...if you want to rock and roll
I'm all for starting at the bottom and working one's way to the top -
gives one so much more time in the afternoon to get on with running things.
Ridin' down the highway
Goin' to a show
Stop in all the byways
Playin' rock 'n' roll
Gettin' robbed
Gettin' stoned
Gettin' beat up
Broken boned
Gettin' had
Gettin' took
I tell you folks
It's harder than it looks
2nd verse gets close to the truth, too:
.....
Gettin' old
Gettin' grey
Gettin' ripped off
Under-paid
Gettin' sold
Second hand
That's how it goes
........................................summed up my 30 years quite well.
7 comments:
Thanks for that ear worm. One of my all-time favorite songs.
That aside, it is a shame that they are putting aside working your way to the top. You wouldn't think the new hires would gain enough experience in those three years to be good supervisors, etc.
Troubairitz,
I spent some time doing a field study on the criminal justice system in The Netherlands. Direct senior officer entry exisits over there, as well as `through the ranks`. I had no problem with that, as I perceived it operating. Police Federation (UK police `union`) blanked some of the papers I submitted. The Feds and I `parted company` soon after that. The Dutch also had a positive discrimination policy so, at that time, if you weren't black or female you wouldn't get in to the Amsterdam Police until they'd reached their target percentage. This would be illegal in the UK, as we have race/equality legislation for such matters - in The Netherlands it is a constitutional issue and therefore The Amsterdam Police considered it necessary to take this action so that they were `constitutional`in their race/gender balance, but of course we Brits don't have a written constitution - hey ho. (and thats as `academic` as I get these days, as life is waay too short).
We will have to see how it goes. I am afraid that any such scheme will have to be a success and there will be no failures allowed so we could be left with some duds bed blocking promotion doing important strategy work at HQ. I don't have any problem at all with accelerated promotion, 'time served' does not always equal experience gained but I wonder how long it will be before a direct entry Supt is hung out to dry following a major faux pas. I do have a problem with the selection processes used which tend to produce clones who can pass assessment centres but who may have operational shortfalls.
I don't know about you but I have spoken to ex soldiers who are in the police. These people had served at all ranks from Private to Colonel, some still serve in the TA/Reserves, without exception all said a direct entry officer class would not work as the direct entrant Insp/Supt would not have an experienced SNCO to provide advice. In addition most police work takes place by PC's acting in ones and twos without supervision unlike the Armed Forces who tend to act en masse.
Retired
Agreed ret'd. Heard the same fron my ex military pals. Amsterdam police have the same discussions. A good snr officer will use the experienced sgts or ignore them at their peril. Those that 'get it' are ok. Those that don't walk around in the uniform drawing the salary.
I wonder if an inspector who got there in 3 years vs 15 would be as good (a rhetorical question)
BillB. Like in the Army, a rapidly promoted officer would be a darn fool to think they can do it because of the pips on their shoulders and not because of the trust and support of their sergeants.
We ain't gettin' old. Were just getting properly seasoned.
Frankly, I think the US Army would benefit if it was required that you first serve in the enlisted ranks long enough to make at least the equivalent of corporal (E-4 as we call it here). I don't know how it works in the UK, but the German Army used to require enlisted service, or prolonged Cadet service in an enlisted slot. Rommel, for example, made Corporal before he was sent off to become an ossifer. I understand the Bundeswehr continues that for a period of time. Don't know if they still do.
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