Quick question about being on the job.

[FutureCPD]

Hey all, first post here after reading for along time. As you can tell from the name I am looking to go into law enforcement, with my whole family in law I consider it the family business, but that is neither here nor there. The question I have for everyone is, how long did it take you to develop the "cop mentality". By this I mean knowing when someone is feeding you BS right off the bat, not letting people give you **** for doing your job, and other things like that? And just so that everyone knows when I say not letting people give you ****, I don't mean handing out beatings because someone is questioning you, but tactfully putting people in their place when the moment/situation allows.

[Wombat311]

As for knowing when someone is feeding you BS, you either have it or you don't, and then some are better than others. It's not something that can be taught in a classroom, it's learned through life experience. I've personally always been pretty good at it, even before being a cop, so I can't tell you how long it took to learn.

As for putting people in their place, you have to be able to do that from Day One. Crooks can spot a rookie/trainee a mile away and they will try and take control of the situation or intimidate you. You can't let that happen since it not only makes your job that much harder and dangerous but also that of the next cop that comes into contact with that crook. If it works on you, he will try it again. Put him back in his box and he might think twice.

Trainees here pretty much don't speak at jobs/calls for the first few months so they learn from more expereinced cops the varied ways of doing both of the above. Or in some rare cases, how not to do it. When we do cut them loose, it's not until someone has observed them in charge of a crook and we know they can handle it. We have some trainees that can work unsupervised after a few months, and a couple that still can't and probably shouldn't be in the job after nearly 12 months.

[greg72982]

wait.... so people lie to the police?!?! :confused:

[gabe a.]

Wombat hit it dead on. If you can't assert yourself, and control a situation you're officer presence will be non-existent, and the perp will be feel much more confident about arguing or fighting with you.

It may take a little time (FTO) to develop your officer presence, but rest assured, you will know when someone is trying to take advantage of you or feeding you BS. If you don't then this isn't your line of work.

Good luck!

[FutureCPD]

Thanks for the info, guys. I am also pretty decent when it comes to knowing if people are giving me BS or not...espically when it comes to the stupid people ;)