A police officer is a composite of what all men are, a mingling of the saint and sinner, dust and deity.
Culled statistics wave the fan over the stinkers, underscore the instances of dishonesty and brutality because they are "news". What that really means is that they are the exceptional, unusual and not commonplace.
Buried under the froth is the fact: Less than one-half of one percent of all officers misfit that uniform.
That is a better average than clergymen.
What is an officer made of? He, of all men, is at once the most needed and the most unwanted.
He is a strangely nameless creature who is "sir" to his face and "pig" behind his back.
He must be such a diplomat that he can settle differences between individuals so that each will think that he has won.
BUT......
If the policeman is neat, he is conceited; if he is careless, he is a bum.
If he is pleasant, he is a flirt; if not he is a grouch.
He must make in an instant the decisions which would require months for a lawyer.
BUT.....
If he hurries, he is careless; if he is deliberate, he is lazy.
He must be first to an accident and infallible with a diagnosis.
He must be able to start breathing, stop bleeding, tie splints and above all make sure the victim goes home without a limp, or expect to be sued.
The police officer must know every gun, draw on the run, and hit where it doesn't hurt.
He must be able to whip two men twice his size and half his age without damaging his uniform and without being "brutal".
If you hit him, he is a coward, if he hits you, he is a bully.
A police officer must know everything -- and not tell.
He must know where all the sin is -- but he cannot partake.
The policemen must from a single human hair, be able to describe the crime, the weapon and the criminal -- and then tell you where he is hiding.
BUT......
If he catches a criminal , he is lucky; If he doesn't, he is a dunce.
If he gets promoted, he has political pull; if he doesn't he is dullard.
The policeman must chase bum leads to a dead end, stake out ten nights in a row to tag one witness who saw it happen -- but refuses to remember.
He files and writes reports until his eyes ache to build a case against some felon who'll get dealed out by a shameless shamus or an "honorable" who isn't.
The police officer must be a minister, a social worker, a diplomat, a tough guy and a gentleman.
And of course he will have to be a genius...
For he'll have to do in all on a policeman's salary.
Author Unknown
Bushnell Police Department
"Committed to the Quality of Life"
