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Policemen, believe it or not, ARE human. They come in both sexes, but mostly
male. They also come in various sizes. This sometimes depends on whether
you are looking for one or trying to hide something. However, they are
mostly big.
Policemen are found everywhere, on land, on sea, in the air, on horses, and
sometimes in your hair. In spite of the fact that you can't find one when
you want one, they are usually there when it counts most! The best way to
get one is to pick up the nearest phone.
Policemen deliver lectures, babies, and bad news. They are required to have
the wisdom of Solomon, the disposition of a lamb and muscles of steel, and
are often accused of having a heart to match. He is the one who rings the
doorbell, swallows hard and announces the passing of a loved one, then
spends the rest of the day wondering why he took such a crummy job.
Policemen on television are oafs who couldn't find a bull fiddle inside a
telephone booth. In real life he is expected to find a little blond boy,
"about so high" in a crowd of a half million people. In fiction he gets
help from his private eyes, reporters, and "who-dun-it" fans. In real life
mostly all he gets from the public is "I didn't see nuttin." When he serves
a summons, he is a monster; If he lets you go he is a "Doll." To little kids
he is either a friend or a boogey-man, depending on how the parents feel
about it.
Policemen work around the clock, split shifts, Sundays, and holidays, and it
always kills him when a joker says "Hey tomorrow is Election Day, I'm off
let's go fishing." (That is the day he works 20 hours).
When a policeman is good he is a grafter, and that goes for the rest of them
too. When he shoots a stick-up man he is a hero, except when the stick-up
man in only a kid "anybody coulda seen that."
Policemen have homes, some of them are covered with ivy, but most of them
mortgages. If he drives a big car he's a chissler, a little car --- who is
he kidding.
His credit is good - that is very helpful, because his salary isn't.
Policemen raise a lot of kids, mostly they belong to other people.
Policemen see more misery, bloodshed, trouble, and sunrises than the average
person. Like the postman, policemen must be out in all kinds of weather.
His uniform changes with the climate, but his outlook on life remains the
same, mostly a blank, but always hoping for a better world.
Policemen like days off, vacations and coffee. They don't like auto horns,
family fights and anonymous letter writers. They have an Association, but
they do not strike. They must be impartial, courteous, and always remember
the slogan "at your service." This is sometimes hard, especially when some
character reminds him "I'm a taxpayer, I pay your salary."
Policemen get medals for saving lives, stopping runaway horses and shooting
it out with bandits (once in a while his widow gets the medal.) But
sometimes the most rewarding moment comes when after some small kindness to
a person, he feels the warm handclasp, looks into grateful eyes and hears
Thank you and God bless you.
Author,
Unknown
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