Public
Image
Image
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When you become a police officer, you're going to work with some
police officers who like to "perform" in public for the benefit of
onlookers and fellow police officers. What they seem to forget is that
TV and movie actors have the opportunity to retake a scene when they
screw it up, a police officer has no such second chance.
The most notable actor will be the officer who acts like the baddest,
toughest cop on earth when he or she has the immediate backup of
another officer(s). You'll quickly realize this actor falls into a different
character when no backup is immediately present. This same actor will
like to display his or her comedic talents by verbally humiliating and
embarrassing victims as well as suspects as long as there's an audience
to appreciate the performance.
While "professionalism" is a very overworked word, its importance and
relevance to your career cannot be overstated. The way you conduct
yourself is either going to make you look intelligent, strong,
knowledgeable, and thoughtful, or your conduct will make you appear
incompetent, weak, silly and stupid.
There is one valid comparison between the shows and real police --
you're always being watched by someone. Think about your own
reaction when you see a police car or a uniformed police officer. The
mere presence of a police officer evokes your curiosity, and that
curiosity causes you to watch and evaluate.
As a police officer, you'll deal with some pretty tragic circumstances,
and you'll get used to them. What a lot of police officers forget is how
people involved in, or witnesses to, tragic events view your conduct at
the scene of these events:
This scene can look even worse:
Look...nobody's perfect, and you obviously can't dwell on tragedy. You
shouldn't, and you don't want to let yourself, become emotionally
involved in the tragedy of others. However, you do want to always
remain cognizant of your conduct and how it appears to others in the
context of circumstances.
Then...along comes the police officer who's just simply lazy and
incompetent:
As you contemplate your police career, start taking every opportunity to
watch police officers as an exercise in evaluating conduct. It doesn't
matter what the circumstances of your observations entail. Whether
you're watching how a police officer operates his or her police car, or
their demeanor in interaction with others, you'll be amazed how much
you'll learn about the importance of public image.
police officers who like to "perform" in public for the benefit of
onlookers and fellow police officers. What they seem to forget is that
TV and movie actors have the opportunity to retake a scene when they
screw it up, a police officer has no such second chance.
The most notable actor will be the officer who acts like the baddest,
toughest cop on earth when he or she has the immediate backup of
another officer(s). You'll quickly realize this actor falls into a different
character when no backup is immediately present. This same actor will
like to display his or her comedic talents by verbally humiliating and
embarrassing victims as well as suspects as long as there's an audience
to appreciate the performance.
While "professionalism" is a very overworked word, its importance and
relevance to your career cannot be overstated. The way you conduct
yourself is either going to make you look intelligent, strong,
knowledgeable, and thoughtful, or your conduct will make you appear
incompetent, weak, silly and stupid.
There is one valid comparison between the shows and real police --
you're always being watched by someone. Think about your own
reaction when you see a police car or a uniformed police officer. The
mere presence of a police officer evokes your curiosity, and that
curiosity causes you to watch and evaluate.
As a police officer, you'll deal with some pretty tragic circumstances,
and you'll get used to them. What a lot of police officers forget is how
people involved in, or witnesses to, tragic events view your conduct at
the scene of these events:
This scene can look even worse:
Look...nobody's perfect, and you obviously can't dwell on tragedy. You
shouldn't, and you don't want to let yourself, become emotionally
involved in the tragedy of others. However, you do want to always
remain cognizant of your conduct and how it appears to others in the
context of circumstances.
Then...along comes the police officer who's just simply lazy and
incompetent:
As you contemplate your police career, start taking every opportunity to
watch police officers as an exercise in evaluating conduct. It doesn't
matter what the circumstances of your observations entail. Whether
you're watching how a police officer operates his or her police car, or
their demeanor in interaction with others, you'll be amazed how much
you'll learn about the importance of public image.
Let's say you respond to the scene of a homicide. Your
sergeant assigns you to guard the body which is, covered and
lying in the middle of the street, awaiting the arrival of the
crime lab and medical examiner.
There's a sizeable crowd behind the crime scene tape, and you
can hear some people crying who are probably family members
or friends of the victim. Another officer walks up to you, and
he starts talking to you about a practical joke he played on
another member of the squad. Before you realize where
you're standing, both of you break out in laughter.
Trust me when I tell you this. Every person standing behind
that tape is going to think you're laughing about the homicide.
sergeant assigns you to guard the body which is, covered and
lying in the middle of the street, awaiting the arrival of the
crime lab and medical examiner.
