I’ve dealt with two types of people over the years: those who respect the mission and those who are looking for a reason to tear it down. The outright haters—the ones yelling “jackboot” or “pig”—are at least honest about where they stand. It’s the “I respect you, BUT…” crowd that really gets in my craw.
These are the folks who corner you to tell stories of “rude” cops, why a 7-11 clerk has a “more dangerous” job than a soldier, or how they once got a ticket while an officer didn’t.
The “Big Man” Syndrome
I’ve noticed a pattern: this behavior is almost exclusively male. There is an inherent friction when a man with authority he didn’t grant walks into a room. We all want to be the “Big Man.” When a guy sees the badge or the uniform, his ego often takes it as a personal challenge.
- The Segue: Pay attention next time. The moment LEO or military topics come up, certain guys will immediately pivot to why “they were going to join, but…” (usually followed by some political excuse).
- The Macho Redirect: Or, they’ll immediately pivot to a topic where they are the authority—martial arts, weightlifting, bar fights, or racing. It’s a defense mechanism. They are trying to tell you: “I might not have the badge, but I could still kick your ass.”
The “Newjack” and the Mirror
I won’t deny that some guys over-appreciate themselves once they get in uniform. We call them “Newjacks.” They’re the ones still “pissing on trees” to assert authority because they haven’t lived long enough to realize that the Badge is a burden, not a throne.
But for the rest of us? We’re just normal guys trying to live up to a set of heavy responsibilities. I don’t think I’m “better” than you. I don’t know you. You might be faster, stronger, or a better shot. I’m just a man doing a job that requires me to maintain The Standard.
The “Rude Cop” Paradox
Then there’s the “Rude Cop” narrative. In the Tactical Preschool, we teach that every interaction is a mirror.
- The “Hard Way” Starter: If you start a traffic stop with “Why are you stopping me?!” or “I’m calling my attorney!” over a seatbelt violation, you are choosing the “High Seas” over a “Puddle.”
- The Frivolous Complaint: I’ve heard it all. I once had a woman complain that an officer was “shining a flashlight into her car” at night.
The Captain’s Take: The unmitigated gall of an officer using a tool to see in the dark during a high-risk roadside interaction. [Sarcasm intended.]
The Danger Metric
To the people who say being a cab driver or a clerk is “more dangerous” based on a spreadsheet: you’re missing the Intent. * A clerk faces danger as a byproduct of their environment.
- A practitioner faces danger as the objective of their mission.
A soldier or a cop is the only person in society who is required to move toward the sound of the guns while everyone else is running away. That is the difference between a “job” and a “vocation.”
The “Long Haul” Conclusion
Any human endeavor is subject to human frailty. Yes, there are bad cops and bad soldiers. But by and large, the people I’ve served with are the best you will ever meet. They are men who have mastered their egos enough to submit to a Chain of Command and a Code.
If you have a beef with the uniform, ask yourself: Is it because of the “Standard,” or is it because you can’t stand not being the biggest man in the room?
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