[Guest]

I will like to know if am the only one the think like this but I know couple of Special Officers in Boston that think since they did 160 hours in some Academy that they are real cops. Don't get me wrong I respect everyone but is a pain listening to this guys how they talk to people and introduce them selves as "Housing Cops" or "Police Officers". Just a reality check for them that their patch are from their security company and their check also. [-X

 

[Zuke]

I am confused are you talking about the SSPO Academy or the Reserve, College Cops, Housing or private security? Be more specific and clear when ranting and trying to stir the pot. :roll:
Everyone has to start somewhere. In this state its a act of God Himself to get a FT and well paid PO job.

 

[MVS]

Exactly. A reserve academy is good enough to be a "REAL" cop in many towns as they assume 100% of the same duties as full-timers.

 

[Zuke]

Exactly. A reserve academy is good enough to be a "REAL" cop in many towns as they assume 100% of the same duties as full-timers.

In most some towns during the weekend and holidays the only POs working are Reserves.

 

[Gil]

ahh shit here we go again...... #-o

I am going to assume that E_Javi2 was speaking of BPD rule 400 contracted security officers working MHFA property. If I am correct in my assumption, yes E_Javi2 there are many of them that are disillusioned as to what their role in LE is (although BPD B2 did a great job of keeping them in check.) There are also a ton of great guys that know their place in the food chain and eventually shed that red stripe and move on to bigger and better things. Working MHFA is a great learning experience.

This topic had been discussed in the past and I think many of us agreed that there are wing nuts out there working in many aspects of the LE field. I too once worked MHFA for New Girls Security (worthy of it's own topic) and really enjoyed it, I met some great people and I also met a few that should have been pink slipped but they are out there.

 

[randy13]

E Javi, I think I know what you're getting at about some of the private security departments in the city. I see them every day at work (I work for the Boston Housing Police myself). I don't think you should lump everyone together. I've met alot of people that work for the various security companies in town and alot of them are level headed people trying to get into the field. As far as training goes, it doesn't matter how long your police academy is in this state. I know people who work in some towns north of the city that were appointed as full time and didn't attend a full time academy even after being on the street for over a year... As far as my department, we are required to attend a full time academy before we put the uniform (I went to the mbta academy, which was over 800 hours....about 24 weeks long so I can pretty much defend my department on "standards". We also have to pass the P.A.T., go to full time in-service every year, pass an extensive background check, psychological tests and so on. We are also one of the only departments in the state that are nationally accredited (of course I've been at my job for four years and I'm still trying to figure out why the hell we bother getting accredited
I guess what I'm trying to say is that it doesn't really matter where you work, as long as you conduct yourself professionally and not like some para-military freak who thinks they just landed into a hot L-Z, and also remember it's just a job we all do to pay the bills...

 

[VTCOP]

E_Javi2 Posted: 10 Oct 2004 04:09 Post subject: Special Officer

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I will like to know if am the only one the think like this but I know couple of Special Officers in Boston that think since they did 160 hours in some Academy that they are real cops. Don't get me wrong I respect everyone but is a pain listening to this guys how they talk to people and introduce them selves as "Housing Cops" or "Police Officers". Just a reality check for them that their patch are from their security company and their check also.

Basically i got what you were trying to say, but man, some english lessons might help.

 

[frapmpd24]

I guess what I'm trying to say is that it doesn't really matter where you work, as long as you conduct yourself professionally and not like some para-military freak who thinks they just landed into a hot L-Z, and also remember it's just a job we all do to pay the bills...

That was put very well randy13, the most important thing is people in this field conducting themselves professionally. Whether someone starts off as a dispatcher, special officer working just details, part-time/reserve officer working patrol, an SSPO/CPO, in corrections, or security bottom line is we all have to start somewhere. To echo what Gil elluded to, "you have to know your place in the food chain".

As a part-time or special officer in some departments (especially Worcester County and points west) the 120 HR MCJTC Reserve/Intermittent Academy is what many of the officers on smaller departments have, and they are vital to the department because they suppliment the full-time force, often working as the only one or two officers on a shift. I am fortunate enough to be a F/T officer, but like many others on this board started off as a dispatcher/special officer with the R/I academy.

E_Javi2, there is nothing wrong with stating your opinion, but I would just tread lightly about making general statements about specials or part-time officers without being more specific about what/who your referring to, just so there is no confusion (just my :2c. There are many P/T Officers working the road in smaller towns or at colleges that are squared away, know what they are doing, stay educated/updated, and take pride in their job.

 

[MVS]

All points were well stated. There are and will always be some nuts in this field, just like in any other field. Training is definitely important, but its not the only thing that makes good cop. As stated, it's professional conduct and keeping updated and educated as well as taking pride in the job. Many of us know guys whom went through the full-time academy that are total wingnuts... we often wonder "how did this guy make it through the process?". Like always, there are always a few that "make it through" :roll:

No matter at what level or position you are in, there is 1 key to success, and that success key is: "Know you role!" This applies to all, from Security Officer to Police Chief as EVERYONE is on the "Food Chain".

