Police academy class slogan: Cause PTSD

charlotte.com ^ | Dec. 25, 2007 | NA

[neverdem]

Associated Press

A state police academy leader has disavowed the slogan of the most recent graduating class urging one another to "go out and cause" post-traumatic stress disorder. Each class at the Idaho Police Officer Standards and Training Academy is allowed to choose a slogan that is printed on its graduation programs, and the class of 43 graduates came up with "Don't suffer from PTSD, go out and cause it."

According to the Veterans Association, tens of thousands of U.S. soldiers suffer from PTSD, which causes nightmares, flashbacks and physical symptoms that make sufferers feel as if they are reliving trauma, even many years later. Crime, accidents and other trauma can cause it in civilians.

Ada County Sheriff Gary Raney, who attended the Dec. 14 graduation, pointed out the slogan to the academy's director, Jeff Black, minutes before the ceremony began, Raney said. A photograph of the program was e-mailed anonymously to news outlets throughout the state.

"That's not something we encourage or condone," Black said. "It shouldn't have been there. It was inappropriate."

Black said the class president was ex-military, and that the slogan "slipped in." He declined to identify the graduate. Black said future slogans would be vetted by academy leaders.

[org.whodat]

It’s not to late for some much needed career changes.

[davisfh]

To serve and protect?

[ClearCase_guy]

Well, the runner-up slogan was: “We’re going to shoot your dog”.

[neverdem]

That cop needs a psych evaluation. Merry Christmas!

[rwgal]

The new Gestapo?

Meadow Muffin

[rawhide]

As a public citizen, I would be very concerned whether a police officer is qualified to keep their job if this is the way they think?

[Old Sarge]

They’re all smelling the blood, for when She Who Must Not Be Named is inaugurated, they know there’s no bag limit.

[rwgal]

I would bet that if you followed the career of the clown who proposed that saying, there will be many citizens shot or beaten.

Meadow Muffin

[Old Sarge]

Sucker bet!

[TigersEye]

Followed by “Tase him again, Bro!”

[Sunny Poipu]

Who is the boss, gumshoe? Hint: it’s not you.

[Myrddin]

nutcases on the way to our city streets

[Happy Valley Dude]

[Dr.Zoidberg]

One has to wonder if this kind of mindset wasn’t somehow cultivated by the instructors in the academy.

Seems the thugs in training wouldn’t have been quite so open and blatant about their contempt for the citizenry otherwise.

[Brad from Tennessee]

I would never look to a figure like Timothy McVeigh—Oklahoma City bomber—for much coherence but I do remember a few things he wrote while waiting for trial. McVeigh said he was disturbed by the evolution of American police forces from traditional policeman to paramilitary operator. He said you could see this in weapons, equipment, tactics and a new view that all citizens were potential enemies and should be handled as such. This was part of his wider concept that America was beset by a creeping totalitarianism turning the U.S. into a police state.

[Gator113]

The one I’ve always liked is,

“Homicide Division...My day begins when yours ends”

[Tainan]

...’rhoid rage on Patrol

[11x62]

There’s nothing wrong with a police state if you are the State Police.

[thefactor]

hmmm. seems when faced with the choice of being pro-military or anti-cop, most around here choose anti-cop.

interesting. i thought there would be more "this guy served his country well. where's the sense of humor?"

guess not. anti-cop vitriol wins out.