While driving in his police cruiser, Officer Rick Mollette from the Columbus Police Department reflects upon his career as an officer. There are highs and low to the job, but he strives to do the best he can each day. With recent news of police brutality around the country, Ofr. Mollette wants to make sure his recruits are trained properly. This is his way of giving back to the department; teaching recruits how to handle difficult situations, which he has learned through his years on the department.

Before a recruit becomes an officer on the police force, they must go through field training. Ofr. Mollette is a field training officer. His job is to correct the mistakes of recruits and give them guidance on how to improve. This phase is vital, more so than ever, due to the recent police scandals. Although there have been no reports of police brutality in Columbus, the nation has been struck with the issue, which affects not only citizens views, but also takes a toll on officers. To focus the officers on their purpose on the department, core values help to reflect upon. The core values of the Columbus Police Department are instilled in the future officers. Words such as “Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Attention to Detail, and Discipline,” make up the values of the department, and it is vital that officers live up to the values.

Ofr. Mollette shared with me the pressure he feels as an officer, and the “Thin Blue Line” that officers face each day on the street. The “Thin Blue Line” is the boundary between being a citizen and being a responsible officer. It is about the decisions that officers make each day and whether they are ethical. So, with news such asthe Ferguson case, Ofr. Mollette strives to make a difference within his police department and to set the standard for recruits.

Being on the streets as an officer is already a dangerous task, therefore second guessing decisions is never an option, as Ofr. Mollette put it. When an officer second guesses themselves, it not only puts themselves in danger, but also their partner. However, overcoming the negative stereotypes of police officers due to national news can be a daunting task. When Ofr. Mollette trains his recruits, he makes sure to correct improper technique, because if bad habits are not corrected in the beginning, mistakes will happen on the street, which leads to unfortunate situations.

Ofr. Mollette noted that there are always going to be issues with any job, however, police officers are in the spotlight more so than ever. The important take away piece that Ofr. Mollette wants citizens to know is that polices officers are here to help. No matter the negative stereotypes, this is their job, and they have had proper training to help them succeed. Although the job that police officers have is wearing, it is their duty to serve the citizens and they will continue to do so, despite the negative connotation of their career.