| but |
| There are Five Indispensable Truths for a Successful Police Career: |
It's not just a job. As a police officer, you'll be
entrusted with enormous power . . . no other
government official has the breadth of
authority as does a police officer.
entrusted with enormous power . . . no other
government official has the breadth of
authority as does a police officer.
| Self-evaluation for a police career Recognizing and ignoring bad advice Rapid advancement toward self-sufficiency The immeasurable importance of integrity Matters of life and death |
| Copyright © 2006 - 2013 - Barry M. Baker - CareerPoliceOfficer.com |
| CareerPoliceOfficer.com is not responsible for the contents of any linked site or any link contained in a linked site, or any changes or updates to such sites. Links are provided only as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by this site. |
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| What's inside this book? |
| . . . |
| Browse the sample chapters. |
Product Details: $12.95 US
ISBN: 0595380786
Format: Paperback, 6 x 9, 112 pp
Pub. Date: March 2006
Publisher: Iuniverse, Incorporated
ISBN: 0595380786
Format: Paperback, 6 x 9, 112 pp
Pub. Date: March 2006
Publisher: Iuniverse, Incorporated
Chapter 1 Are You Ready for a Career as a Police Officer?
Chapter 2 Choosing a Police Department
Chapter 3 Recruit Training
Chapter 4 Patrol... Your First Assignment
Chapter 5 Specialized Assignments
Chapter 6 Promotions
Chapter 7 Never, Ever Lie
Chapter 8 The Police Report
Chapter 9 The Traffic Accident Report
Chapter 10 Police and Computers
Chapter 11 The Court Room
Chapter 12 The Prosecutor
Chapter 13 Sergeants... The Good, The Bad, The
Incompetent
Chapter 14 Supervisor's Complaint
Chapter 15 Internal Investigations
Chapter 16 Sexual Harassment
Chapter 17 Domestic Violence
Chapter 18 Emergency Response and Vehicle Pursuits
Chapter 19 Use of Force
Chapter 20 Deadly Force
Chapter 21 The Mental Case
Chapter 22 For Women Only
Chapter 23 Modern Community Policing
Chapter 24 The Media
Chapter 2 Choosing a Police Department
Chapter 3 Recruit Training
Chapter 4 Patrol... Your First Assignment
Chapter 5 Specialized Assignments
Chapter 6 Promotions
Chapter 7 Never, Ever Lie
Chapter 8 The Police Report
Chapter 9 The Traffic Accident Report
Chapter 10 Police and Computers
Chapter 11 The Court Room
Chapter 12 The Prosecutor
Chapter 13 Sergeants... The Good, The Bad, The
Incompetent
Chapter 14 Supervisor's Complaint
Chapter 15 Internal Investigations
Chapter 16 Sexual Harassment
Chapter 17 Domestic Violence
Chapter 18 Emergency Response and Vehicle Pursuits
Chapter 19 Use of Force
Chapter 20 Deadly Force
Chapter 21 The Mental Case
Chapter 22 For Women Only
Chapter 23 Modern Community Policing
Chapter 24 The Media
| Disclaimer |
In 1991, I was promoted to sergeant where I supervised a squad of fourteen
patrol officers. In 1994, I was promoted to lieutenant. As a lieutenant, I
served as a patrol shift commander and later as a special operations
commander. I ended my career in 2004 as a detective lieutenant where I
supervised three detective sergeants and sixteen detectives.
While all of my supervisory positions were most fulfilling, I look back fondly
on those twenty years as a patrol officer. While constant exposure to murder,
rape, and mayhem can have negative effects on some people, my experiences
from those years only fortified my beliefs in fate and one's destiny. When a
man tries to stab you several times, and he misses each time, it makes you
wonder. When a man tries to shoot you, but he fails, because his heavy
gloves prevent him from getting his index finger inside the revolver's trigger
guard, giving you time to grab the gun, you feel blessed. When a man points
a sawed-off rifle at you and pulls the trigger, and the gun misfires, you know
you're blessed.
