Police academy says, ‘Go out and cause’ PTSD

[fnord]

Police academy says, ‘Go out and cause’ PTSD
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22394933/

Slogan of graduating cadets in Idaho draws ire of academy leader


BOISE, Idaho - A state police academy leader has disavowed the slogan of the most recent graduating class urging one another to "go out and cause" post-traumatic stress disorder.

Each class at the Idaho Police Officer Standards and Training Academy is allowed to choose a slogan that is printed on its graduation programs, and the class of 43 graduates came up with "Don't suffer from PTSD, go out and cause it."

According to the Veterans Association, tens of thousands of U.S. soldiers suffer from PTSD, which causes nightmares, flashbacks and physical symptoms that make sufferers feel as if they are reliving trauma, even many years later. Crime, accidents and other trauma can cause it in civilians.
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Ada County Sheriff Gary Raney, who attended the Dec. 14 graduation, pointed out the slogan to the academy's director, Jeff Black, minutes before the ceremony began, Raney said. A photograph of the program was e-mailed anonymously to news outlets throughout the state.

"That's not something we encourage or condone," Black said. "It shouldn't have been there. It was inappropriate."

Black said the class president was ex-military, and that the slogan "slipped in." He declined to identify the graduate. Black said future slogans would be vetted by academy leaders.

Reputation Comments on this post:

wow.

[Felonious Skunk]

It's a hopeful sign that the higher-ups didn't respond with, "So?"

[TheBlackPope]

I don't think this is a big deal, what so ever. It is obviously a joke, anyone who takes it seriously is a joke too.

[fnord]

Originally Posted by TheBlackPope

I don't think this is a big deal, what so ever. It is obviously a joke, anyone who takes it seriously is a joke too.

i dont take this as a joke,while the officers might have intended it as a joke,this is NOT the way i want my public servants thinking.even if its a joke.

what if a class of rape/sexual assault workers choose "rape is just surprise sex" or statutary rape dosent count if there dead" as there class motto?

[TheBlackPope]

Originally Posted by fnord

i dont take this as a joke,while the officers might have intended it as a joke,this is NOT the way i want my public servants thinking.even if its a joke.

what if a class of rape/sexual assault workers choose "rape is just surprise sex" or statutary rape dosent count if there dead" as there class motto?

Good point, my opinion has changed.

[Coconut]

Originally Posted by fnord

i dont take this as a joke,while the officers might have intended it as a joke,this is NOT the way i want my public servants thinking.even if its a joke.

what if a class of rape/sexual assault workers choose "rape is just surprise sex" or statutary rape dosent count if there dead" as there class motto?

Nicely articulated.

Public servants are public servants for a reason: they should answer only to the people. At least that's how it works in theory, obviously not in practice.