Time to Psych Test all Police Applicants
By Brownies Girl
Working as a police officer, even for a few years, offers a unique experience into that *other* side of ordinary life. My experience was years ago, I started at 21 years — mid ’60’s to early 70’s – and times were different then. We were young, green, naïve and eager. There was no crack cocaine and extremely few guns to deal with, we dealt mostly with drunk and disorderly, pot and heroin incidents, domestic assaults, sexual assaults, juvenile crime, break-ins and bank robberies. In addition, female officers were often co-opted into the now-defunct morality division to assist with “hooker” problems.
Truth is, it was an interesting job and relatively safe back then. Along with a partner, we walked the beat safely, even late into the evening. But I soon discovered that there were a few cops around that operated outside the rules and regs that we’d all been taught. I knew of three personally. On slow nights, they’d go after gay guys in a park they frequented and beat them up for no reason other than to show off their power; they’d smack kids (young teenagers mostly) around for “mouthing off”; they’d beat the crap out of accused perps in the D office to get a confession; they’d humiliate hookers, grab their breasts and crotches, and there were times when I **believe** they planted evidence. Seeing it happen appalled me and made me sick. I felt like I was a part of it because I too wore that uniform.
Over six years, it slowly dawned on me that some cops lie and exaggerate, as do victims and accusers. After a while, I didn’t know **who** to believe or trust anymore and got so I couldn’t care less. I found myself getting more and more cynical and angry, drinking too much and hating my life. So I quit the job and was never tempted to go back. The only thing I felt bad about was leaving so many good friends – truly honest hard-working cops who were my friends, whose sole purpose for being on the job was to help folks and earn a living. People I’d trusted with my life and they never let me down. Serving with them for six years changed my life – and taught me many valuable life-lessons.
Today, I don’t know enough to compare the job we did back then with all the crap cops in 2015 have to deal with. But my belief is still firm — the vast VAST majority of cops are good people who want to do the best they can and they’re honest to the bone. And they will always be loyal to each other.
That’s because when cops join the job, they find it’s like a private club in many ways – a club where loyalty is supreme and expected. Cops are expected to back each other up in every situation, and you do, as they back you up – but when you see bad stuff happening, if you’ve got an honest core – you hate it. But you keep your mouth shut.
I always felt good cops should be free to report on bad ones, but the truth is, if you do, you’ll find yourself in a real bind. Reporting means don’t count on support when you’re out on the road; don’t expect favors like shift-switches. You’ll be ignored.
Neglect from fellow officers, in an emergency, could get you killed or badly injured. Truth is – report another cop and you might as well turn in your badge.
So how do you fix problems like cops who kill/shoot/beat up citizens?
Only answer I have is that all cops should be required to undergo in-depth psychological testing before being accepted to the job. I’ve read stats that say that about 3% of males and 1% of females in the general populations are sociopaths. Why would that percentage not apply to police services? Police work tends to be attractive to certain kinds of people who have a tendency to bully, play outside the rules and overly exert power. The cop who drove that paddy wagon in Baltimore — if he did what he’s accused of — is one who needs testing. And perhaps the rest, too.
Unfortunately, in-depth psychological testing costs big bucks and a lot of police services can’t afford it. You have to ask yourself however, how much psychological testing could BPD officers have received for the $5.7 million the department paid out in settlements since 2011 to residents/suspects who’ve successfully sued over police brutality.
Brownies Girl is a reader of The Moderate Voice who frequently writes in TMV’s comments section.
graphic via shutterstock.com