When I sat down to write Becoming a Police Officer: An Insider's Guide to a
Career in Law Enforcement, I soon realized that I wanted to give young men
and women the best possible advice to help them avoid the pitfalls they'll
encounter as police officers. Police departments are younger than ever
before, and experienced leadership is sorely lacking. Becoming a Police
Officer: An Insider's Guide to a Career in Law Enforcement is not a collection
of war stories; it is a serious discussion of issues which will make or break a
police officer's career.
While Becoming a Police: An Insider's Guide to a Career in Law Enforcement is
invaluable for those contemplating a career in police work, it's a most
informative and entertaining read that will appeal to anyone who is simply
interested in police work, and the perils faced by police officers.
patrol officers. In 1994, I was promoted to lieutenant. As a lieutenant, I
served as a patrol shift commander and later as a special operations
commander. I ended my career in 2004 as a detective lieutenant where I
supervised three detective sergeants and sixteen detectives.
While all of my supervisory positions were most fulfilling, I look back fondly
on those twenty years as a patrol officer. While constant exposure to murder,
rape, and mayhem can have negative effects on some people, my experiences
from those years only fortified my beliefs in fate and one's destiny. When a
man tries to stab you several times, and he misses each time, it makes you
wonder. When a man tries to shoot you, but he fails, because his heavy
gloves prevent him from getting his index finger inside the revolver's trigger
guard, giving you time to grab the gun, you feel blessed. When a man points
a sawed-off rifle at you and pulls the trigger, and the gun misfires, you know
you're blessed.
When I sat down to write Becoming a Police Officer: An Insider's Guide to a
Career in Law Enforcement, I soon realized that I wanted to give young men
and women the best possible advice to help them avoid the pitfalls they'll
encounter as police officers. Police departments are younger than ever
before, and experienced leadership is sorely lacking. Becoming a Police
Officer: An Insider's Guide to a Career in Law Enforcement is not a collection
of war stories; it is a serious discussion of issues which will make or break a
police officer's career.
While Becoming a Police: An Insider's Guide to a Career in Law Enforcement is
invaluable for those contemplating a career in police work, it's a most
informative and entertaining read that will appeal to anyone who is simply
interested in police work, and the perils faced by police officers.
| Becoming a Police Officer An Insider's Guide to a Career in Law Enforcement Barry M. Baker |
"Barry Baker was a street cop for 20 years in a very tough town before taking
promotion. He accurately reflects the central role of patrol - street work - and
does not sugar-coat or avoid difficult issues. The conciseness of the book is a
strength. His advice to young people is genuine and not idealistic or poorly
informed. A nice job."
promotion. He accurately reflects the central role of patrol - street work - and
does not sugar-coat or avoid difficult issues. The conciseness of the book is a
strength. His advice to young people is genuine and not idealistic or poorly
informed. A nice job."
David Ziskin
| St. John, WA (USA) |
| David Ziskin is Author of The Real Police |
Career
Police Officer
Book Store
Police Officer
Book Store
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| About the Author: |
Detective Lieutenant Barry M. Baker retired from the Baltimore Police Department in
2004. During his thirty-two year career, Baker served as a patrol officer, sergeant, and
lieutenant, as well as a special operations lieutenant and detective lieutenant. Baker spent
the first twenty years of his career as a patrol officer, making him uniquely qualified to
speak from a breadth and depth of experience.
2004. During his thirty-two year career, Baker served as a patrol officer, sergeant, and
lieutenant, as well as a special operations lieutenant and detective lieutenant. Baker spent
the first twenty years of his career as a patrol officer, making him uniquely qualified to
speak from a breadth and depth of experience.
