What do you feel civilians most misunderstand about your jobs?

[greg72982]

Oooo I got another.

Depsite what CSI says, fingerprints cannot always be lifted, and even if they are, the crime is not solved right there. Fingerprints can only verify someone was there or that they touched a specific object, but since crimes are typically comitted by those closest/known to us, the presence of fingerprints doesn't necessarily say anything anyway.

[kcpronto]

So, did you get enough answers for your homework?

I don't have to do homework anymore! Thank God. Now I get to shovel horse manure and pick rocks all day and earn a living so I can pay my bills :D I LOVE being a grown-up!

But wow you guys. You sure put up with a lot of crap. Honestly, I don't think I'll ever even kind of understand what you have to go through all the time. Customer service doesn't even come close!

[kels]

You gave a good answer to my question, so I will give you a good answer to yours.

There is nothing on TV that comes close to street police work. You will hear the old
timers say Barney Miller was close when you watched them do paperwork. For those
of us who remember manual typewriters, it probably was.

What we know and what we can prove is two totally different realities.
If we could put people in jail for what we know and cant prove, the jails would
be full of criminals and the nice good people would be home safe and sound in
their beds.

And last but not least, shooting people is a real hassle. Unlike the movies, you
get suspended with pay in real life. Around here it will probably be a month while
the KBI does the investigation. Sometimes less, but normally longer. Then comes
a lawsuit. Plan on the next 2 to 5 years of your life hanging in the balance til it
is settled. When I started in 1984, I didnt know anyone who had shot anyone.
I cant say that now. Even in God's county people get shot. Sometimes it is us.
Sometimes it is the bad guy.

[kcpronto]

You gave a good answer to my question, so I will give you a good answer to yours.

There is nothing on TV that comes close to street police work. You will hear the old
timers say Barney Miller was close when you watched them do paperwork. For those
of us who remember manual typewriters, it probably was.

What we know and what we can prove is two totally different realities.
If we could put people in jail for what we know and cant prove, the jails would
be full of criminals and the nice good people would be home safe and sound in
their beds.

And last but not least, shooting people is a real hassle. Unlike the movies, you
get suspended with pay in real life. Around here it will probably be a month while
the KBI does the investigation. Sometimes less, but normally longer. Then comes
a lawsuit. Plan on the next 2 to 5 years of your life hanging in the balance til it
is settled. When I started in 1984, I didnt know anyone who had shot anyone.
I cant say that now. Even in God's county people get shot. Sometimes it is us.
Sometimes it is the bad guy.

Thank you, Officer Kels. Makes me think. I am constantly amazed/embarresed about how little I know regarding things that happen around me every day.