Gonzales is a retired detective sergeant who spent more than 30 years with the San Diego Police Department. Lives in Chula Vista.
The issue of recruiting and retaining qualified police officers has always been a problem in most police departments. How do we do it? This is a personal question for me.
In the late 1970s, San Diego police officers were predominantly white men. Growing up in the San Ysidro area, I remember the cops driving around in all white cars and the cops had to wear helmets. When they got out of their cars, most were over 6 feet tall and looked menacing with their helmets.
As a young Hispanic man driving older cars and often lowriders, I was pulled over and cited several times. I have received citations for having tinted windshields, a smaller steering wheel, bald tires and such. After seeing how many times I was stopped and never seeing a police officer who looked like me, I decided to change that.
I applied to several police agencies but was told I needed more life experience. I was even told once that I was too short and should consider applying to NASSCO, a shipbuilding company. This made me even more determined to join.
After about two years of trying, I finally got the chance to attend the police academy. That’s where the fun started. In those days, the San Diego police ran the ambulance service. We trained not only for police work, but also for first responders and emergency medical technicians. The academy was hard, there was a lot to learn, and it was physically changing as well. But after about five months, I successfully graduated from the academy and began a year of field training.
Here I was assigned to work in a police car with a senior officer called a Field Training Officer. These officers were not used to visiting Spanish trainees. I had a lot to prove, but I had a lot of determination.
I was assigned a new field training officer every month. Some were good, but most tried to convince you to leave the unit. Sad but true, then.
I later became not only a field training officer, but a field training officer supervisor and made sure everyone had a fair chance to succeed.
I’ve always thought that the police department needs to have more diversity. Latinos and other black communities are part of the community and need to be part of the police force. Yes, it was not easy to get through all the training and obstacles. But in the end I felt it was worth the effort. I still have it.
Of course, things were quite different back then in many ways. The pay was very low and the hours long. But I decided that this would be my career.
So how do we recruit and train a police force that reflects today’s community? More importantly, how do we retain well-trained and qualified men and women who want to serve?
Things like pay and benefits do help, but in today’s society, many people view police officers as the bad guys. After spending more than 30 years in the police force in many positions, from patrol and investigations (including internal affairs) to administration and supervision, I can honestly tell you that most police officers are there because they want to make a positive impact on the community, in which live. to serve. The main goal of a police officer is how can I help someone today?
I truly believe that to help with recruitment and retention, we need to show all officers—candidates, rookies, and veteran officers—that as a community we value their commitment to service. As with any profession, there are some people who shouldn’t be there, but the vast majority of officers are good people who go to work every day to do the right thing.
We need a police force that wants to be there, that is responsible and accountable. Remember that police officers are there to help and are willing to risk their own lives to save others. Please give them credit and when you see an officer, simply say “thank you.”
Is 911 dispatcher a stressful job?
Being an emergency dispatcher is difficult for many reasons. First, the job is incredibly intense and stressful; at any moment you can answer the phone of a panicked caller and change the course of his life based on your actions.
Is being a 911 dispatcher difficult? The career of a 911 dispatcher is fast-paced, demanding, and above all, rewarding. As part of the emergency response chain, dispatchers are the face—or ear—of emergency calls to 911. It takes an exceptional person to be a dispatcher, and it’s not for everyone.
How stressful is emergency dispatch?
EMS dispatchers are still highly susceptible to the effects of stress and PTSM even when they are not on the scene. When a dispatcher experiences a constant and overwhelming volume of emotionally charged calls, the body, mind and spirit respond in ways to protect the person and help them cope.
Is dispatching a high stress job?
Dispatchers have a stressful job. In frantic situations, they must remain calm, listen to violent events and deal with their own adrenaline surges.
Is being an emergency dispatcher hard?
Sometimes dispatching is difficult The work is not physically demanding, but it can be emotionally and psychologically taxing. Some days are worse than others. These are the reasons why specific training deals with some of the more grueling aspects of the job.
Is being a 911 dispatcher traumatic?
In fact, dispatchers who take an increasing number of tragic 911 calls are just as vulnerable to PTSD as their EMS counterparts in the field, according to an article published in the Journal of Emergency Dispatch titled “PTSD and Telecommunications.” Author Anna Raskin interviewed Michelle Lilly, a resident of Northern Illinois…
What police department has the best pay?
SAN FRANCISCO – With an annual salary of more than $300,000, San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr is the highest-paid police officer in the country, according to city salary records.
Who is the highest paid police in the country? SAN FRANCISCO – With an annual salary of more than $300,000, San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr is the highest-paid police officer in the country, according to city salary records.
What state police pay the most?
01. California California has one of the highest paid police departments. A law enforcement officer earns a median salary of $93,550 (52.7% more than the national average).
What state has the lowest police salary?
Mississippi According to the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mississippi is the worst state for police pay. While top police officers can earn up to 6 figures, most police officers receive an average of $33,350 per year.
Why do cops touch your trunk?
If an officer believes he is in a dangerous situation when he is pulling you over, he may touch the back of your vehicle on the way to your window to make sure the trunk is latched. It may sound strange, but this tactic ensures that no one is hiding in the trunk and could jump out.
Why do cops touch the back of your tail light? Tapping or touching your tail light during a traffic stop is not a superstitious practice for an officer, but an act intended to help protect the officer’s well-being. Tapping or touching the taillight is done primarily to leave a thumbprint on the glass.
What does it mean when a cop touches your trunk?
“If you touch the back of the vehicle, the officer’s fingerprints remain on the car, indicating that he or she was there with it,” said Officer Steve. “If the driver decided to flee the scene or if something happened to the officer, it connects both the vehicle and the officer.
Why do some cops touch the back of vehicles?
Officers want to make sure no one is trying to carry out a possible surprise attack with the trunk. Police officers often touch the tail light of a car they stop, so that if something were to happen to the officer during a traffic stop, their interaction with the driver could be traced through the fingerprints left on the vehicle.