How about a group hug?

 

[Dr.Magoo]

I think we are all Special Officers! :wink:

 

[mpd61]

I think we are all Special Officers! :wink:

Ahhhh.......................
That felt good
:lol:

 

[HousingCop]

E_Javi2, I agree.

At least once a month on the midnight shift we get a call from some obscure agency throughout Massachusetts or the United States wanting to speak with the DS because they have one of "our guys" is locked up / PC'd / drunk and or beligerant or crashed into a pole somewhere. A name is given and checked against our mammoth roster of 38 guys from the Chef on down to see which one is in trouble. Invariably, the name does not match. Why you ask, becuase it's usually some tard who works for any number of security companies in Boston who says they are Housing cops.

Why they always say they are Housing cops is beyond me. If you work in a town and a state highway runs through it, are you a Higway Patrolman or a state cop? No. If you have a federal building in your town, are you an FBI agent or J. Edgar Hoover? No. If you are an employee of a security company and patrol MHFA apartment buildings, are you a Housing cop? No. If you are a Housing cop in Somerville, Boston or Springfield, are you a Housing cop? Yes, it says so right on your patch! Imagine that.

Take a look on your shoulder and read what it says before you go stating what you obviously are not. I don't pretend to be a Boston cop when I meet people. It takes a bit of explaining when I tell people my line of work but I don't want to be considered something I am not. I am a Housing cop, plain & simple. It's not just an adventure, it's a job. - The Few the Proud, the Underpaid. The Housing Police!

 

[MarkBoston]

So let me get this straight…some obscure agency from a remote secluded area calls your remote secluded obscure agency inquiring about the possible employment of some mysterious vague individual claiming to be a member of your remote secluded obscure agency?

 

[HousingCop]

Well last call we got was from Las Vegas 2 months ago. They had some fool locked up for starting trouble in a casino. Claimed he was a Boston Housing cop. This is 3am mind you. His name escapes me at the moment but he definately wasn't one of ours, even though I could here him insisting he was in the background through the open phone line. I asked the nice Metro cop to ask him what color the stripe on his pants was at work. A loud sigh could be heard through the phone line. He was a red-striper from some company somewhere here in Boston. His charade was over.

I have 2 nice variations of Housing Police badges here that have been turned over to me by agencies who have confiscated them from these wackers who have the shield, but no ID to back it up. One of them even says Boston MHFA Housing Police. No such animal.

 

[dcs2244]

I'll bet not all of these 'red stripe' (candy stripers?), or even the majority, are badge heavy pretenders. I started at Pinkerton's...we had a couple of these idiots...they didn't last long, because at $2.42 an hour, we had a long line of professionals longing to be hired (part time/no benis...but 60+ hours a week if you wanted it...)! It's not everywhere you have the opportunity to make money like that!

 

[MarkBoston]

Well last call we got was from Las Vegas 2 months ago. They had some fool locked up for starting trouble in a casino. Claimed he was a Boston Housing cop. This is 3am mind you. His name escapes me at the moment but he definately wasn't one of ours, even though I could here him insisting he was in the background through the open phone line. I asked the nice Metro cop to ask him what color the stripe on his pants was at work. A loud sigh could be heard through the phone line. He was a red-striper from some company somewhere here in Boston. His charade was over.

I have 2 nice variations of Housing Police badges here that have been turned over to me by agencies who have confiscated them from these wackers who have the shield, but no ID to back it up. One of them even says Boston MHFA Housing Police. No such animal.

Was his last name SMITH?

 

[Gil]

I have 2 nice variations of Housing Police badges here that have been turned over to me by agencies who have confiscated them from these wackers who have the shield, but no ID to back it up. One of them even says Boston MHFA Housing Police. No such animal.

The commissioner just unveiled a new rule 400 special badge to be utilized by officers patrolling MHFA properity

 

[dcs2244]

"The story you are about to hear is true...the names have been changed to protect the innocent..."

 

[Guest]

Thank You all for the opinions. I want to clarify the following:
1. I was refering to BPD rule 400
2. I don't think that all Specials are the same

Be Safe

Posted Sun Oct 10, 21:17:

I am confused are you talking about the SSPO Academy or the Reserve, College Cops, Housing or private security? Be more specific and clear when ranting and trying to stir the pot. :roll:
Everyone has to start somewhere. In this state its a act of God Himself to get a FT and well paid PO job.

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talking about BPD rule 400 (security companies)

Posted Sun Oct 10, 21:19:

E_Javi2 Posted: 10 Oct 2004 04:09 Post subject: Special Officer

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Basically i got what you were trying to say, but man, some english lessons might help.

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I will try c:

 

[DVET1979]

A sworn police officer is a sworn police officer, but I do agree that there are alot of people who aren't real cops who get way in over their heads and start playing "cops and robbers" as adults. By saying "real cops" I mean working for the state or a municipality.