Blog 10
The effect of a do the minimum get the maximum Philosophy

I was about ten years into my career as a police officer when the so called new breed of cop arrived on the scene. They were collage educated liberal leaning children of the sixties enlightenment. They were gravitating to the profession in ever increasing numbers.

This was due to a marked increase in pay being offered those who would take up the challenges of this daunting profession. Salaries had increased from $711.00 a month to $2300.00 a month the job of Police Officer had entered the middle class. Those of us that were already in law enforcement were encouraged to get our college degrees. When the government offered to pay for our education with the L.E.E.P. program in exchange for years of service Many of us jumped at the chance. I took the program clear into graduate school at Seattle University.

I worked full time and took a full load at university. I was active in the Police Guild and Helped to improve the pay and working conditions on our department. We also encouraged other departments to form Guilds rather than engage in Bargaining through corrupt national unions. It was felt that many of these unions were in the pocket of organized crime and that was an influence we wanted to avoid at all cost.
When I first heard the term ”Do the Minimum get the Maximum” I was shocked but not surprised that it came from the son of teachers whose parents were active in that Union. Only liberal minds could conceive such a maxim. Get paid to do as little as is possible while sticking the taxpayer for as much as you can. Convince politicians that the people are behind you, because you have never had a citizen’s complaint, and those other guys that do get some complaints are unworthy, and a political liability, even though they do most of the work. In effect steal advancement from those that deserve it.

Whose fault is this? Ultimately and collectively it is the peoples fault because they vote for every feel good thing that comes down the pike. Every politician that promises a free lunch! Because of all the bloat that is created the tax payer ends up paying two or three times what they should for everything when you roll in all the costs.

By way of example; If I have an officer that works hard and engages the enemy, (Criminals) in a given area it is a fact that the officer will not just interact with the criminal element, but will get up close and personal with the innocent tax payer and some of those interactions will be negative.

The positive that comes out of this is that the crime rate in the area will be driven down. This is because the officers with the reputation for no nonsense will cause the criminals to move on and or take them out. This drives down the need for extra officers. The taxpayer in those areas gets a break on his various insurances. Taxes can be used to improve streets and infrastructure and property values go up.

Politicians have a nasty habit of getting between the officer and success because of those citizens that complain. Police chiefs have a habit of getting in the way also. They don’t like the politicians on their necks. Some are politicians in their own right and not real chiefs. The news media are not helpful in that they rarely act rational when there is sensation in the wind.

What is needed is an independent review process with a board made up of citizen’s police union reps. Police administrators and a street cop picked by the public. The reason for this is to keep hard working conscientious officers working hard. Get them properly rewarded for their efforts and stop the slide towards do the minimum get the maximum hacks.

S. Henry Knocker