, but even if I am the second person in a normally single crewed car/van I can be there to help the regular or at least (hopefully) help ease the pressure on regulars.

Have a very close friend who went special > regular > arv and he was a big infulence, but I have no aspirations of ever going regular.

One thing I would like to ask is what is the opinion of regulars on specials at the minute? I am hoping to be an asset rather than a hinderance but its going to be a steep learning curve for a couple of years but something I am looking forward to!

Cheers and keep safe!
Good luck!

I was a special for nine and a bit years in total. I’ve got a lot of time for them (I certainly wouldn’t do it for free now!). You get some st ones, but you get some st regulars as well.

What worked for me was aligning my shifts to the same squad. That way they learnt about me and I learnt about them.

You won’t be expected to know everything.

Ask lots of questions when the time is right.

You can get a lot out of it if you put time in.

BossHogg

6,166 posts

184 months

Tuesday 6th July 2021
quotequote all
Kaelic said:
Some great but sobering reading in this thread.

I am probably the opposite of what the some of the retiring cops are doing, I am a Network/Cyber security full timer who is becoming a special at the ripe old age of 46!

When people have asked me why, I say why not? I work Monday-Friday full time (but from home) and with child all grown up its time to go and do something for my community, even if it's checking the local park is safe or something, but at least I will be doing some good with my spare time.

I know specials are a bit meh, but even if I am the second person in a normally single crewed car/van I can be there to help the regular or at least (hopefully) help ease the pressure on regulars.

Have a very close friend who went special > regular > arv and he was a big infulence, but I have no aspirations of ever going regular.

One thing I would like to ask is what is the opinion of regulars on specials at the minute? I am hoping to be an asset rather than a hinderance but its going to be a steep learning curve for a couple of years but something I am looking forward to!

Cheers and keep safe!
I'm sort of in the opposite direction, Highways traffic officer in the day job, but volunteer as a community first responder for the ambulance service in my spare time.

Maximus Decimus Meridius

1,230 posts

47 months

Tuesday 6th July 2021
quotequote all
superlightr said:
i think it can well be a cumulative effect, perhaps no one single event but a build up.

This I believe can happen in all manner of jobs which involve different levels of stress.
I think traumatic events (such as the police experience) may accelerate the stress for sure but a steady build up does occur for many people I believe.

My theory maybe bks.
Repeated exposure to trauma can cause psychological problems.
A single exposure to trauma can cause problems;
some people may be exposed to trauma repeatedly but that one incident sticks with them.
No simple answer I'm afraid.
Physical injury caused by trauma/ chronic pain has links to PTSD (pain and psychological trauma share the same neural pathways in the brain and serve to maintain each other).
The list goes on ...

Who me ?

7,455 posts

218 months

Tuesday 6th July 2021
quotequote all
LosingGrip said:
My patch is 240 square miles. Mostly rural.

Furthest point of the patch is 40 minutes from my station. I’ve done it in 30 before. But that was perfect conditions. No traffic as it was 0615 on a Sunday. The roads are st.

Nights we have two of us. Nearest back up will be an hour away. Further if they aren’t at that hub station.

Twice I’ve had to call for assistance. Both times backup was fairly close, as in 20 minutes.

We often talk about different policing skills in different areas. Some of the cops in the towns come across as rude in my mind at times. Knowing if they wind someone up and end up fighting back up is a few moments away.

We have to be friendly with them.
The point was driven home a few( or more) years ago. Council had an empty flat in a block close to us, where the LA had ideas of making it into a drop in centre. Town area. Local beat lad came to us ( as resident's association) to help him with his case as we had contact with those in charge and our county councillor was on our side. His argument was that at the right time of day he'd be on his own with help at least 10 minuts away.