July 26, 2008

Weekend Reading- Life as a Cop ⁵

by Wendy • People that Make me Happy

I was up at Texas A&M this past week teaching for the Annual Municipal Fire School.  A&M’s fire school is a world renowned teaching facility for the fire service.  They hold all kinds of fire, ems, and rescue courses throughout the year.  During the summer they offer a week-long ‘academy’ of sorts for firefighters across Texas and from around the US.  There are about 50 or so classes that a firefighter can sign up for, everything from the very basics all the way through officer development courses.  It’s a lot of fun to head up there and hang out with some other really great people from this field of work.

Because of how large this program is, many of the campus bookstores and shops sell all kinds of firefighting items.  You name it, they have shirts, mugs, pens, cups, baby items and more.  I have to say that I am a little disgruntled because they don’t sell ‘My Mom is a Firefighter’ shirt.  They did however have a shirt that made me laugh.  It said, ‘God Made Firefighters So That Cops Could Have Heroes.’  There is a bit of rivalry between firefighters and police officers.  Most of the time it’s all in good fun.  I think secretly we admire each other but we won’t admit it out loud.  Okay, I will admit it.  I wanted to join the CHP but I was too young, so I kept up with my firefighting gig.  About 6 months ago I was tempted to work part-time as a medic/chaplain for the local SWAT (they have the coolest uniforms with their tactical pants and vests and guns) but before I had a chance to think twice the opportunity was gone.  It’s probably a good thing because big guns scare the heck out of me.

I have always admired police officers and the work that they have to do.  It’s tough work.  Firefighters are seen as the good guys who come in and rescue and police as the bad guys who come in and stir up trouble.  Sure, there are some bad apples in the barrel but I don’t think we should judge the whole force because of one person’s mistake.  The fire service has some pretty sketchy people as well.  We should always make a concerted effort to remove those individuals from public service.  I digress….what I did want to share with you is the background of one really great police officer!  She is my friend Krista from A Million Miles to Mia.  She is such a cool person and I admire her deeply.  This week she has been answering questions about her line of work as a cop.  It makes for some seriously great weekend reading.  So, if you are looking for something interesting to read, check her out!   You won’t be disappointed.