Perhaps it's true that nobody likes a cop, but what a wonderful adventure it is. In 1971, I embarked on that
adventure in the City of Baltimore, Maryland. I began my career walking a foot post where murder, robbery,
and every variation of violence was the order of the day. For twenty years thereafter, I remained where I
began. Of course, I eventually got four wheels beneath me and a blue light above me. The mobility of the radio
car only exposed me to more of man's inhumanity to man. Early in my career, I dated a young woman who
insisted I should leave the police department and find a real job. Fortunately, I chose the police department,
and ten years later, I found a real woman.
adventure in the City of Baltimore, Maryland. I began my career walking a foot post where murder, robbery,
and every variation of violence was the order of the day. For twenty years thereafter, I remained where I
began. Of course, I eventually got four wheels beneath me and a blue light above me. The mobility of the radio
car only exposed me to more of man's inhumanity to man. Early in my career, I dated a young woman who
insisted I should leave the police department and find a real job. Fortunately, I chose the police department,
and ten years later, I found a real woman.
"The question is, when would a person's use of an automobile
justify your use of deadly force to stop that person? The word
never comes to mind; even though, one can never say never to the
use of deadly force when a dangerous person is in possession of,
and utilizing, any instrument of deadly force. If you're sufficiently
confused, you should be, for shooting at a person utilizing no other
weapon than the automobile he or she is operating is the most
difficult use of deadly force justification you could ever attempt to
make."
justify your use of deadly force to stop that person? The word
never comes to mind; even though, one can never say never to the
use of deadly force when a dangerous person is in possession of,
and utilizing, any instrument of deadly force. If you're sufficiently
confused, you should be, for shooting at a person utilizing no other
weapon than the automobile he or she is operating is the most
difficult use of deadly force justification you could ever attempt to
make."
From Chapter 20 - Deadly Force
| Amazon.com |
| Barnes & Noble.com |
| iUniverse.com |
| Police Author's Personal Website |
As a police officer, you'll see and
experience things most people only read
about. It's the best education on Earth . . .
experience things most people only read
about. It's the best education on Earth . . .
 | |  |
| Police and Law Enforcement Books |
| Police Career Information |
A police officer's career can
end before it gets started . . .
When young men and women
begin their law enforcement
careers as police officers, they
have no idea just how many
pitfalls lay before them. Too
many new police officers listen
to bad advice, and they develop
bad working habits. Those bad
habits can result in career
ending consequences, sooner
than later, for a new police
officer.
end before it gets started . . .
When young men and women
begin their law enforcement
careers as police officers, they
have no idea just how many
pitfalls lay before them. Too
many new police officers listen
to bad advice, and they develop
bad working habits. Those bad
habits can result in career
ending consequences, sooner
than later, for a new police
officer.
People often look back over their lives and think
about what they would have done differently. I'm
one of the lucky ones. I chose a police career, and
I've never regretted that decision. In fact, I'd do it
all over again.
Your entire existence is about life and living, and
there aren't that many careers you could consider
that will touch the lives of others as much as your
decision to become a police officer.
I often refer to a police career as the best education
on earth, because it simply is just that. You'll
interact at every level of society, and you'll exert
your authority from minor to enormous effect.
I mention in my book introduction that I believe in
one's destiny. I think it's a good belief for a police
officer since a police career is inherently dangerous.
However, only a fool tempts fate.
Police work is a lot harder and more complicated
than many people believe. Knowledge and courage
will be your most important allies...did I mention
knowledge? While courage is an indispensable
character trait for police work, your continuous
pursuit of knowledge is indispensable for a
successful police career.
It just gets better. I retired at a great time. Thanks
to modern technology, I'm able to publish a book
with tremendous exposure, and the Internet allows
me to continually dispense advice to those of you
who would be police officers.
Come back often...this site's only going to get bigger.
about what they would have done differently. I'm
one of the lucky ones. I chose a police career, and
I've never regretted that decision. In fact, I'd do it
all over again.
Your entire existence is about life and living, and
there aren't that many careers you could consider
that will touch the lives of others as much as your
decision to become a police officer.
