What Are Policemen Made Of? "Don't credit me with the mongrel prose: it has many parents-at least 420,000 of them: Policemen. A Policeman is a composite of what all men are, mingling...

Worried for our children Loc: Massachusetts

"Don't credit me with the mongrel prose: it has many parents-at least 420,000 of them: Policemen.
A Policeman is a composite of what all men are, mingling of a saint and sinner, dust and deity.

Gulled statistics wave the fan over the stinkers, underscore instances of dishonesty and brutality because they are "new". What they really mean is that they are exceptional, unusual, not commonplace.

Buried under the frost is the fact: Less than one-half of one percent of policemen misfit the uniform. That's a better average than you'd find among clergy!

What is a policeman made of? He, of all men, is once the most needed and the most unwanted. He's a strangely nameless creature who is "sir" to his face and "fuzz" to his back

He must be such a diplomat that he can settle differences between individuals so that each will think he won.

But...If the policeman is neat, he's conceited; if he's careless, he's a bum. If he's pleasant, he's flirting;if not, he's a grouch.

He must make an instant decision which would require months for a lawyer to make.

But...If he hurries, he's careless; if he's deliberate, he's lazy. He must be first to an accident and infallible with his diagnosis. He must be able to start breathing, stop bleeding, tie splints and, above all, be sure the victim goes home without a limp. Or expect to be sued.

The police officer must know every gun, draw on the run, and hit where it doesn't hurt.He must be able to whip two men twice his size and half his age without damaging his uniform and without being "brutal". If you hit him, he's a coward. If he hits you, he's a bully.

A policeman must know everything-and not tell. He must know where all the sin is and not partake.

A policeman must, from a single strand of hair, be able to describe the crime, the weapon and the criminal- and tell you where the criminal is hiding.

But...If he catches the criminal, he's lucky; if he doesn't, he's a dunce. If he gets promoted, he has political pull; if he doesn't, he's a dullard. The policeman must chase a bum lead to a dead-end, stake out ten nights to tag one witness who saw it happen-but refused to remember.

The policeman must be a minister, a social worker, a diplomat, a tough guy and a gentleman.

And, of course, he'd have to be genius....For he will have to feed a family on a policeman's salary."

~ Paul Harvey (1970)

nhchaz

So true!
Every word of it.

Tasine Loc: Southwest US

Worried for our children wrote:

"Don't credit me with the mongrel prose: it has many parents-at least 420,000 of them: Policemen.
A Policeman is a composite of what all men are, mingling of a saint and sinner, dust and deity.

Gulled statistics wave the fan over the stinkers, underscore instances of dishonesty and brutality because they are "new". What they really mean is that they are exceptional, unusual, not commonplace.

Buried under the frost is the fact: Less than one-half of one percent of policemen misfit the uniform. That's a better average than you'd find among clergy!

What is a policeman made of? He, of all men, is once the most needed and the most unwanted. He's a strangely nameless creature who is "sir" to his face and "fuzz" to his back

He must be such a diplomat that he can settle differences between individuals so that each will think he won.

But...If the policeman is neat, he's conceited; if he's careless, he's a bum. If he's pleasant, he's flirting;if not, he's a grouch.

He must make an instant decision which would require months for a lawyer to make.

But...If he hurries, he's careless; if he's deliberate, he's lazy. He must be first to an accident and infallible with his diagnosis. He must be able to start breathing, stop bleeding, tie splints and, above all, be sure the victim goes home without a limp. Or expect to be sued.

The police officer must know every gun, draw on the run, and hit where it doesn't hurt.He must be able to whip two men twice his size and half his age without damaging his uniform and without being "brutal". If you hit him, he's a coward. If he hits you, he's a bully.

A policeman must know everything-and not tell. He must know where all the sin is and not partake.

A policeman must, from a single strand of hair, be able to describe the crime, the weapon and the criminal- and tell you where the criminal is hiding.

But...If he catches the criminal, he's lucky; if he doesn't, he's a dunce. If he gets promoted, he has political pull; if he doesn't, he's a dullard. The policeman must chase a bum lead to a dead-end, stake out ten nights to tag one witness who saw it happen-but refused to remember.

