Date: 2019 February 10
APOK News.
I would like to wish my former Friesenpress Account Manager much success in returning to school to pursue her passion. Thanks Miko for all of you help keeping APOK Derailed from DERAILING. (I had to). In saying that I would like welcome my new Account manager to the team. Not much time left now before it’s go time!
APOK the novel has passed through a second re-revision and is being sent back to Friesenpress. Look out for a new cover, inside the cover testimonials and tighter ride. For those who have the first novel, you may want to keep your copy as it will be out of date very soon.
APOK Derailed may have a new cover option too. I’ll be working with them to see if it fits with what I am working on. The global Facebook crowd seems to really like it, currently over 1500 likes. I will shoot out both for you to wade in on.
Other things on the go…pushing forward with Parachute lessons and SCUBA lessons…hoping in the process to get some really good pictures. **that is if I don’t have a heart attack first – the idea of parachuting / jumping out of an airplane has my hands sweating**
COP TALK #1 – Rewards and Work
What a strange job. There is nothing like it. Where else are you expected to rob, steal and shoot someone if need be, and in the next second be there to offer support, advice and a teddy bear to a crying victim all the while being held under the microscope in front of a world audience, forced to explain and defend every decision made? In today’s ever increasing demands, and fiscal restraints, cops are required to do more with less and be perfect or risk being identified as a screw-up; so why would anyone want to be a cop?
Speaking for myself, I find it easy to be seduced by the job. Perhaps it’s my Latino blood, I can’t help being passionate. In the beginning, I responded to all types of calls, and at a young age found myself thrust into a position of being all things to all persons. Wanting to be my very best, I understood I needed more experience, which meant, I couldn’t shy away from work of any kind involving me to work longer for free. At the time, I believed that the hours I put in over and above my regular shift without pay, would eventually take care of itself. I thought once I had a firm understanding of the job and all that it entails that I would be able to rest later. I was mistaken. The more I did, the more there was to be done, and I had a long list of reasons that pushed me to want to excel.
Patrolling a crime filled area, I became intimately involved in trying to clean up the neighborhood crawling with drug dealers, prostitution and violence. It was a joint effort with similar minded individuals who understood that in order to make a difference we needed to keep the pressure on. The more we did, the more we found out and more I was drawn in. Without realizing it, I became involved in a vicious cycle, where work is the reward.
In the process, I continued to hone my skills and developed a firm understanding of the job and patterns seeing more success. Shop owners who were harboring drug dealers saw a decline in their profits as persons seeking illegal substances stopped attending the area. Without kickbacks and unable to pay their bills, illegal shop owners closed their doors and moved away taking with them those infesting the streets with drugs and violence. It opened up vacant areas where new owners moved in and the area became revitalized.
Cleaning up a neighborhood (making it safe) is the ultimate goal and one that isn’t easily obtained. It truly is a group effort and there is struggle along the way. Over the years I have been involved in many similar situations in various communities across Ontario that have proven that we can make a difference, but in order to do so you need a group of persons who are willing to work through the tough times.
As a police officer finding out the activities and movement of those involved in crime is by no means an easy task (bad guys don’t broadcast, I am delivery 20 pounds of Cocaine to so and so at 8pm on this date – typically the bigger the crime the more sophisticated the deception). Discovering this information is critical, without it we cannot be effective in preventing these bad things from occurring. The reward is obtaining the information which leads to more work which leads to more information which again leads to more work. The cycle is endless until the investigation is concluded which, depending on the situation (or crime investigated) could means minutes, or years. As an effective pro-active Police Officer the reward is often more work.
**I find the writing process very similar…I believe without my work as a police officer, I wouldn’t have the discipline to do what I have done.**
Until next time,
Mike