Avid readers will remember that I finished my 9 months of training at Police HQ in the early part of 2008 and I attained the status of Student Officer fit for independent patrol some 10 weeks after that.
A driving course followed from that, which was the most fun I can remember having for many a year – being able to break the speed limits and get my picture taken by speed camera vans, and not have to worry.
The rest of the year has been a time of learning to police in ‘the real world’. I have been pleasantly surprised at how ‘un-phased’ I have been by most situations and have really enjoyed being out on Friday and Saturday nights – talking with the happy drunks and grappling with the angry drunks. I have grown to realise that much of Policing is how you present yourself and much of it is just listening and trying to help.
I have been assaulted three times in the last year, by a drunk, a prisoner trying to escape and also whilst out in the wilds when I needed to arrest an ex special forces soldier. Despite my run-ins and injuries sustained, I have never thought I have made the wrong decision. I have been really grateful for a strong supportive family, a wife who is tremendous (thanks, Mrs Bill) and also for the support and camaraderie from my fellow officers. I can truly say that I have felt ‘part of the family’.
What do I enjoy the most?
It’s got to be the call over the radio “Any unit available that can attend an immediate?” This is the call that could be a road traffic collision (RTC), an ongoing fight outside a pub, a domestic ongoing, or any number of other events. The hairs go up o the back of your neck, you look at your colleague and reply to the call with “India Oscar 21 – available – what is it?”. You are then relayed the facts of the incident, the address to get to and any background info that the operations room have been able to glean in the seconds that they have been receiving the 999 call.
What do I enjoy the least?
I guess it has to be the paperwork. I sometimes hear a call on the radio and whilst responding, I am thinking – how much paperwork is this one little incident going to bring about?
If it is not the paperwork, I think it is the genuine loathing that I have for those people that bring misery to normal people. I am talking about the habitual criminal that doesn’t care about the fruit of their actions. This is the sort of person who is constantly being brought into the police station and each time let go by the court. Yes, I understand people have bad childhoods, I understand people need a second chance. But I also think that joe public deserve to have a decent life and be able to leave their car outside their house without some complete moron scratching it “because it’s not fair that I don’t have one”.
Have I changed?
I was asked by a colleague whether my family had noticed a change in me over the last year and a half. Results were varied, but included:
Happier
More outgoing
Closer circle of friends
Language has deteriorated – a bit more course/vulgar
Don’t use the computer as much
What do I think has changed:
I feel more alive
I go to work looking forward to the day (or night)
I don’t know what to expect – ‘anything could happen in the next 8-10 hours’
I am knackered at the end of a shift
I love the days off
I hate the ironing of countless white shirts
I am more confident in myself
I feel older
Yes, I feel older – but I am not sure if this is the fault of the job, or maybe a gradual realisation that I am not as young as I used to be.
Anyway, enough of the self pity, just because I feel older (and look older) doesn’t mean to say that I have to act any older. I am getting down the gym, going out mountain biking and I would like to say that my beer and chocolate intake has decreased. I would like to say it, but unfortunately I can’t L
Yes, life is good, I am enjoying the job, I am enjoying life. I have seen a number of sudden deaths, some very old and some far too young. I have always thought that life is for living, but even more so now.
Hopefully I will blog again prior to Christmas, but if not – Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all readers. I hope you make the most of it!
