FEB. 3, 2006
CLASSROOM DUTY

Sometimes my life can seem like it's all about the job, especially lately. But the truth is, I've been a cop for so long that sometimes I forget how I even ended up on the force in the first place. Last week, I got a little reminder.

I've had a little extra time on my hands lately, so I decided it would be a good idea to find some way to keep myself occupied. When I ran into one of my old academy buddies who happens to be in charge of SFPD's recruitment program, it seemed like a perfect chance to get involved.

He asked me if I'd be interested in speaking to a group of high school seniors about joining the force, and I said yes. I was given a carousel of slides that covered the history of the SFPD and the opportunities available for someone considering a life in law enforcement. A few days later, I reported to a local high school to give my little speech.

I started to regret my decision as soon as I walked in the door.

The fact is, this kind of speaking is a little outside my comfort zone. I don't want to sound like some sort of grumpy old man or something, but I honestly don't get kids today. But still, I wasn't about to let myself be intimidated by a bunch of teenagers, so I started my presentation.

Most of the slides were self-explanatory and a little boring, to say the least. I could tell the kids wouldn't be interested for long, and I was right. Attention started to wander.

One kid, in particular, seemed like trouble. He was sitting near the front, paying absolutely no attention to me while he harassed the girl sitting in front of him. He was trying to remove a hairbrush from the girl's bag without her noticing. A pretty juvenile trick, if you ask me, but the other kids seemed to think it was a real riot.

At first, I tried to ignore it, but within minutes the whole class was focused on him, and not on my presentation. So I decided to take matters into my own hands.

I walked slowly toward the kid's desk, still giving my presentation. Then I turned to him suddenly and said, "Hey Romeo, leave the lady alone. And if you take that brush from her purse, I'm gonna book your ass for theft."

Let's just say the class was pretty shocked. They fell completely silent (and if you've spent time with any teenagers you know how rare silence can be.)

Romeo seemed particularly stunned, then stammered out, "My father will sue you."

I chuckled out loud and assured him that cops are always getting sued. The threat of a lawsuit coming from some daddy's boy, I said, would never keep me from doing what's right. Then I explained the concept of "specific intent," and how when putting together a case it's an important factor.

I asked the students sitting next to Romeo what they had seen. Each spelled out in detail how Romeo kept moving his seat closer to the victim's purse, and how he had made several attempts at reaching out for the brush, each time coming up short.

Then I explained how each time Romeo moved his seat closer to the purse, and each time he attempted to grab the brush, could be construed as an independent act to steal the brush.

Having explained a few of the important legal principles and built a case, I turned Romeo's fate over to a jury of his peers – his classmates.

"Guilty or Innocent?" I asked. The entire class came back in unison: "Guilty."

After the class was over, I spent an hour answering questions from the kids. I guess my little demonstration got their attention. Who knows if they'll end up choosing to pursue careers in law enforcement, but I like to think I may have gotten a few students interested in a field they might not otherwise have considered.

And to tell the truth, they weren't the only ones getting excited about police work. For the first time in a long time, I was reminded of what it is I love about my job. I remembered what it was like when I was first starting out, how I'd felt like I was doing something important and worthwhile, something that really helped people.

It was a nice little reminder.

Past Entries:

• (1/27) Chilling Wakeup
• (1/20) The Dinner Party
• (1/13) The Team Building Workshop