What happens when you do minimal screening before hiring agents, arming them, and sending them into the streets? We're all finding out.

I skipped the steps of the application process that would have clued the agency in on my lack of fitness for the position. I made no effort to hide my public loathing of the agency, what it stands for, and the administration that runs it. And they offered me the job anyway.

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  • IamSparticles@lemmy.zipEnglish
    112·
    6 hours ago

    I found this bit very telling:

    The officer ran down other departments I might end up in: Prosecutions, Removal Coordination Unit, or Detention. The point being that I should not expect to be a badass street officer on Day 1. “I have so many guys that come over to me, they’re like, ‘I’m gonna put cuffs on somebody. I’m gonna arrest somebody.’ Well, you need to master this first and then we’ll see about getting you on the field.”

    I told him that I was fine with office work—with my analyst background, it seemed like a better fit for my skill set anyway. His attitude shift was subtle, but instant and unmistakable; this was the wrong attitude and the wrong answer. “Just to be upfront, the goal is to put as many guns and badges out in the field as possible,” he said.

    “Don’t expect to be beating heads on day one. But if beating heads isn’t what you’re signing up for, you’re probably not who we want.”

    • unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de
      304·
      4 hours ago

      The agent then told me a bit about his own background. Like me, he enlisted straight out of high school, then got out and vowed to get as far away from the violence of the military as possible. Like a lot of veterans, he had trouble assimilating into the civilian world. “After about six months, I was like, ‘These people aren’t like me. I want to be around like-minded people.’ ” He found his way into law enforcement.

      This also stood out to me. People ive had discussions with have often tried to argue that the military is not as bad and that ACAB doesnt apply to military veterans. Fuck no. Active military deployment turns people into fucking ghouls that are incompatible with society. Some people turning out well (like the author) is just the exception to the rule.

      • 7101334@lemmy.world
        26·
        3 hours ago

        They aren’t ghouls, they’re victims. They can be, and often are, victimizers as well. Most people join the military because they’re broke and desperate. Have some class solidarity.

        Now the people who join the military just to go shoot someone in the Middle East (or soon South America maybe), yeah, they can get thrown into the meat grinder.

        • unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de
          32·
          2 hours ago

          I agree, that they are also victims. Ideally they would get the help they need, but realistically thats not happening so we have no choice but distance us from them, lest we become victims too.

          • 7101334@lemmy.world
            4·
            2 hours ago

            That’s an insane and inhumane stance which could be equally applied to mentally ill / developmentally challenged people in many cases. The price of community is inconvenience. We aren’t only meant to protect and take care of people when it’s comfortable for us.

            Now if we’re talking about living with someone with PTSD who waves a gun at you or hits you, for sure, get yourself out of that situation for your own wellbeing. But there’s a lot of room between “Calling them ghouls and exiling them from polite society” versus “Avoiding becoming a victim of their violence”, especially when they aren’t all violent.

      • corsicanguppy@lemmy.caEnglish
        4·
        3 hours ago

        Having said that, people leave our police force either mentally damaged or suicidal from the PTSD, physically broken or killed, or angry at the entire force at how they treat their resources (ie people). The goal is to retire-out, right around when you really hate the job, and have the body and mind to never look back.