LEO Mindset

[NCIC105]

Most LEO have a little different mindset than the every day citizen.


Most officers would prefer to associate with other officers. It is not that they don't trust civilians. It is more of a "been there done that" with the other officers. We tend to have a sick sense of humor, that a lot of people would not understand. It has come from being in stressful situations and using humor to break up or relieve the stress. If we (or again, I) have always been afraid that if we told folks how we really feel they would think less of us or think we are uncaring.


Some of what we have been through has hardened our feelings and have made us (or I) stand off to people in general. The folks I'm comfortable around are my kind. Fellows who understand how we think. When we have that comfort level, we (or I) are very loyal to our friends.




I think soldiers who have been in battle have somewhat the same mindset.
Now don't get me wrong I'm not equating the daily activity in law Enforcement to being in a war zone...Just that it changes a person's perception on life and people.


I know some folks will find this offensive and for that I'm sorry. It is just how it is in my world.

 

[SGB]

And speaking from experience this mindset contributes greatly to the problem of Us versus Them mentality. Been there done that.

 

[jweasl]

I think it makes perfect sense, and I'm not an LEO.

When you deal with the worst of the public on a daily basis, it's going to skew your perception.... Or just give you more insight.

 

[Blacksheardad]

I spent almost 20 in Fire-Rescue. Everywhere I have been the FF's usually hang with the LEO's. We have had a lot of the same experiences, including being shot at.
That's probably one of the reasons I've never been able to stay married. For some reason, mates don't seem to like it when you come in every day and don't want to talk about how your shift went. But it's hard to tell your spouse about the decapitated/burned/disboweled person you bagged last night.
Just don't understand it! LOL

 

[Safebustr]

NCIC105,
You are exactly right. I was a MP and prison guard in the army then did 15 years as a deputy sheriff. I found that most folks did not understand how it was and didn't care to really try and see your side. You were seen as a "cop" and somehow different and I guess we were (are) different to a certain extent. I view everyone that I don't know with some suspicion and to this day don't like to sit with my back to the door or where I can't see the entrance and a way out.
Other officers are "like you" and so you find it easy to fit in and have something in common with them. Law enforcment jobs have a unique stress that people who have not been exposed to don't understand and it isn't easy to explain.
I have been out of law enforcement work since 1986 and still can relate.
Thanks to all current officers who put it all on the line for me and my family every day.

 

[Flanmedic51]

The realm of public safety in general changes people. I don't think its 'us vs them' mentality but knowing that there are brothers and sisters out there that can relate to how incredibly disgusting the human race can be offers an avenue to talk and vent. And those who aren't in public safety have no idea or concept of how bad it can be out there. Man, ignorance is frickin bliss.

 

[titaniumman]

I have 2 close friends that are LEO, and they are true friends. First to offer help, or get between me and someone wishing to do me harm. I have played darts with one (in a league format) for 15 years or more. He definately has been in some interesting situations and occasionally shares experiences. On that same note I will sometimes tune listen to a web site that broadcasts local police/fire scanner boardcasts. Last night there was a girl hit by a car and they were very calmly discussing what equipment was needed to remove her from the cars front suspension components. The police were first on the scene and then discovered what the MVA they were called to really involved. Talk about stress...OMG...Thank You all First Responders!

 

[BIGJOHN621]

It is an unfortunate and inconvenient circumstance. You can't "unlearn" what you are taught during training or through experience. That training is a way to speak, a way to observe and a way to question that is toxic in personal relationships. Name another job where you are lied to all day and still expected to trust people?? You must still acknowledge, though, in your personal life, that you are the one who changes not the others. Most relationships pre-LEO do not survive the change you go through once time is spent on the job.

I have to give you credit for having the guts to speak of it.

 

[Jason1221]

Can't relate. However I can say I do not lie to a Leo when I'm pulled over or ever for that fact. But I could only imagine the lies lol. I teach my kids if they lie to me that will only get them into more trouble. And they never have to worry about remembering something they said if its the truth you will always remember. And yes thnx to all of you first reposnders. And hats off to all the volunteers out there.

 

[Deanimator]

I don't really care what non-criminals cops socialize with.

What matters to me is when cops choose to protect each other rather than the public, particularly when a cop commits a crime against a citizen.

I couldn't care less where the cop's affinities lie. When a cop decides that his loyalty is to other cops rather than the law, I care a LOT. That's what criminal gangs do and it doesn't matter whether they have badges or not.

 

[Tucker's Mom]

Well they are people too...just with different life experience. We must try to understand them when they needed to be understood, not shun them just because they are who they are. I get along well with most everybody, LEO or not, black, yellow or blue skinned too. We are all Americans no colour there. Treat me right and I treat you right too. Respect goes a long way.

 

[ihsv]

The only comment I would have on the OP is that cops are "civilians" too. There has been an ominous trend of late to militarize the police, and I've noticed more and more the verbal contrast of "cops" and "civilians" being used. It may seem a petty distinction, but it is a distinction that in a free society needs to be preserved. Just my two cents.

