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For some time a well known knucklehead has been going around categorizing cops as sheepdogs protecting the sheep. I have also seen a popular picture of a cop in uniform with the wings of an angel as he reaches out to hug and help a small child.

What a bunch of horseshit. Stuff like that makes cops start to think they are something special. We aren’t. We’re just citizens doing a job for our communities. The sheepdog analogy in particular is so damn stupid that it makes me throw up in my mouth a little. I dont have any feelings of grandeur, nor do I believe that the citizens we serve are sheep. Some are more capable, prepared and ready to defend themselves than a lot of cops. The image of the sheepdog defending the herd is too grandiose, it leaves an image that as the police we are in charge of the community. The opposite is true. As cops we should be working toward making that image be the norm. Not going around espousing that crap because it makes us feel good.

As an example, if I had never become a cop. I got out of the Army and became a garbage man. Great job, great hours, great benefits and pay. I would still carry a gun and as my budget allowed I would attend some training. If I happened to be at safeway and a guy came in shooting, I would pull my pistol and face shoot that bad guy. Does the garbage man have a picture of himself with angel wings? I doubt it. I remember telling a class during a team leader school that your level of proficiency, your attitude, your mindset have absolutely nothing to do with your assignment. It is always about the individual, regardless of assignment or job. Now, some assignments lend themselves to being better trained. SWAT typically gets more training in building clearing and shooting than patrol cops. The sense that what you are given is more than enough is nonsense. I know people from all kinds of jobs that can absolutely out shoot 98% of the guys on my team. I dont know how they would do on a building clear, or how their mindset would hold up if they had to fight something more than paper. But the physical skill of shooting far surpasses the “sheepdog” who should be the best.

So please, if you’re a cop with angel wing pictures or sheepdog fantasies, quit being so damn corny. You are not special because you have a badge. You might be special if you have dedicated yourself to a life of discipline, self improvement, self assessment and a mindset that will carry you through the day. Just recognize that there might me a garbage man, or a dentist or a teacher that is better than you at protecting the sheep. Once you do, what will you do about that? I hope it’s more dry firing and finger pushups, instead of drawing a picture that has a superhero cape flowing behind a cop. Earn it, or continue to be a nerd, it really is your choice.