| Everyday in this country thousands of brave | | | | parents, video games, and violent movies |
| men and women put on a badge. These men and | | | | where it depicts police officers as the bad |
| women put their lives on the line, to protect | | | | guys. (ex: Grand Theft Auto). Another thing |
| all of us. What many of us don't realize is | | | | the general public doesn't necessarily |
| that the job of police officer is far more | | | | understand is how tough it is to become a |
| stressful, and demanding than we all think. | | | | police officer. Police and Sheriffs |
| Before i began studying a career in law | | | | departments are very selective on canidates, |
| enforcement, i was very interested. I am the | | | | and most canidates have to pass an extensive |
| grandson of a sheriffs deputy, and son of a | | | | physical test, oral boards, polygraph, and |
| police officer. What i have learned | | | | then rigorous academy training (usually 20-35 |
| throughout my life, and what i know now as | | | | weeks) before they go into their field |
| opposed to before, will help me in my future | | | | training phase which usually lasts an |
| career greatly. | | | | additional 12-15 weeks. The stereotype of the |
| | | | old and fat cops a the donut shops are a |
| This year, twice as many police officers have | | | | thing of the past. Now its young, smart, and |
| been killed in the line of duty, than last | | | | very fit men and women who are passionate |
| year. In my opinion, this is mainly due to | | | | about protecting the citizens of their |
| easier accessibility to firearms, weapons, | | | | counties and towns. |
| and the growing amount of illegal narcotics | | | | |
| on out streets. Illegal narcotics link | | | | I tip my hat off to all law enforcement |
| directly to violent crime. Another factor is | | | | officers, without them we would live in |
| our juveniles who are becoming more violent | | | | pandemonium. Thanks for all you do. You |
| and willing to due wrong than ever before. | | | | ladies and gentlemen aren't getting the |
| This is due to a lack of discipline from | | | | credit you deserve. |