What makes a good street cop?

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By Michael T. Rayburn. He has more than 30 years of experience in the law enforcement field, and is an internationally recognized expert in the areas of Vehicle Stops, Officer Safety, and Firearms Tactics and Training. He has written numerous articles for various police magazines and Law Enforcement related web sites, and is the author of four books.

One might think that it takes a degree in computer science, engineering, or forensic technology to become a cop these days. But in reality, the traits that made good street cops 50 years ago are the same ones that make a good street cop today.

If you were forced to name only one trait that is going to keep you safe on the street, it would have to be the ability to be able to think on your feet, right?

Above all else, the ability to think on your feet in the ever-changing environment in which we work in is the most valuable trait we have.

Training
It doesn’t matter how big you are, how strong you are, or how smart you are — you have to be able to adapt and think through the fluid situations in which we find ourselves. This allows us to react quicker, which we all know is very important.

Training, especially force-on-force training, can help you in being more prepared to handle various situations, subsequently allowing you to think more clearly under stressful situations.

Studies have been conducted on officers who went through force-on-force training versus those who didn’t. The officers who went through the training said that time seemed to “slow down” for them during a crisis, while those who didn’t go through the training said that time “sped up.”

The better equipped you are to handle stress during an incident, the better you’ll be able to cope with the stress after the incident.

Courage
Courage is right there at the top of the list too. The toughest street cops out there are the ones with the biggest balls (so to speak).

That doesn’t mean you can’t be scared, because fear is a good thing — it’s Mother Nature’s way of telling you the poop is about to hit the paddles. Courage is the ability to overcome your fear and work through it.

Courage also allows you to be a more aggressive street cop. You can hide in the bushes or you can have the courage to go out there and make those field interviews in dangerous neighborhoods — the choice is yours.

Having courage also gives you confidence: in your abilities as an officer, in your proficiency with your equipment, and in your department’s support.

Honor
This is an honorable profession and you need to act accordingly. Honor is about integrity, loyalty, honesty, and having pride in your profession and your department. Take pride in the fact that not everyone can be a law enforcement officer.

You had to take a written test, pass a physical and psychological exam, take a PT test, and undergo a rigorous background check and for what? Bad pay and lousy hours, right?

But would you trade it for a nine-to-five desk job selling insurance? Take pride in the fact that not everyone can do what you do, or be who you are. You are among the few.

Family
Family is very important to being a good street cop - both your immediate family and your extended family of brother and sister law enforcement officers. We are all brothers and sisters in this fight against evil.

You may not like the person sitting next to you at roll call, but remember the bigger picture — we’re the sheep dogs and the flock is depending on us to go into harm’s way and do dangerous things on their behalf. Put the petty differences aside for the greater good.

Your immediate family is also vital to being a good street cop. Having family grounds you; it humbles you. Sometimes it’s difficult to leave home at home and work at work, but you have to try. It’s the only way to keep the crazies at work from interfering with the harmony at home.

Faith
Last, but certainly not least, is faith. Whatever your faith is doesn’t matter, as long as you understand there is a higher power.

Having faith humbles you, it grounds you, it will help you through difficult times. Remember, it’s not the sheepdogs against everyone else; it’s the sheepdogs protecting one other and the flock, from the wolves in our society.

I’m sure we could come up with a hundred other traits that make a good street cop, but for now, take these few words of wisdom and be safe out there.