Be advised that the ninth novel by James O. Born — the most recent addition to the PoliceOne roster of writers — became available for purchase in April 2015. It’s called Scent of Murder, and it’s the story of K-9 handlers and their special partners as they hunt for a kidnapper. Born tried to shine a light on all the positive aspects of cops and their work, as well as give readers a glimpse into the complex lives of police officers. Born says, “I’ve enjoyed tremendous support from police in the past and appreciate how my experiences prepared me for publishing.”
The “old guy” — that’s me. Some younger police officers call us old guys by a nicer name, like veteran, seasoned, or senior agent. Some use less-pleasant appellation like grizzled, crusty, or worn-out. No matter what label the oldest person in a law enforcement agency carries, we should all be glad we attained it.
Being the old guy — and I use the term generically to mean both male and female — in any police agency means something went right in your career. Unlike accountants or lawyers, cops have a host of worries the general public cannot fathom, not the least of which is a career-ending injury — or worse, a violent death.
Unlike TV shows, an injury in the line of duty is not some call to glory or dramatic moment, but a devastating personal loss. Whether it is a result of the shooting, or a simple traffic accident, the odds of a cop being injured or worse are much greater than most professions. And that doesn’t even take into account the long hours and stress affecting each cop’s heart. Reaching retirement is a laudable achievement for any law enforcement professional.
Getting Old
Coming out of the police academy — as a young agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement — I never considered retirement, or, more importantly, the year before retirement. You’re still on the job, energized, ready to work, but some things have changed. Your body has worn down and keeps you from comfortably working overnight details or grabbing much overtime.
When I first started my police career, it was almost accepted that just prior to retirement, you weren’t expected to do much. Times have changed for the better. Everyone is accountable and has to pull their weight. Some of that weight is hard-fought and well-earned experience in dealing with a number of issues some younger police officers have yet to encounter. For that, they’re lucky to have you (although they may not realize it).
Speaking of weight, staying fit is one of the challenges that get harder as you age. Fitness is a vital factor in a long career and happy retirement. It doesn’t matter if you’re running marathons or just hitting the gym three times a week, numerous studies show that any activity can work wonders on your overall fitness level, which has a domino effect with your mental health and longevity. Fitness is one of the most important factors to mood.
Some older police officers struggle with motivation. It helps to think back to what got you started in police work in the first place. It doesn’t matter if it was a sense of justice, a dislike for bullies, or simply the desire have more range time than most everyone else, whatever the impetus of your career, it never hurts to look back and remember it — to cradle and cultivate it. That little extra passion in your final few years on the job might be what saves your life one day, or at least keeps the young guys from cracking jokes behind your back.
Some things are easier as you get older. As you gain experience, it’s simple to think through a case from beginning to end. You know what some of the pitfalls might be, as well as the rewards. Experience is a great thing that is almost impossible to explain to someone younger than you. Everyone thinks they’re as smart as they need to be, but it’s only when you’re more than halfway through your career you realize how lucky you were not to have a major mishap as you muddled through the early years of your career.
Getting Over It
Some of your coworkers look at you differently now, and the new guys treat you with a detached respect; a benevolent acceptance that you’re going to be working for a while longer, but that shouldn’t interfere with anything they have planned, other than grabbing your padded desk chair. They have no idea that you are the face of their future and that the actions you take today can set the bar for their retirement a couple of decades away.
So, some of the younger cops in your agency call you the “old guy” and you don’t like it very much. If you’re tired of those cracks behind your back, remember that in most cases, you’re making significantly better pay than most of the newer cops on your department. On top of that, if you played your cards right, you’re about to step into a retirement with a pension and savings that aren’t guaranteed for younger generations.
Don’t shy away from being an “old guy.” Own it. Live it. Rejoice in it.
Say aloud, “I’m not an old guy — I am the old guy. I’m a grizzled, senior, crusty, veteran who paid his dues and is willing to pay more before I retire.”
No one asked you to be a cop. You chose it. And now it looks like you’ll see it through to the end.