The policeman must be a minister, a social worker, a diplomat, a tough guy and a gentleman.

And, of course, he'd have to be genius....For he will have to feed a family on a policeman's salary."

~ Paul Harvey (1970)

i "Don't credit me with the mongrel prose: i... (show quote)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks for this item by Paul Harvey. I sure do miss him!!! He was ALWAYS totally on target and is in this case. And your post should be read by EVERY AMERICAN AND DIGESTED WELL BY THOSE WHO CASTIGATE COPS. In danger almost everyone calls for a cop. All other times many of those same people are castigating them. So many Americans have become so thoroughly d********g excuses for humans.

Alicia Loc: NYC

Worried for our children wrote:

"Don't credit me with the mongrel prose: it has many parents-at least 420,000 of them: Policemen.
A Policeman is a composite of what all men are, mingling of a saint and sinner, dust and deity.

Gulled statistics wave the fan over the stinkers, underscore instances of dishonesty and brutality because they are "new". What they really mean is that they are exceptional, unusual, not commonplace.

Buried under the frost is the fact: Less than one-half of one percent of policemen misfit the uniform. That's a better average than you'd find among clergy!

What is a policeman made of? He, of all men, is once the most needed and the most unwanted. He's a strangely nameless creature who is "sir" to his face and "fuzz" to his back

He must be such a diplomat that he can settle differences between individuals so that each will think he won.

But...If the policeman is neat, he's conceited; if he's careless, he's a bum. If he's pleasant, he's flirting;if not, he's a grouch.

He must make an instant decision which would require months for a lawyer to make.

But...If he hurries, he's careless; if he's deliberate, he's lazy. He must be first to an accident and infallible with his diagnosis. He must be able to start breathing, stop bleeding, tie splints and, above all, be sure the victim goes home without a limp. Or expect to be sued.

The police officer must know every gun, draw on the run, and hit where it doesn't hurt.He must be able to whip two men twice his size and half his age without damaging his uniform and without being "brutal". If you hit him, he's a coward. If he hits you, he's a bully.

A policeman must know everything-and not tell. He must know where all the sin is and not partake.

A policeman must, from a single strand of hair, be able to describe the crime, the weapon and the criminal- and tell you where the criminal is hiding.

But...If he catches the criminal, he's lucky; if he doesn't, he's a dunce. If he gets promoted, he has political pull; if he doesn't, he's a dullard. The policeman must chase a bum lead to a dead-end, stake out ten nights to tag one witness who saw it happen-but refused to remember.

The policeman must be a minister, a social worker, a diplomat, a tough guy and a gentleman.

And, of course, he'd have to be genius....For he will have to feed a family on a policeman's salary."

~ Paul Harvey (1970)

i "Don't credit me with the mongrel prose: i... (show quote)

***********************
That was the policemen I recall from my youth which was in Paul Harvey's era. I do recall that the policemen in our neighborhood also lived there and was a friend who demanded the law be carried out and still was respected by all. I also recall receiving instructions from my parents that I was to seek out an officer if coming across someone who overstepped that boundary. Those times were different. Our policemen carried guns but never used them, and certainly were never the first to use them. So what's happened?

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

Worried for our children wrote:

"Don't credit me with the mongrel prose: it has many parents-at least 420,000 of them: Policemen.
A Policeman is a composite of what all men are, mingling of a saint and sinner, dust and deity.

Gulled statistics wave the fan over the stinkers, underscore instances of dishonesty and brutality because they are "new". What they really mean is that they are exceptional, unusual, not commonplace.

Buried under the frost is the fact: Less than one-half of one percent of policemen misfit the uniform. That's a better average than you'd find among clergy!

What is a policeman made of? He, of all men, is once the most needed and the most unwanted. He's a strangely nameless creature who is "sir" to his face and "fuzz" to his back

He must be such a diplomat that he can settle differences between individuals so that each will think he won.

But...If the policeman is neat, he's conceited; if he's careless, he's a bum. If he's pleasant, he's flirting;if not, he's a grouch.

He must make an instant decision which would require months for a lawyer to make.

But...If he hurries, he's careless; if he's deliberate, he's lazy. He must be first to an accident and infallible with his diagnosis. He must be able to start breathing, stop bleeding, tie splints and, above all, be sure the victim goes home without a limp. Or expect to be sued.