I often refer to a police career as the best education
on earth, because it simply is just that. You'll
interact at every level of society, and you'll exert
your authority from minor to enormous effect.
I mention in my book introduction that I believe in
one's destiny. I think it's a good belief for a police
officer since a police career is inherently dangerous.
However, only a fool tempts fate.
Police work is a lot harder and more complicated
than many people believe. Knowledge and courage
will be your most important allies...did I mention
knowledge? While courage is an indispensable
character trait for police work, your continuous
pursuit of knowledge is indispensable for a
successful police career.
It just gets better. I retired at a great time. Thanks
to modern technology, I'm able to publish a book
with tremendous exposure, and the Internet allows
me to continually dispense advice to those of you
who would be police officers.
Come back often...this site's only going to get bigger.
| A Most Honorable and Important Profession |
| Introduction |
New police officers usually begin their
careers possessing one of two psychological
mind sets. The first will be based on
idealism, and the belief that people really
aren't that bad. This view dictates that the
authority of a police officer should be
exercised rarely and sparingly since the
police officer's ability to reason with people
will almost always resolve any situation.
The second mind set will rest solely on the
authority and power conveyed by the badge
the police officer wears. In this mind set,
the police officer will make a quick and
final determination for the solution of any
situation based upon the police officer's
initial understanding, or impression, of
circumstances.
While the first mind set is naive, it's
probably the best way to start. You'll
quickly learn a lot of people are just simply
bad, and you'll soon start moving toward
the middle of the mind set scale. The
second mind set isn't nearly as susceptible
to change as the first. Power can be as
intoxicating as any drug and just as
difficult to control. Hopefully, whichever
mind set, or degree of mind set, you
possess in the beginning, you'll learn how
to most effectively, and efficiently, find the
right balance to exercise reason with power
and power with reason.
careers possessing one of two psychological
mind sets. The first will be based on
idealism, and the belief that people really
aren't that bad. This view dictates that the
authority of a police officer should be
exercised rarely and sparingly since the
police officer's ability to reason with people
will almost always resolve any situation.
The second mind set will rest solely on the
authority and power conveyed by the badge
the police officer wears. In this mind set,
the police officer will make a quick and
final determination for the solution of any
situation based upon the police officer's
initial understanding, or impression, of
circumstances.
While the first mind set is naive, it's
probably the best way to start. You'll
quickly learn a lot of people are just simply
bad, and you'll soon start moving toward
the middle of the mind set scale. The
second mind set isn't nearly as susceptible
to change as the first. Power can be as
intoxicating as any drug and just as
difficult to control. Hopefully, whichever
mind set, or degree of mind set, you
possess in the beginning, you'll learn how
to most effectively, and efficiently, find the
right balance to exercise reason with power
and power with reason.
The New Police Officer
Self-Satisfaction
There are very few professions wherein any single individual can have
a dramatic impact on anything on a relatively frequent basis. While
police officers are not immediately recognized for their importance to
society, one needs only to imagine even our supposedly enlightened
society without police officers. Think about this…without the social
order ensured by police officers, no one, in any profession, could
accomplish anything.
Okay…that's the big picture. The small picture is you, as an
individual police officer, and how often you have a dramatic impact on
the lives of others. Your impact can be positive even when it's
negative for an individual. If you arrest a person for drunk driving,
it's a negative impact for that person, but your impact is positive for
society at large. While the whole criminal justice system is geared
toward negatively impacting some for the welfare of many, it all
begins with you. If you don't take the first, and sometimes
dangerous, action on a face to face basis, nothing will come
afterward. Without police officers, the criminal justice system would
be a totally impotent bureaucracy.
You might think that with such an important position and mission,
your more important accomplishments would, from time to time, be
recognized and perhaps rewarded. It's true that, like the military,
police departments have awards in the form of medals and citations
for exceptional performance. In a very well organized police
department, management realizes the importance of recognizing, and
rewarding, exceptional performance. In a weakly organized, or
dysfunctional police department, recognition of your good work is the
last thing on anyone's mind.
