It’s the Uniform, Officer

I admit it, I love a man in uniform.  Firemen, pilots, servicemen….all in uniform and all make me weak in the knees.  Even the most hideous-looking guy can be slightly attractive in a uniform.  My favorite though is policemen.  I think it’s the combination of their job, the clothes, and the power that makes them especially attractive…or maybe I’ve just watched too many episodes of “Cops”.

I have always had a fascination with policemen.  It started at an early age, watching “Chips”.  Good-looking men protecting citizens, fighting crime.  Sounds like a great combination to me!  As much as I was hooked on cops, I could never bring myself to seriously consider it for a career.  I am a big chicken who is also incredibly paranoid.  First day on the job, I would either kill someone or get myself killed by freaking out and thinking everyone was out to get me.

So instead, I decided to sign up for a citizen police academy.  It was a great experience.  You learn all about the police department, the different divisions, tour the station and even do a ride-along in a squad car.  I loved it so much, in fact, that I’m now on my fourth citizen academy.  Yes, I am a dork.

My first ride-along was an eye-opener.  I thought I would feel empowered being in a squad car but surprisingly felt the opposite, like I was a target.  I went on a Saturday night so I thought it would be all crazy and busy.  It was not.  We ran a plate on a van in a Wal-Mart parking lot.  Wow.  We toured a trailer park.  More excitement.  I couldn’t take it.

The officer then decided to pull a car over for not using their turn signal.  Lights and sirens were going but the car wouldn’t stop.  My heart started racing…oh, crap.  Now it’s becoming an episode of “Cops”.  It wasn’t a high-speed chase, but it was tense because the car would not pull over.  The officer called for backup and the car finally stopped once the driver saw several squad cars behind her.

The officers exited their vehicles with guns drawn.  All I could think was, “Oh my God.  I didn’t sign up for this.  Mommy!”  Turns out the two occupants of the car were not from the United States and didn’t speak hardly any English.  I guess in other countries you don’t stop when a police car is behind you with lights and sirens blaring?

I decided after that there was no way I could ever be a police officer.   Instead, I volunteer for the local police department, helping them with administrative tasks.  I still get to drool over men in uniform but am not risking my life to do it.   I’ll just have to remember to wipe my chin once in a while.