The police officer must know every gun, draw on the run, and hit where it doesn't hurt.He must be able to whip two men twice his size and half his age without damaging his uniform and without being "brutal". If you hit him, he's a coward. If he hits you, he's a bully.

A policeman must know everything-and not tell. He must know where all the sin is and not partake.

A policeman must, from a single strand of hair, be able to describe the crime, the weapon and the criminal- and tell you where the criminal is hiding.

But...If he catches the criminal, he's lucky; if he doesn't, he's a dunce. If he gets promoted, he has political pull; if he doesn't, he's a dullard. The policeman must chase a bum lead to a dead-end, stake out ten nights to tag one witness who saw it happen-but refused to remember.

The policeman must be a minister, a social worker, a diplomat, a tough guy and a gentleman.

And, of course, he'd have to be genius....For he will have to feed a family on a policeman's salary."

~ Paul Harvey (1970)

i "Don't credit me with the mongrel prose: i... (show quote)

BRAVOOOOOOOOOOOOO, my dear friend...I have some family serving in the police dept and I am sending this right now to them..I hope they display in their locations for all other police to see it...They NEED a little positive right now..Under attack from all over this Country in different states its a wonder they aren't all asking why they do it???

Yesterday I had the privilege of buying coffee for two, remembering your outstanding story of that women that let that little witch cashier have it!!!! Only difference is I was in Starbucks and the manager wouldn't take my money either..He said, looking at them, its on "US"...~~

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

Alicia wrote:

*********************** br That was the policemen ... (show quote)

A careless society of gang bangers, of people that taunt and push the limits, that have no respect of life or people with a constant push to feed r****m, that is what has happened..Society has lost its moral base...

But I will once again say: The moment we stop fighting FOR each other is the moment we loose humanity.....
We're better than this.........

Tasine Loc: Southwest US

Alicia wrote:

*********************** br That was the policemen ... (show quote)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You haven't noticed the hoodlum gangs going about attacking anyone without reason, doing it for fun? Cops of yesteryear didn't have to contend with idiocy and mayhem for its own sake. They dealt with criminals but those criminals committed crimes with a purpose; hence were likely to act human unlike the animals who run wild today with no purpose whatsoever. No city could pay me enough to have to deal with those neanderthals.

reconreb Loc: America / Inglis Fla.

Alicia wrote:

*********************** br That was the policemen ... (show quote)

What a negative outlook you have ,, O.K. we get it ,, life did not turn out the way you hoped , guess what ,, it happens to most folks but the difference is most of us prefer to pick up our failures and learn from them . You seem to blame society for your failures , good luck with that attitude .. it does not work , never has , never will ..

lpnmajor Loc: Arkansas

Worried for our children wrote:

"Don't credit me with the mongrel prose: it has many parents-at least 420,000 of them: Policemen.
A Policeman is a composite of what all men are, mingling of a saint and sinner, dust and deity.

Gulled statistics wave the fan over the stinkers, underscore instances of dishonesty and brutality because they are "new". What they really mean is that they are exceptional, unusual, not commonplace.

Buried under the frost is the fact: Less than one-half of one percent of policemen misfit the uniform. That's a better average than you'd find among clergy!

What is a policeman made of? He, of all men, is once the most needed and the most unwanted. He's a strangely nameless creature who is "sir" to his face and "fuzz" to his back

He must be such a diplomat that he can settle differences between individuals so that each will think he won.

But...If the policeman is neat, he's conceited; if he's careless, he's a bum. If he's pleasant, he's flirting;if not, he's a grouch.

He must make an instant decision which would require months for a lawyer to make.

But...If he hurries, he's careless; if he's deliberate, he's lazy. He must be first to an accident and infallible with his diagnosis. He must be able to start breathing, stop bleeding, tie splints and, above all, be sure the victim goes home without a limp. Or expect to be sued.

The police officer must know every gun, draw on the run, and hit where it doesn't hurt.He must be able to whip two men twice his size and half his age without damaging his uniform and without being "brutal". If you hit him, he's a coward. If he hits you, he's a bully.

