Professional terminology

Same

Jack,
Am I still on probation? Ask Gregg to read his e-mail when he has time.
Thanks,
Clay

It's a long long lunch. 24/7/365. Why can't I put smileys in other places? This serious. Kinda.

 

To Jake_A

I prefer to call it a profession rather than vocation. Although synonymous, some view a vocation as a trade type job with little classwork and ++OJT. Cops get lots of both.

LE has been trying for years to become a profession. A substantial number of federal, state and city agencies require degrees, before acceptance to academies, and pay for additional formal education. In turn, the LE person can receive additional pay and fulfill requirements for promotion.

Bruce mentioned that his department is one of the highest paid in the country. And probably bypasses several federal agencies. The taxpayer foots the bill. Being a taxpayer, I want the brightest, on the job.

An educated cop has a better chance against making false arrests and FUBAR investigations. He also poses a threat, against his future alter-self, by keeping more abreast of matters.

I'd imagine defense attorneys hate seeing Bruce in court. He has a specialty most regular cops don't. So it behooves all LE to take as many college, specialized, and advanced courses as possible.

The S & A gave me my additional certifications and converted to college credits. Academies affiliated with colleges usually grant substantial credit for academies and S & A courses. Sometimes the basics, English, math, humanities etc...are the only classes needed to complete degrees.

I've been using Bruce as an example, hope you're not mad? But he has had as much education as an attorney. And attorneys are called professionals. I don't know of any states or fed agencies licensing their personnel. They certify them. Just as attorneys can be certified trial lawyers etc...although licensed as well. But the oversight of cops negates licensure. Attorneys are private contractors with self governing associations.

I forgot to ask your PhD field.
Thanks,
Clay

 

Re: Re: You're Welcome

After thinking about this I have decided to forego Ashworth's CJ master's or CCU's psych master's.

I really cannot afford either and I have to think about the fact neither degree will actually do anything for me that my other degrees haven't or aren't.

By the end of next year I will have another DETC master's so why do I need three DETC master's degrees?

If I decide to go after another degree, it might as well be the SATS doctorate. It will be reasonably priced and I can earn it by writing a dissertation in practical theology--counseling.

Anyway, I need to be frugal with my finances. My wife will have major surgery January 13 and we are trying to build a locksmithing business which is very, very slow, but that's how businesses go. It takes three to five years to get one off the ground.

Good luck to anyone who will pursue the CCU or Ashworth master's degree.

 

Reality Check

I just watched a rerun of CSI. I'm moving to Vegas, even though I hate crowds, because their "Dusters" (CSI's) solved three homicides in one night. The detectives were the gofers and only had to handcuff bad guys and drive them to jail, where the "Dusters" conducted interviews and had all the crooks confess. "Book 'em Dano!"

And the "Dusters" carried guns, but had no powers of arrest. Pretty bogus. Some CSI's are sworn officers, but they do not run investigations, interview suspects, or use detectives as gofers. I've found various departments require all field personnel to be sworn. A certified officer/deputy/agent. This is for their safety and adds to the value of collected evidence. Detectives are trained to observe, identify and determine the evidentiary value of objects at crime scenes.

The CSI's collect evidence and assist the detective in establishing who, what, where, when, how, etc.... They don't interview anyone. The detective utilizes the evidence (if any good) to construct the event (crime), interviews witnesses and establishes probable cause for an arrest. Then the detective makes the arrest and interviews the suspect, when necessary. Again, CSI's primarily collect and maintain the chain of custody of evidence. A crucial part of any crime. Remember OJ?

Too many hands involved, and a defining moment in establishing CSI's at scene processing and collection of evidence. Millions spent for entertainment purposes.

Sorry future wannabe CSI's. All you get is dirty and the opportunity to spend your day off in court. The experts (chemists, etc...sit in the office running hundreds of analyses from differing cases) stay pretty clean to keep the labs from becoming contaminated. This is where the forensic science degrees are needed.

I figure that three shifts of Vegas CSI's, working three homicides a day, solve 3285 murders a year. Some with multiple suspects. If each murder averages 1.5 suspects then 4927.5 folks are disposed of annually ( by murder or arrest) and this doesn't even cover all other deaths/arrests. So, the herd is rapidly thinning and I'll be left alone to turn off the gaudy lights. Night-night.

This is a general overview. With small agencies/departments the boss may have just a few troops to do it all. But with major crimes they usually call in the cavalry (larger, equipped agencies). Also, officers can usually handle most cases w/o detectives unless SOP's dictate otherwise, or the detectives are busy on other cases.

TV has glorified, falsified and made death about as undignified as dumpster diving. Death stinks, no mater how much perfume is sprayed on it.

I don't care what any "hired-gun" shrink says. When you desensitize death it does affect everyone. I've seen children kicking and picking bodies because death meant nothing to them.

To end on a happy note, Kenny G Jr. was adopted by a nice family.

 

Jimmy

I wrote the above while you were posting. I sure hope your wife will be alright? Tell her a bunch of folks are praying for her.

Also, sounds like you have a plan. Good luck!