You might join a police department that really has everything
together. The department will demand a high level of competence
from you, and it will quickly recognize and reward you when you
exceed that already high level. Then — of course — there is the
other side of that coin. You could join a police department where
management considers your paycheck as ample reward.
Here's the point…it's all about self-satisfaction. I'm sure people in
other professions experience self-satisfaction, but a police career
provides you with so many ways, and opportunities, to experience self-
satisfaction on a constant basis. You have the ability to ensure that
nearly everything you do results in a positive outcome. Once you
realize that what other people think of you is totally unimportant,
you're well on your way to experience self-satisfaction in everything
you do. Recognition by others, in any form, is only a very temporary
thing. How you recognize yourself, as you constantly strive to better
yourself, is all that really matters.
a dramatic impact on anything on a relatively frequent basis. While
police officers are not immediately recognized for their importance to
society, one needs only to imagine even our supposedly enlightened
society without police officers. Think about this…without the social
order ensured by police officers, no one, in any profession, could
accomplish anything.
Okay…that's the big picture. The small picture is you, as an
individual police officer, and how often you have a dramatic impact on
the lives of others. Your impact can be positive even when it's
negative for an individual. If you arrest a person for drunk driving,
it's a negative impact for that person, but your impact is positive for
society at large. While the whole criminal justice system is geared
toward negatively impacting some for the welfare of many, it all
begins with you. If you don't take the first, and sometimes
dangerous, action on a face to face basis, nothing will come
afterward. Without police officers, the criminal justice system would
be a totally impotent bureaucracy.
You might think that with such an important position and mission,
your more important accomplishments would, from time to time, be
recognized and perhaps rewarded. It's true that, like the military,
police departments have awards in the form of medals and citations
for exceptional performance. In a very well organized police
department, management realizes the importance of recognizing, and
rewarding, exceptional performance. In a weakly organized, or
dysfunctional police department, recognition of your good work is the
last thing on anyone's mind.
You might join a police department that really has everything
together. The department will demand a high level of competence
from you, and it will quickly recognize and reward you when you
exceed that already high level. Then — of course — there is the
other side of that coin. You could join a police department where
management considers your paycheck as ample reward.
Here's the point…it's all about self-satisfaction. I'm sure people in
other professions experience self-satisfaction, but a police career
provides you with so many ways, and opportunities, to experience self-
satisfaction on a constant basis. You have the ability to ensure that
nearly everything you do results in a positive outcome. Once you
realize that what other people think of you is totally unimportant,
you're well on your way to experience self-satisfaction in everything
you do. Recognition by others, in any form, is only a very temporary
thing. How you recognize yourself, as you constantly strive to better
yourself, is all that really matters.
Self-Sufficiency
As a new police officer, your first and foremost goal should be the
achievement of maximum self-sufficiency. Simply put…you should
never delegate to others what you can do yourself. You'll work with
police officers who will gladly share as much of their work as possible,
and you'll soon observe that such practice frequently results in
confusion and discrepancies. In police work, confusion and
discrepancies are not good things.
You'll frequently encounter situations which will require multiple
tasks. Unless a circumstance exists where two or more of the tasks
must be completed simultaneously, you should personally complete
each task in order of its importance. Never trust in others; unless,
you absolutely must.
As your career and life experience progresses, and you remain
observant, you'll see that incompetence is widespread and
everywhere. Position, education, or so-called experience is no
guarantee of competence. The easiest way for you to avoid the
incompetency trap is to learn by doing. Your micro-management of
your own work will prepare you for a supervisory position later in
your career, and, as a supervisor, you'll find it so easy to identify and
deal with the incompetence of others.
achievement of maximum self-sufficiency. Simply put…you should
never delegate to others what you can do yourself. You'll work with
police officers who will gladly share as much of their work as possible,
and you'll soon observe that such practice frequently results in
confusion and discrepancies. In police work, confusion and
discrepancies are not good things.