A policeman must know everything-and not tell. He must know where all the sin is and not partake.

A policeman must, from a single strand of hair, be able to describe the crime, the weapon and the criminal- and tell you where the criminal is hiding.

But...If he catches the criminal, he's lucky; if he doesn't, he's a dunce. If he gets promoted, he has political pull; if he doesn't, he's a dullard. The policeman must chase a bum lead to a dead-end, stake out ten nights to tag one witness who saw it happen-but refused to remember.

The policeman must be a minister, a social worker, a diplomat, a tough guy and a gentleman.

And, of course, he'd have to be genius....For he will have to feed a family on a policeman's salary."

~ Paul Harvey (1970)

i "Don't credit me with the mongrel prose: i... (show quote)

I know quite a few cops - and they all turned out to be humans. Go figure.

Worried for our children Loc: Massachusetts

nhchaz wrote:

So true!
Every word of it.

It absolutely is, nhchaz. And welcome to OPP. Nice to have another civil mind around here.

Worried for our children Loc: Massachusetts

Tasine wrote:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks for this item by Paul Harvey. I sure do miss him!!! He was ALWAYS totally on target and is in this case. And your post should be read by EVERY AMERICAN AND DIGESTED WELL BY THOSE WHO CASTIGATE COPS. In danger almost everyone calls for a cop. All other times many of those same people are castigating them. So many Americans have become so thoroughly d********g excuses for humans.

I totally agree, Tas. We're in some sad shape right now, but we as a country have been here before, we pulled out of it ok then, and I'm confident we will again.

JFlorio Loc: Seminole Florida

Police have been asked to take the place of failing family figures, failing marriage's, failing economic and jobs models, failing schools. the list goes on and on. Not only are they not qualified for that role it is an impossible role. When I see the police standing in a line staring straight ahead and some dip s**t kid jumping up and down in front of them screaming obscenities and acting like a bad ass when they know the policeman or policewoman cannot strike back I wonder where that persons parents are.

Alicia wrote:

*********************** br That was the policemen ... (show quote)

Worried for our children Loc: Massachusetts

Alicia wrote:

*********************** br That was the policemen ... (show quote)

Nothing has happened, Alicia. Statically we are actually better than the percentage that Mr. Harvey gave, because of better vetting of police applicants. You have no idea of the intense background checks, physical and psychological exams, and character screening one has to pass in order to be accepted. The applicant practically has to be a saint. And if they're accepted, they continue to be held to a higher moral standard than many other jobs require, on and off the job. There are bad apples in every profession. You wouldn't stop going to your doctor, if a doctor misdiagnosed a patient in a different state and ended up dying, would you?

Worried for our children Loc: Massachusetts

lindajoy wrote:

BRAVOOOOOOOOOOOOO, my dear friend...I have some family serving in the police dept and I am sending this right now to them..I hope they display in their locations for all other police to see it...They NEED a little positive right now..Under attack from all over this Country in different states its a wonder they aren't all asking why they do it???

I wish I had more time to elaborate on this my friend, but police departments around the country are having difficulty in finding applicants, and quite a few actually have walked off the job; can't blame them.

Quote:

Yesterday I had the privilege of buying coffee for... (show quote)

Thanks, my friend.

Alicia Loc: NYC

reconreb wrote:

What a negative outlook you have ,, O.K. we get it ,, life did not turn out the way you hoped , guess what ,, it happens to most folks but the difference is most of us prefer to pick up our failures and learn from them . You seem to blame society for your failures , good luck with that attitude .. it does not work , never has , never will ..

*********************
I don't see anything negative in my post. I do read the news and have found that white cop/dead black man appears quite often. I do question the frequency when, even with the use of videos, the policeman does get away with what is obviously his error (or crime). I'm not blind and when presented with actual videos, I can definitely see who is at fault as well as many others. I am not negative-thinking but also, I am a realist. When I see green, I recognize it as that and come to the situation with an open mind.

When happened to the era when police did not shoot before actually seeing a pre-concealed gun or the movement required to un-conceal one? There have been too many cases in the last few years for me to call my shots wrong.

FYI - I don't consider my life a failure at all. I've accomplished almost all of my goals. Can you think that you are projecting your own attitude?