Education of a Street Cop

Veteran street cops are often viewed as distant, strange individuals who exhibit crude and crusty demeanor's. Few people get close to them, and their loved ones are often left wondering how they contributed to such an insufferable personality. Most often, these character flaws are attributed to constant exposure to the worst conditions society offers. JJ Henson's story offers other explanations for the personality traits of the veteran cop. The story follows the evolution in the mind of a naive rookie police officer over a four-year period. Our officer remains unidentified throughout the story because he is a generic white man and fits the mold of many police officers who are now retiring after thirty or so years in the field. The four years in the story -- from the late seventies to early eighties - signified significant changes in the role of law enforcement officers in society. This was a time when police officers were required to make a significant paradigm shift from "peace keepers" to "agents of social change."