Ethnography Paper

Katie Ulmen

Mr Andrews

English 10 Pd. 4

9 December 2016

Police Culture

Becoming a police officer gives you the power and authority to defend others and yourself (Erickson). Whenever the badge, gun, and uniform is on, the authority to put out bad guys and defend the innocent is all up to them (Wetendorf). To enter the law enforcement profession, the person has to have a high school diploma and some agencies require at least a number of college credits (“Police Officer Job Requirements”). The person also has to go through an entrance exam before they can enter the academy and work their way up (“Police Officer Application and Hiring Process”). The police academy is a training program (taking around 4-8 months depending on the state) that provides challenging and extensive techniques and scenarios that will prepare recruits before hitting the streets (“Police Officer Academy Training”). Once the officer has completed the academy and has started their new job, there will be a constant mental challenge in many situations between the good and the bad guys (Wetendorf). The police culture is like a family and they have to be loyal, trustworthy, and accountable towards each other (Wetendorf). The person interviewed who has recently become a police officer described communication among each other involve lots of codes and acronyms each meaning something different making it simpler to send and receive messages during a situation (Erickson).

Entering the police academy, a person must have thick skin and good judgment (Erickson). They must also be physically, psychologically, and mentally prepared entering this profession for it is extremely demanding (“Police Officer Academy Training”). Practical training in the academy usually involves handling firearms, vehicle operation, close combat and much more (“Police Officer Academy Training”). Another huge aspect of the training is educating the recruits on the constitutional laws, civil rights and police procedures as well as ethics involving police behavior (“Police Officer Academy Training”). Lastly, after a recruit has graduated from the academy, that person immediately starts field training, lasting several weeks, which puts all of what they have learned into account and easing the transition to active duty (“Police Officer Academy Training”).

A cop’s biggest reason why they joined law enforcement is usually so they can put away the bad guys (Erickson). Sometimes it’s difficult to decipher between the good and bad guys, and it can be hard to see a guilty man be set free (“The Brotherhood”). The person interviewed mentioned that the worst parts of the job for him is cases with children and domestic abuse calls which should be heartbreaking for anyone to see or experience. It motivates him to see someone being taken advantage of in any way to bring justice. Seeing kids who are being abused or parents neglecting their children can be hard days’ work for a police officer (Erickson).