 

[gkeil961]

Most LEO have a little different mindset than the every day citizen.


Most officers would prefer to associate with other officers. It is not that they don't trust civilians. It is more of a "been there done that" with the other officers. We tend to have a sick sense of humor, that a lot of people would not understand. It has come from being in stressful situations and using humor to break up or relieve the stress. If we (or again, I) have always been afraid that if we told folks how we really feel they would think less of us or think we are uncaring.


Some of what we have been through has hardened our feelings and have made us (or I) stand off to people in general. The folks I'm comfortable around are my kind. Fellows who understand how we think. When we have that comfort level, we (or I) are very loyal to our friends.




I think soldiers who have been in battle have somewhat the same mindset.
Now don't get me wrong I'm not equating the daily activity in law Enforcement to being in a war zone...Just that it changes a person's perception on life and people.


I know some folks will find this offensive and for that I'm sorry. It is just how it is in my world.

As a fellow LEO, I could not agree more, we see the worst of the worst and only other officers have a feel for what we deal with day in and day out, the words that come from many "civilians" is sickening, but when you go to give them your gun and badge, they turn the other cheek. If you have worn the uniform, and see what we deal with on a daily basis, please do not judge us from behind the scenes which we call "Monday Morning Quarterbacking"

 

[Firefighterchen]

Agree with DE. I don't care who police socialize with to debrief and relieve stress.

What I care about is integrity on the job.

When I see officers giving harless sick days, it makes me wonder if they have any integrity.

Then I see that female officer arrest another officer for recklessly driving, and it comforts me...until I read about other officers threatening her...

We as public servants have chosen to be in the evil of the human race...to blame the rest of society for not understanding us is cheap. I have no desire to explain the rotting body I had to uncover or the child that died of a drug overdose to my wife...we have debrief teams for that. I choose to serve this "disgusting"human race because beyond the evil is something beautiful. I don't let the evil blind me from that.

 

[RockyTopDC]

Why aren't police officers paid more?
I have always been intrigued and interested with law enforcment and what has stopped me is the pay aspect.

 

[Firefighterchen]

Why aren't police officers paid more?
I have always been intrigued and interested with law enforcment and what has stopped me is the pay aspect.

Depends on where you live. Officers made 60 -100k in Eugene OR last I checked.

 

[SGT504MP]

As a fellow LEO, I could not agree more, we see the worst of the worst and only other officers have a feel for what we deal with day in and day out, the words that come from many "civilians" is sickening, but when you go to give them your gun and badge, they turn the other cheek. If you have worn the uniform, and see what we deal with on a daily basis, please do not judge us from behind the scenes which we call "Monday Morning Quarterbacking"

I have about the same number of friends who are in LE as those who have other occupations. Almost all of them are involved in 2 clubs that support my 2 favorite hobbies. A few are neighbors. Everybody in the clubs know im in LE. There are about 2% of both clubs that are local/state/federal LE people. My work rarely comes up as a topic of conversation-unless there is a newsworthy incident [like Zimmerman].

The one exception i made was when my son was in school. As far as they knew, I worked for the telephone company, which is what i did before i went into LE. I explained to my son that there were a lot of reachers who, for various reasons, did not like police officers, and to make sure he was not the subject of any bias, it was best not to reveal my occupation to his teachers or his friends. There were also documented instances of gang members telling their children to "find out who's daddy or mommy is a cop" so they could set up residential burglaries.

I enjoy having non LE friends. To me, this is just a job, not a religion. Its what i do, not who i am. It is a very different job from your normal 8-4, no doubt about that. But I would not be happy having just LE friends. They only pay me for 8:35 an hour and after my tour is up the last thing i want to talk about is my job. I have no problem with an honest citizen carrying concealed-as long as he/she has taken and passed a test of the appropriate state law regarding use of force and qualified with their weapon of choice. I dont believe in "Us vs Them". It's all of us vs criminals. Just my 2 cents.

 

[gkeil961]

As a fellow LEO, I could not agree more, we see the worst of the worst and only other officers have a feel for what we deal with day in and day out, the words that come from many "civilians" is sickening, but when you go to give them your gun and badge, they turn the other cheek. If you have worn the uniform, and see what we deal with on a daily basis, please do not judge us from behind the scenes which we call "Monday Morning Quarterbacking"

I have about the same number of friends who are in LE as those who have other occupations. Almost all of them are involved in 2 clubs that support my 2 favorite hobbies. A few are neighbors. Everybody in the clubs know im in LE. There are about 2% of both clubs that are local/state/federal LE people. My work rarely comes up as a topic of conversation-unless there is a newsworthy incident [like Zimmerman].

The one exception i made was when my son was in school. As far as they knew, I worked for the telephone company, which is what i did before i went into LE. I explained to my son that there were a lot of reachers who, for various reasons, did not like police officers, and to make sure he was not the subject of any bias, it was best not to reveal my occupation to his teachers or his friends. There were also documented instances of gang members telling their children to "find out who's daddy or mommy is a cop" so they could set up residential burglaries.

