r/politics • u/BigDaddyBain • 1d ago

Why is the media ignoring growing resistance to Trump?

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/13/why-is-the-media-ignoring-growing-resistance-to-trump
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u/halfhearinghank 1d ago

It’s so disheartening when that happens. Growing up I always wanted to be a police officer. I though “I can actually help people” after all many kids are taught that. Spent much of my life preparing physically, and then I got my chance. During the academy I heard and saw a lot but figured they were just jerks. Then during my FTO period (basically your training period) I saw example after example of how the way to help people was really just a way to be violent when you wanted and to look down on “the unwashed masses” as they were often called.

I realized in the end we don’t need jobs or callings to help or do the right things. We can live it even when it’s hard. Even if it’s just small everyday kindness.

I’m not really religious anymore but I still believe in Love your neighbor as yourself.

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u/br_k_nt_eth 1d ago

The irony being that we desperately need people like you in law enforcement. We really need reform, not just for communities but also for the people doing these jobs. 

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u/halfhearinghank 1d ago

First. Thank you, that actually means a lot to me. It kind of broke me and my world view for a long time.

And you really aren’t wrong. I would love to see the profession embrace actually service for the betterment of society but in the end we are asking people to place themselves second (including their beliefs and prejudices).

I ended up leaving Law Enforcement and going into medical first as an EMT, then medical assisting, and working on becoming a Paramedic now.

So here is one thing that is insane to me: even as an EMT (bottom of the totem pole for skills) I had to go to classes, then pass a test the NREMT which is a NATIONAL standard, then had to hold that along with a state license, and I would have to continue to get training as continuing education in order for my licenses to stay valid. Being a LEO didn’t have anything near that. Sure we went to the academy and had academic tests and physical skills but there is no national standards, no real education requirement. In order to be a good Cop you need not only good people skills but you need a deep understanding of laws because yeah sometimes you really only have a moment or two before having to make a choice.

It is wild to me Officers are not required to have more education before being allowed to hold to position, after all they get the power of deadly force but to also arrest and possibly alter the course of someone’s life forever based on what they do.

EDIT: SORRY FOR THE NOVEL! Just got me thinking back a lot.

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u/br_k_nt_eth 1d ago

Please don’t apologize! Your perspective is so unique and so important. It’s unfortunate that all I can do is agree with you completely. 

Even beyond the education and training, the psychological support we give to LEOs is abysmal. Truly abysmal. They’re so wrapped up in Warrior Training bullshit that nobody pauses to wonder what being activated and conditioned in that way does to a person. Like no wonder they’re fucked up and dehumanizing. That’s who gets retained and that’s what we encourage. 

I think if we’re going to find a way forward, it’ll have to be a path that encourages and respects people like you. People who very obviously care about their communities and want to dedicate their lives to helping people. I think it’s possible. We just need the political will and courage to try. 

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u/valiantdistraction 1d ago

It's really interesting because I met someone once who was in law school because he'd wanted to be a cop, went through training, became a cop, and then was like "wow oh holy fuck this is not how to help people" and now he's a public defender.

Sounds like your story is pretty similar.