www.bryceabaker.com
Enjoy my debut column called CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG! It might ruffle a few feathers, but that's the way the birdie bounces.
CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG!
By Author Bryce A Baker
Essential Services
As a majority of us do, we congregate for coffee at our local coffee shop or park bench and analyze the state of politics, religion or whatever subject that is headlining the news at the time. We develop an opinion in our own mind and verbalize it to our captive audience. Many times our understanding of the subject is what is projected by the media or a programmed political meander by our trusted governing leaders. As our coffee group debates each opinion, the end result is either a frustrated conclusion or we satisfy an inner venting that releases our emotion gasses.
Now… many, many years ago I foolishly made a comment based on my opinion within my limited life experience, and the end statement was a challenge from the person across from me. “Well! Why don’t I do something about it?” Maybe I should have just shut up at the time, but I responded, “Well! Maybe I will!” thus started a lifelong addiction to righting the wrongs of the world.
Now off the subject slightly, a teacher once asked me. “What are you going to do IF you grow up?” Fortunately through the years and years and years of experience and maturing I can honestly say that thankfully, I haven’t grown up. Because of this I shall continue my story, with my evaluation on my first subject. Not to worry… I have a zillion more but let’s just solve this one first.
By the way, if I personally give an observation, it is because I have stepped on that ground and have an unbiased view… somewhat. Okay I am bias, but against the moral, financial, and conniving misuse of our trust.
First subject is Essential Services. Speaking from eighteen years as a detective and being immersed in the armpit of the world as a UCO (undercover operative) I could tell you stories that would curl your straight hair. Through this I speak of personal experience, but I’m not alone in sharing the disillusion in governing agencies and for that matter society itself.
Like a substantial group of us that are or were out there as police officers, firefighters, paramedics or affiliated services, it is very frustrating fighting the bureaucracy rather than focusing on the service we were trained to function as…’AIDING persons in distress’. Personally, the bureaucratic machine bound my hands behind my back and took away a substantial amount of ability to practically do my job. Court technicalities, arrest protocols, evidence procurement and so on, are dramatically restricted. I understand that guidelines are in place to make sure the officer is not outstepping his or her portfolio. The bad guys, however, have NO guidelines and as one can see in resent blatant violent acts against law enforcement and civilians, the bad guys don’t care who gets hurt either. Investigating a crime like murder, kidnapping, or any other criminal act is a matter of training, experience, and reason. Simple in its own terms but solving the crime was easy compared to three major walls run into when the facts are bared. The three walls I speak of are the lenient judicial system, bureaucracy, and the human rights of the criminal! What about the victims? Oh yes there seems to be a fourth wall, ‘Government funding for Essential Services’! But I won’t go into the misappropriation of our tax dollars for less important services. Could write a book on that subject.
It has been mentioned to me by socially educated observers with their opinion that cops are a ‘boys club and are never there when needed.’ But they love spending time writing traffic tickets instead of solving crimes. You know what!? It is a club mostly manned by dedicated men and women placing themselves in harm’s way to protect strangers. Oh for a matter of mention all the criminals locked in our prisons are not habitual speeders.
Now if I can wallow in a bed of pity… I have done my job to the best of my ability with two thank you’s in eighteen years. In 1994 I had a heart attack which damaged my career at the age of thirty eight, three divorces and a bad case of ‘post-traumatic stress syndrome.’ (With no compensation) Through the years I have put my job first before family, friends and health, and you know what, NEVER WROTE A SPEEDING TICKET! The RCMP awarded me an Award for Dedication to Duty in 2009. Now why do I feel like thousands of others in essential services that the society we have worked to help has abandoned us. When you call 911 there are people coming to your aid. Without their services we will condemn ourselves to a world of anarchy and destruction.
In summary, the subject matter in this literary venting is to let the people who assume, to resume support for our essential services. When you see a paramedic, firefighter, or cop…shake their hand and say, ”Thank you.”
