Chapter 840 Being a Policeman Is Not Easy
"Boss..." Looking at Xiao Peng's expression, Walter hurried to comfort him, "Let's talk about it when we get back."
Xiao Peng took a deep breath and suddenly put on a smile: "Officer Heath, thank you again for helping me investigate this matter."
"This is what I should do." Heath said, "I'm sorry to interrupt your conversation with Mayor Mattis. I won't bother you anymore."
After hearing this, Xiao Peng said directly: "Officer Heath, please don't leave yet. In fact, my conversation with Mattis is also related to you."
"Is it related to me?" Officer Heath was stunned.
"Wait for me!" Xiao Peng said to Ka Xin, "Happy, help me get that big card."
The 'big card' he was talking about was the fake check given as a reward.
After Kasim came over with the fake check, Xiao Peng walked to the side of the stage and waved at the band that was performing there, interrupting their performance. Everyone looked at Xiao Peng, not knowing what he was going to do.
Xiao Peng picked up the microphone and said, "I'm sorry to interrupt you all, but I have a few words to say."
Everyone fell silent. Xiao Peng said, "This is my first time in Atlantic City. I really like this place. I envy you people who can live here all year round."
After hearing this, Mathis shouted, "Mr. Xiao, can you also settle here?"
"Yes, we all welcome you!"
"I dream of having a neighbor like you!"
Xiao Peng smiled and waved his hand, saying, "I appreciate everyone's enthusiasm, but there's really nothing I can do. You all should know that I usually spend much more time at sea than on land. And there are so many shipwrecks waiting for me in the ocean. I can't enjoy life as happily as you guys."
"Although I didn't spend much time in Atlantic City this time, I really like it here. Even though something unpleasant happened, everyone saw it, and the result was pretty good, right?"
He pointed to the big check that Kasim was holding, and the people around him burst into laughter.
Xiao Peng continued, "But let's be honest, there are things about Atlantic City that we're not satisfied with. As for what we're not satisfied with, you can definitely guess: it's the public security here."
After hearing what Xiao Peng said, everyone nodded in understanding. After all, Xiao Peng had just encountered a robber, so how could he think that the security here was good?
Heath and Martin next to them looked a little embarrassed. One of them was from the FBI and the other was from the Atlantic City Police. Wasn't it a slap in their faces for Xiao Peng to specifically point out the bad security here?
Heath was cursing in his heart, I just investigated something for you and you treat me like this?
Xiao Peng continued, "But the poor security in Atlantic City really can't be blamed on the police. Atlantic City is a tourist destination, and the influx of tourists makes management more difficult for the police. Coordination between the city police and the FBI is also a challenge. Most importantly, I've discovered that both the city police and the FBI are underfunded, facing a shortage of manpower and outdated equipment. As the old Chinese saying goes, 'You want the horse to gallop without letting it eat grass.' How can this continue?"
This time it was Martin and Heath's turn to nod vigorously. This time Xiao Peng really touched their hearts.
"And I don't know if you've noticed, but the public often has a huge misunderstanding of the police. Normally, they're the ones most disliked, but when they're actually assaulted by criminals, they're the first ones they think of. I often see people complaining about police inaction, and even in your country's films and television, police are often portrayed in a negative light. This is wrong! Think about how the public treats the police in their daily lives, and why do they hold such high expectations of them?"
This time, Martin and Heath just hugged Xiao Peng and cried bitterly.
Don't think being a police officer in the US is easy. Many people have the stereotype that American police are violent. Want to be a police officer in the US? First, you have to graduate from a police academy. But to get into a police academy? You must be a citizen, have a high school degree or higher, and meet physical fitness standards.
Many police departments in the US face a shortage of officers, so they openly recruit officers. Applicants must first submit an application. If qualified, they then take a written exam to assess their educational level. If they pass, they can then participate in an interview to assess their personality, thinking skills, and adaptability. If they also pass, they must complete a psychological and background check. This is equivalent to a "political review" in China, encompassing family, friends, and neighbors. They will also inquire about many personal issues. A psychologist will also administer an exam to test the applicant's personality, temperament, and courage, including testing whether they would dare to shoot a criminal.
Passing all of these doesn't mean you can become a police officer, but rather you get the opportunity to study at the police academy, where you'll undergo various theoretical studies and physical training to familiarize yourself with legal knowledge. At this point, a large number of people will be eliminated...
If you do graduate from the police academy, you can join the police station, but you're not yet a police officer. Instead, you'll enter a probationary period, which lasts about four months. You'll work with four different veteran police officers, whose job is to provide stress training for the interns. Only when a veteran officer deems you capable will you move on to the next stage, working with another veteran officer. It's roughly equivalent to first, second, third, and fourth year...
If they pass this stage, there's a follow-up probation period, during which a seasoned plainclothes officer shadows the new officer, observing their work and reporting on their ability to work independently. The elimination rate during this "follow-up probation period" is as high as 50%.
Does passing this test mean you can become a police officer? Not yet! The next step is a one-year "official probationary period," during which you work with the patrol department. You can be fired for any reason, if you think you're not up to par.
In short, being a police officer here is quite difficult. From the initial application to the final appointment, the success rate is less than 5%. You don't have to be a real expert to persevere!
To be honest, most of the police officers in the US are people with dreams. After going through so much hardship and overcoming all obstacles, they finally find that the working environment is completely different: insufficient funding, low pay, dangerous work, and lack of public recognition...
Xiao Peng continued, "I was lucky enough to catch a few thieves and get a huge bonus. I'm going to divide the bonus into three parts and donate it all: one part to the Atlantic City government to improve the living environment in the local Chinese community, one part to the FBI to purchase physical evidence testing equipment, and one part to the Atlantic City local police to purchase police cars and improve the welfare of the officers."
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