Moreover, think about the Officer safety risks. If this asshole could snap a photo of the Officer, he also could have shot him, and he would have had no opportunity to defend himself. Cops have been ambushed while wide awake, but at least you can try to defend yourself if you're awake. Sleeping you're an easy target. I've been on last halfs for two years and have yet to fall asleep. I will say that I've found that when I started eating better and stopped drinking diet sodas, it really helped.
First off, you're right, cops have been ambushed while wide awake, but if you're shot from behind or sitting in your cruiser (think NYPD) defending yourself is essentially, not going to happen. To look at it from the grimmest possible viewpoint, he'd be gone without ever waking up. He wouldn't even know it happened. Would it be better if he DID know it happened? I've been on the overnight for about THIRTY YEARS. I love the shift and yeah, you bet your ass I take naps and I DO get creative in my locations, but....
Officer safety risk for sure. This officer is out completely cold and obviously somewhere that he could be easily found and approached. If he had to take a power nap that badly, he should have at least parked somewhere that nobody would be able to approach from behind, sat upright so that any approaching headlights would likely awaken him, and cracked his windows enough to hear if anyone is approaching. I know of a police chief that while stopping short of condoning sleeping, he made it known that he would prefer that officers park behind the police station if they absolutely needed to take a short nap on the overnight shift. At least there they would be safe and away from prying eyes.
If the media wants to publish photos of sleeping public safety workers, all they need to do is visit any fire station after they have had dinner and watched a few hours of TV. A long night sitting in a La-Z-Boy on a full belly can be exhausting.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
We all know that the vast majority of cops who doze out will automatically respond to their number being called. One of my co-workers said he figured he'd make a fortune selling alarm clocks that don't buzz, ding or play music, but say in a human voice: "Control to....." put in your own call sign. Sure there are those who could sleep through a parade, firecrackers and/or a bomb going off within 100 yards, but most can't sleep that soundly, no matter how it looks. In the above mentioned 30 years, I've had to be called twice only on a few occasions and missed only two or three calls. That can happen in loads of various situations so I DO NOT feel guilty, bad or like I'm derelict of duty.
As for a better location, this guy is in LOWELL! Not East Bumphuk where there's loads of hidden glens, wooded areas, or vast deserted industrial parks; it's a damn city. Your choices are limited. In this day and age, there is virtually NO place you can't be found. Kids roaming around, lovers looking for a secluded spot to experience carnal knowledge, MassDot workers looking to do the same thing, there is NO PLACE totally safe except your own home, and picture the outcry if your cruiser is parked overnight, EVERY NIGHT in your own driveway!
I work with a guy who did mids for about 8 years and he brought the pillow and reclined the seat and so forth. He always answered his calls. I will NOT Monday morning quarterback a brother officer in this matter as I'd be a hypocrite. I'm
sick of the media jumping on this inane issue as if cops are some kind of SUPER HUMAN who can function at any hour, under any circumstances and with no regard to physical and mental strain....and the simple fact that a debate about it is taking place on a COP oriented website is also turning my stomach. Over and Out.
If you want a laugh, check out the first season of "The Commish" where Michael Chiklis, the Commissioner of an upstate NY PD goes to prove to his troops he can do the overnights AND perform his normal daily function.* When the original offending officers find him at the end of the episode, sacked out, dead asleep in his cruiser, POINT PROVEN!
Now, all of you, go get your shine boxes.
*I believe it's the episode titled, "A Matter of Life and Death: Part II".