By Bryce A. Baker
http://www.bryceabaker.com/CORRECT_ME_IF_I_M_WRONG.html
Enjoy my debut column called CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG! It might ruffle a few feathers, but that's the way the birdie bounces.
CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG!
By Author Bryce A Baker
Essential Services
As a majority of us do, we congregate for coffee at our local coffee shop or park bench and analyze the state of politics, religion or whatever subject that is headlining the news at the time. We develop an opinion in our own mind and verbalize it to our captive audience. Many times our understanding of the subject is what is projected by the media or a programmed political meander by our trusted governing leaders. As our coffee group debates each opinion, the end result is either a frustrated conclusion or we satisfy an inner venting that releases our emotion gasses.
Now… many, many years ago I foolishly made a comment based on my opinion within my limited life experience, and the end statement was a challenge from the person across from me. “Well! Why don’t I do something about it?” Maybe I should have just shut up at the time, but I responded, “Well! Maybe I will!” thus started a lifelong addiction to righting the wrongs of the world.
Now off the subject slightly, a teacher once asked me. “What are you going to do IF you grow up?” Fortunately through the years and years and years of experience and maturing I can honestly say that thankfully, I haven’t grown up. Because of this I shall continue my story, with my evaluation on my first subject. Not to worry… I have a zillion more but let’s just solve this one first.
By the way, if I personally give an observation, it is because I have stepped on that ground and have an unbiased view… somewhat. Okay I am bias, but against the moral, financial, and conniving misuse of our trust.
First subject is Essential Services. Speaking from eighteen years as a detective and being immersed in the armpit of the world as a UCO (undercover operative) I could tell you stories that would curl your straight hair. Through this I speak of personal experience, but I’m not alone in sharing the disillusion in governing agencies and for that matter society itself.
Like a substantial group of us that are or were out there as police officers, firefighters, paramedics or affiliated services, it is very frustrating fighting the bureaucracy rather than focusing on the service we were trained to function as…’AIDING persons in distress’. Personally, the bureaucratic machine bound my hands behind my back and took away a substantial amount of ability to practically do my job. Court technicalities, arrest protocols, evidence procurement and so on, are dramatically restricted. I understand that guidelines are in place to make sure the officer is not outstepping his or her portfolio. The bad guys, however, have NO guidelines and as one can see in resent blatant violent acts against law enforcement and civilians, the bad guys don’t care who gets hurt either. Investigating a crime like murder, kidnapping, or any other criminal act is a matter of training, experience, and reason. Simple in its own terms but solving the crime was easy compared to three major walls run into when the facts are bared. The three walls I speak of are the lenient judicial system, bureaucracy, and the human rights of the criminal! What about the victims? Oh yes there seems to be a fourth wall, ‘Government funding for Essential Services’! But I won’t go into the misappropriation of our tax dollars for less important services. Could write a book on that subject.
It has been mentioned to me by socially educated observers with their opinion that cops are a ‘boys club and are never there when needed.’ But they love spending time writing traffic tickets instead of solving crimes. You know what!? It is a club mostly manned by dedicated men and women placing themselves in harm’s way to protect strangers. Oh for a matter of mention all the criminals locked in our prisons are not habitual speeders.
Now if I can wallow in a bed of pity… I have done my job to the best of my ability with two thank you’s in eighteen years. In 1994 I had a heart attack which damaged my career at the age of thirty eight, three divorces and a bad case of ‘post-traumatic stress syndrome.’ (With no compensation) Through the years I have put my job first before family, friends and health, and you know what, NEVER WROTE A SPEEDING TICKET! The RCMP awarded me an Award for Dedication to Duty in 2009. Now why do I feel like thousands of others in essential services that the society we have worked to help has abandoned us. When you call 911 there are people coming to your aid. Without their services we will condemn ourselves to a world of anarchy and destruction.
In summary, the subject matter in this literary venting is to let the people who assume, to resume support for our essential services. When you see a paramedic, firefighter, or cop…shake their hand and say, ”Thank you.”
By Bryce A. Baker
http://www.bryceabaker.com/CORRECT_ME_IF_I_M_WRONG.html
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