I enjoy having non LE friends. To me, this is just a job, not a religion. Its what i do, not who i am. It is a very different job from your normal 8-4, no doubt about that. But I would not be happy having just LE friends. They only pay me for 8:35 an hour and after my tour is up the last thing i want to talk about is my job. I have no problem with an honest citizen carrying concealed-as long as he/she has taken and passed a test of the appropriate state law regarding use of force and qualified with their weapon of choice. I dont believe in "Us vs Them". It's all of us vs criminals. Just my 2 cents.

Amen, I have no problem with people carrying concealed, it actually comforts me on my daily tour, knowing that there are good people that are out there that if needed, will come to my aid.... As long as one takes the class, and does the correct steps to make it legal, more power to them and I actually encourage everyone to obtain there CCW.

 

[Firefighterchen]

As a fellow LEO, I could not agree more, we see the worst of the worst and only other officers have a feel for what we deal with day in and day out, the words that come from many "civilians" is sickening, but when you go to give them your gun and badge, they turn the other cheek. If you have worn the uniform, and see what we deal with on a daily basis, please do not judge us from behind the scenes which we call "Monday Morning Quarterbacking"

I have about the same number of friends who are in LE as those who have other occupations. Almost all of them are involved in 2 clubs that support my 2 favorite hobbies. A few are neighbors. Everybody in the clubs know im in LE. There are about 2% of both clubs that are local/state/federal LE people. My work rarely comes up as a topic of conversation-unless there is a newsworthy incident [like Zimmerman].

The one exception i made was when my son was in school. As far as they knew, I worked for the telephone company, which is what i did before i went into LE. I explained to my son that there were a lot of reachers who, for various reasons, did not like police officers, and to make sure he was not the subject of any bias, it was best not to reveal my occupation to his teachers or his friends. There were also documented instances of gang members telling their children to "find out who's daddy or mommy is a cop" so they could set up residential burglaries.

I enjoy having non LE friends. To me, this is just a job, not a religion. Its what i do, not who i am. It is a very different job from your normal 8-4, no doubt about that. But I would not be happy having just LE friends. They only pay me for 8:35 an hour and after my tour is up the last thing i want to talk about is my job. I have no problem with an honest citizen carrying concealed-as long as he/she has taken and passed a test of the appropriate state law regarding use of force and qualified with their weapon of choice. I dont believe in "Us vs Them". It's all of us vs criminals. Just my 2 cents.

Amen, I have no problem with people carrying concealed, it actually comforts me on my daily tour, knowing that there are good people that are out there that if needed, will come to my aid.... As long as one takes the class, and does the correct steps to make it legal, more power to them and I actually encourage everyone to obtain there CCW.

Curious what's a tour? Your shift? When did they start using the terminology tour? Is it referencing a military tour?

 

[gkeil961]

As a fellow LEO, I could not agree more, we see the worst of the worst and only other officers have a feel for what we deal with day in and day out, the words that come from many "civilians" is sickening, but when you go to give them your gun and badge, they turn the other cheek. If you have worn the uniform, and see what we deal with on a daily basis, please do not judge us from behind the scenes which we call "Monday Morning Quarterbacking"

I have about the same number of friends who are in LE as those who have other occupations. Almost all of them are involved in 2 clubs that support my 2 favorite hobbies. A few are neighbors. Everybody in the clubs know im in LE. There are about 2% of both clubs that are local/state/federal LE people. My work rarely comes up as a topic of conversation-unless there is a newsworthy incident [like Zimmerman].

The one exception i made was when my son was in school. As far as they knew, I worked for the telephone company, which is what i did before i went into LE. I explained to my son that there were a lot of reachers who, for various reasons, did not like police officers, and to make sure he was not the subject of any bias, it was best not to reveal my occupation to his teachers or his friends. There were also documented instances of gang members telling their children to "find out who's daddy or mommy is a cop" so they could set up residential burglaries.

I enjoy having non LE friends. To me, this is just a job, not a religion. Its what i do, not who i am. It is a very different job from your normal 8-4, no doubt about that. But I would not be happy having just LE friends. They only pay me for 8:35 an hour and after my tour is up the last thing i want to talk about is my job. I have no problem with an honest citizen carrying concealed-as long as he/she has taken and passed a test of the appropriate state law regarding use of force and qualified with their weapon of choice. I dont believe in "Us vs Them". It's all of us vs criminals. Just my 2 cents.

Amen, I have no problem with people carrying concealed, it actually comforts me on my daily tour, knowing that there are good people that are out there that if needed, will come to my aid.... As long as one takes the class, and does the correct steps to make it legal, more power to them and I actually encourage everyone to obtain there CCW.

Curious what's a tour? Your shift? When did they start using the terminology tour? Is it referencing a military tour?

Yes my tour of duty (shift)