You'll frequently encounter situations which will require multiple
tasks. Unless a circumstance exists where two or more of the tasks
must be completed simultaneously, you should personally complete
each task in order of its importance. Never trust in others; unless,
you absolutely must.
As your career and life experience progresses, and you remain
observant, you'll see that incompetence is widespread and
everywhere. Position, education, or so-called experience is no
guarantee of competence. The easiest way for you to avoid the
incompetency trap is to learn by doing. Your micro-management of
your own work will prepare you for a supervisory position later in
your career, and, as a supervisor, you'll find it so easy to identify and
deal with the incompetence of others.
"Like everything else that makes it into the world of
political correctness, the total eradication of
domestic violence in now the ultimate, impossible
goal. The same people who view police officers as some
of the most imperfect examples of humanity are
shocked... shocked mine you when an allegation of
domestic violence is leveled at a police officer. Because
domestic violence has become such a politically charged
issue, a police officer is the most effective target for
zealots and politicians."
political correctness, the total eradication of
domestic violence in now the ultimate, impossible
goal. The same people who view police officers as some
of the most imperfect examples of humanity are
shocked... shocked mine you when an allegation of
domestic violence is leveled at a police officer. Because
domestic violence has become such a politically charged
issue, a police officer is the most effective target for
zealots and politicians."
"Unless you're a coward, or just lazy, the thought of letting a criminal escape from you is repugnant. The problem with being
young, and new to policing, is the absence of experience, and the realization that your good intentions can place you in
jeopardy beyond your imagination."
young, and new to policing, is the absence of experience, and the realization that your good intentions can place you in
jeopardy beyond your imagination."
| A no holds barred discussion of issues which will most affect a new police officer's career. |
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| More Inside |
| Police Exam 911™ A step-by-step system YOU can use to secure a top score on ANY Police Exam |
| U.S. Border Patrol Exam |
A step-by-step
system designed
specifically
for the
U.S. Border Patrol Exam
"I’m not sure if this is the email address to the person who made the
website, “careerpoliceofficer.com” – but if it is, THANK YOU for doing it. I
am going to become a police officer after my time is up in the U.S Navy, and
I’ve been researching the job for weeks now. This site has ALL the
information I’ve been looking for, and I like that it was written by a police
officer. I’m going to buy the book too. Well, besides thanking you, I hope
this e-mail gives you more reasons to keep that website up-to-date and
running. Thanks again-"
Respectfully,
SN Valletta, Nicholas A. / Deck Department / First Division / USS Pearl Harbor (LSD-52)
website, “careerpoliceofficer.com” – but if it is, THANK YOU for doing it. I
am going to become a police officer after my time is up in the U.S Navy, and
I’ve been researching the job for weeks now. This site has ALL the
information I’ve been looking for, and I like that it was written by a police
officer. I’m going to buy the book too. Well, besides thanking you, I hope
this e-mail gives you more reasons to keep that website up-to-date and
running. Thanks again-"
Respectfully,
SN Valletta, Nicholas A. / Deck Department / First Division / USS Pearl Harbor (LSD-52)
| USS Pearl Harbor |
| "The Nation's Battle Cry" |
| Here's why it's worth the effort I've received compliments about my site, but this one moves right to the top of the list: |
| CareerPoliceOfficer.com's first three link partners: |
| From Chapter 17 - Domestic Violence |
From Chapter 18 - Emergency Response and Vehicle Pursuits
| Never forget the Five Indispensable Truths for a Successful Police Career |
| Self-evaluation for a police career |
| Recognizing and ignoring bad advice |
| Rapid advancement toward self-sufficiency |
| The immeasurable importance of integrity |
| Matters of life and death |
| Police Applicants |
| Criminal Justice Universities Nearly 200 colleges and universities across the United States offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in Criminal Justice |