07-06-2006, 09:26 AM
I know I've said I'm planning on being a firefighter when I'm twenty-one, but I've also looked at becoming a police officer and then joining the SWAT team. Firefighting is something I've been interested in since I was a kid (though it went on the backburner when I began looking at the military), but I've heard that police officers are paid better ($42,000 a year compared to $30,000 a year for firefighters) and being on a SWAT team would be pretty close to being a soldier.
However, and I'm saying this next part in the most respectable manner and waving a flag of truce while doing so, I have read about the LA riots that resulted from the Police "beating" of Rodney King (I'm not going to say anything about the beating itself, however I don't believe it gave African-Americans the right to launch such acts of violence). I've read articles about police officers who shot an African-American after he drew a knife on them and charged them. The cops were kicked off of the force and had to put up with being called racist murderers for the rest of their lives. I've also seen a video showing a cop being chewed out by an African-American he pulled over for speeding, being called a "pig", "racist", "stormtrooper", etc. The next moring, said cop was called into the office of his superior and was nearly kicked off the force because the man he pulled over said the cop used a racial slur in front of him (he only got off because his partner, who is also African-American, vouched for him)
I personally have nothing against African-Americans, but one of my pet peeves is having to put up with what I call "temper tantrums" that they throw when you so much as look at them the wrong way. I've been called the "N" word, I've been yelled at and called "prejudiced" and "racist" for simply asking an African-American to be quiet during class, I've had nearly my entire middle school ready to lynch me for turning an African-American's act of calling me the "N" word back at him.
Now, I'm not trying to offend anyone on this board, I'm simply stating why I'm hesitant to become a police officer. So please don't flame me and just answer the poll question and add any advice or comments you may have.
P.S. Any information on SWAT team member requirments and training would be much appreciated.
However, and I'm saying this next part in the most respectable manner and waving a flag of truce while doing so, I have read about the LA riots that resulted from the Police "beating" of Rodney King (I'm not going to say anything about the beating itself, however I don't believe it gave African-Americans the right to launch such acts of violence). I've read articles about police officers who shot an African-American after he drew a knife on them and charged them. The cops were kicked off of the force and had to put up with being called racist murderers for the rest of their lives. I've also seen a video showing a cop being chewed out by an African-American he pulled over for speeding, being called a "pig", "racist", "stormtrooper", etc. The next moring, said cop was called into the office of his superior and was nearly kicked off the force because the man he pulled over said the cop used a racial slur in front of him (he only got off because his partner, who is also African-American, vouched for him)
I personally have nothing against African-Americans, but one of my pet peeves is having to put up with what I call "temper tantrums" that they throw when you so much as look at them the wrong way. I've been called the "N" word, I've been yelled at and called "prejudiced" and "racist" for simply asking an African-American to be quiet during class, I've had nearly my entire middle school ready to lynch me for turning an African-American's act of calling me the "N" word back at him.
Now, I'm not trying to offend anyone on this board, I'm simply stating why I'm hesitant to become a police officer. So please don't flame me and just answer the poll question and add any advice or comments you may have.
P.S. Any information on SWAT team member requirments and training would be much appreciated.