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| Baytown Citizens Police Academy Graduates Fall 2015 |
I’ve been uncharacteristically quiet the last two and a half
months as I attended almost ten weeks of the Baytown Citizen’s Police Academy.
One reason for this is my friend Natalie Whatley covered it a few years back. Another
reason is I wanted to experience the entire class before I wrote about it.
I am by nature a bit rebellious and a loner when it comes to
joining or endorsing anything. I am a classic skeptic and make no apologies
about what I have observed. Back a number of years ago when I headed up Baytown
Concerned Citizens, I was criticized for writing in my column that we needed to
continuously watch our police department and hold them accountable. My opinion
hasn’t changed in that regard.
The police department is ran in a very military manner and I
am not only a Veteran, but also a student of military history. Much of what I
learned in this citizen’s police academy, I already knew because I read a lot
and have studied martial arts and awareness for many years. I don’t get my
information from watching the Lethal Weapon series or CSI in its many
spin-offs. I have friends in the police department and as I’ve stated before,
obey the law.
We were instructed by the people who do the dirty work and
although I think the job would jade most people; these men and women were very
professional and appeared to enjoy what they do. I’ve often believed that if I
was a cop and rubbed shoulders with the seediest element of society, it would
turn me to the dark side. I’m sure in some cases it does, but I observed none
of that.
A lot of information was taught and as I’ve stated, I found
it to be elementary, but did learn a lot of details anyway. Each week an expert
in their particular discipline would go into great detail about what it is they
do to fight crime and each week I was impressed with the high level of training
each officer portrayed.
The class is facilitated by Stewart Beasley and taught in a
relaxed manner that the average citizen can easily understand. We learned about
the Swat Team, forensics, gangs, use of force, traffic stops, investigations,
live fire, and bombs. We also learned that the City of Baytown is one of the most sought after
places for law enforcement officers to train. Our facility on any given day has
people from all over the country learning how to do it the legal way.
I am not one to be easily drawn into something just because
I have been exposed to it. I am already on the Board of the Texas Geocaching
association and Keep Baytown Beautiful, so I refrained from becoming active in
the Citizen’s on patrol or the Alumni Association, but easily could have
endorsed both as worthy endeavors.
Here is my summary on the entire experience. We are being
sold a bill of goods to discredit the police department through constant
negative news stories. I don’t understand who is behind it, but to put it in
words Harry Truman would use, it is bull crap if the Baytown Police are an
example. Lawyers and anti-police advocacy groups have made it where almost
everything the police department can do to stop crime works against the officer.
The professional criminal holds not only the advantage, but practically all the
protection they need to get out of nearly everything.
We watched a demonstration where one officer had his gun drawn
and pointed and the bad guy had to raise his gun to shoot. Every single time
they fired at the same instant. Almost any approach an officer takes can be turned
against him, regardless of how cautious they are. In a high percentage of
cases, the officer only draws their sidearm when there is an obvious threat.
The Internet, Facebook, and Youtube show small clips of
video which at first appear to be police brutality, when the reality in most
cases is just the opposite. The cop is like a referee with his nose in the
action and sees things we can’t, but everyone is second guessing them these
days ready to scream excessive force.
The bottom line is I think I would make a good police
officer, but under these circumstances would I want to be one? Heck no! Everything
is working against them on all external levels. It doesn’t matter how much they
train, the current aggressive mentality of discrediting the police rips apart
the fabric of this honorable vocation.
I have lived in Baytown over 40 years and have yet to be
jerked out of my automobile and kicked, tased, beaten, or cursed at by an out
of control cop. I think the reason for that is I haven’t given them reason to
do any of those things. Another reason may also be that as a rule, they simply
don’t treat people they arrest or pull over in such a manner.
I also understand that if the cops chase you to Cut and
Shoot and back and you throw yourself out of your car and run, they are most
likely going to hurt you when they finally catch you. It serves you right in my
book. If you act up with cops, why would you be surprised when they get right
back in your face?