There's a sizeable crowd behind the crime scene tape, and you
can hear some people crying who are probably family members
or friends of the victim. Another officer walks up to you, and
he starts talking to you about a practical joke he played on
another member of the squad. Before you realize where
you're standing, both of you break out in laughter.
Trust me when I tell you this. Every person standing behind
that tape is going to think you're laughing about the homicide.
Let's say the victim, this time, was shot and killed by a police
officer. A police officer involved shooting will bring police
officers from all over the place. One officer walks up to the
officer who did the shooting, grabs his hand in a handshake,
and gives him a big hug. While the hugger is only lending his
emotional support to the officer for what he knows has been a
very traumatic experience, you can be assured that any
onlookers will view the handshake and hug as congratulatory
gestures.
officer. A police officer involved shooting will bring police
officers from all over the place. One officer walks up to the
officer who did the shooting, grabs his hand in a handshake,
and gives him a big hug. While the hugger is only lending his
emotional support to the officer for what he knows has been a
very traumatic experience, you can be assured that any
onlookers will view the handshake and hug as congratulatory
gestures.
How many times have you been driving on a multiple lane
highway when all the traffic is forced to merge into the right
lane? You know how difficult it can be when there's no kind
of traffic control -- like a police officer -- to aid in a relatively
smooth transition. I found myself in this circumstance on one
hot, summer afternoon.
I was already in the right lane, so all I had to do was be polite
and let other drivers over from time to time. As the bumper
to bumper traffic inched ahead, I could finally see an accident
scene where the highway raised out of a depression from
beneath an overpass. As the traffic crawled inexorably
forward, I saw the top of a police car which was blocking the
center and left lanes of traffic. The police car was some
distance back from the accident scene, but since no police
officer was visible, one would think the car belonged to one of
the officers on the accident scene.
When I finally got to the traffic choke point, I looked over
only to see the police officer sitting in his car. He wasn't
writing on a clipboard; he wasn't talking on his radio. He
wasn't doing anything expect looking like a lazy, incompetent
fool. He had the driver's seat in the recliner position, and he
looked very comfortable. His cheek was pressed against the
headrest, and if he hadn't moved his head once or twice, one
would think he was asleep. He might as well have been asleep
for all the good he was doing.
Had he simply been directing traffic as he should have been
doing, every passing motorist would have been appreciative of
his presence. Instead, it was too hot for him, and his air
conditioned comfort was more important than the totally
preventable negative image he was projecting to hundreds of
people.
highway when all the traffic is forced to merge into the right
lane? You know how difficult it can be when there's no kind
of traffic control -- like a police officer -- to aid in a relatively
smooth transition. I found myself in this circumstance on one
hot, summer afternoon.
I was already in the right lane, so all I had to do was be polite
and let other drivers over from time to time. As the bumper
to bumper traffic inched ahead, I could finally see an accident
scene where the highway raised out of a depression from
beneath an overpass. As the traffic crawled inexorably
forward, I saw the top of a police car which was blocking the
center and left lanes of traffic. The police car was some
distance back from the accident scene, but since no police
officer was visible, one would think the car belonged to one of
the officers on the accident scene.
When I finally got to the traffic choke point, I looked over
only to see the police officer sitting in his car. He wasn't
writing on a clipboard; he wasn't talking on his radio. He
wasn't doing anything expect looking like a lazy, incompetent
fool. He had the driver's seat in the recliner position, and he
looked very comfortable. His cheek was pressed against the
headrest, and if he hadn't moved his head once or twice, one
would think he was asleep. He might as well have been asleep
for all the good he was doing.
Had he simply been directing traffic as he should have been
doing, every passing motorist would have been appreciative of
his presence. Instead, it was too hot for him, and his air
conditioned comfort was more important than the totally
preventable negative image he was projecting to hundreds of
people.
"The world more often rewards
the appearance of merit than merit
itself” ~ François de la Rochefoucauld
the appearance of merit than merit
itself” ~ François de la Rochefoucauld
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| Copyright © 2006 - 2011 - Barry M. Baker - CareerPoliceOfficer.com |
| Disclaimer |
| 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. |
When you watch cop shows -- movies; made
for TV, or the so called documentary or
reality shows -- always remember that all
are, first and foremost, entertainment. The
producers have very little knowledge or
concern when it comes to the way they
portray police officers. It doesn't matter to
them whether the portrayal is positive,
negative, or even accurate as long as the
production is entertaining.
for TV, or the so called documentary or
reality shows -- always remember that all
are, first and foremost, entertainment. The
producers have very little knowledge or
concern when it comes to the way they
portray police officers. It doesn't matter to
them whether the portrayal is positive,
negative, or even accurate as long as the
production is entertaining.