In response to KDelace's Ticket (long vent....sorry)
Posted by maiahsdad
all jobs have risks, i work with hot oil, and I can get burned, what makes that ANY different then someone else's job????? dont get me wrong yes it is a dangerous job but come on,
OMG!!! I don't generally get involved in these drama threads----but I had to get say something for this one......Are you SERIOUSLY comparing cooking with hot oil to life on the streets as a cop???? You've GOT to be kidding.......there must be an underlying joke there somewhere. I will be waiting for the punchline.
When is the last time you needed to go to the hospital for an 'on-the-job' injury that required extensive physical therapy, or had two knee surgeries because someone decided that it would be better to fight with you because their filet mignon was over-cooked, or you needed cortisone injections into your cervical spine because somebody decided to try and run you over with their car after their food came out cold? PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE--don't ever try to say that being a cop or firefighter isn't different than everybody else's job.......
K--Sorry that your vent thread has turned into a highjacked drama thread--and it seriously stinks that you got that ticket.....fight it all the way. But, I have to get a few things off my chest here.....
1) I am a cop in the South Bronx....(And I have to preface this rant with the fact that I honor EVERY PBA/DBA/SBA/etc.. card that is handed to me---from ANY other police department) I work midnight patrol in a 'not-so-nice' area--(we compete for the most homicides every year in NYC to give you an idea). There have been many occasions in the last five years where I have been slapped, punched, kicked, thrown against walls, thrown threw a glass door, slashed with a knife, hit by a car, spit on, verbally abused, and of course, SHOT AT. All of this is literally in a day's work.
---Now, I'm not saying that EVERY cop goes through this on a nightly basis--or even at any point in their career....many will never even draw their guns (where for me it's a nightly occurance)----BUT, that being said, the possibility always exists.
2) This job offers us NOTHING in the way of a thank you. The pay S$CKS (well, I can't say that for the Nassau and Suffolk cops, but you get my point), we are forced to work two or three jobs just to be able to live on a daily basis, the benefits are lousy---yes we have a great sick leave policy.....but that's the full extent of it. The 'doctors' covered under the 'HMO' are horrible and we end up having to go out-of-network and pay anyway, we are forced to take certain overtime in 'Time' and cannot receive the monetary benefit of our extra time spent here on this job, not to mention the sh$t we have to hear from the big bosses on a daily basis because we haven't met the 'quota' for the month (but of course to John Q Public, there is no 'quota----YEAH RIGHT!!!).
3) The one benefit that we do have is our PBA cards and courtesy extended to our immediate families. They put up with SOOOO much nonsense--not to mention the nightly worries of whether we're coming home in one piece, or in a body bag----My FH (who is NOT a cop) listens to me complain, hugs me when I'm upset, and takes care of me when I get hurt....he gives up his night to sit and listen to my stories through my tears of how I almost killed a guy and literally dodged bullets...and then turns around and gives me his blessing each and every day to go back to work because he knows how much I enjoy taking guns and drugs off the streets, helping get a 15 year old out of a gang before he's in too deep, or locking up an abusive husband and helping the woman get out of the relationship.
----If my mini-shield and PBA card can help keep him from the hassle of dealing with court, or having to pay an excessive fine because he made a mistake while driving and forgot to signal, or was travelling a bit fast on the highway......then that PBA card is worth it's weight in gold. For everything that HE does for me on a daily basis......that is the one 'perk' that I can help give back to him.
4) As someone else metioned--just about every job in life has a perk in some way, shape, or form......PBA cards do not ALLOW my family members to break the law, nor are the 'above' the law. They allow the police officer to make the same discretionary decisions they make EVERY time they pull someone over. It's not manditory for a ticket to be written once a car is pulled over.......if you have a good reason (with or without a PBA card)--you have a shot of getting out of the ticket. It all depends on the cop. Obviously, Trooper Clifford is a prime example of why everyone hates State Troopers.......BUT, IMO--he should have extended some sort of courtesy. He is asking for some major trouble by writing cop's families.....there will be payback of some sort--I'm sure. There will be A LOT of Troopers, on their way into work, that will be getting written for some time. That's the way it works.........the Troopers he works with will figure it out after they receive a few tickets from the local cops or city cops and they'll take care of Clifford .
OK--I am done ranting now.......obviously everybody is entitled to their opinions and I won't bash anybody's feelings......but to compare life as a cop or firefighter to being a chef??? Come on---I was in the restaurant business for MANY years.....there is NO JOB in the world like what we do!!! It is stressful, dangerous, and (at times) repetitive.....but it is one of the most gratifying careers one could ever have. Alright--I'm off my soapbox now......I still believe in PBA cards also.
K--If you need a phone call....just let me know. I'll be more than happy to give Trooper Clifford a piece of my mind!!!!
