Wow! Gangs are pretty bad on the East side. I wonder why the Mafia guys don't clean them up, LOL. Retired cops, too? :uhoh:
There's an idea: RCOA (Retired Cops of America). If by "Cop" you meant anyone who was ever involved in law enforcement at any level including the international level...
Then I'm in. If you want to overly-restrict it to POST standards while refusing to acknowledge the similar, though different training standards we've received in the military, then...
psbbpsbbpsbbpsbb....
(it's called a "raspberry" and it's a polite way of saying you're full of...)
I would argue this might be extended to anyone involved in highly-regimented such activities involving carefully-controlled Rules of Engagement (ROE), including ex-military.
Some of you may cringe, but I'd counter the abuse rate is higher on the civilian side than the military side. I apologize on the frontside if this is not the case! I don't have stats at hand; just in memory. If I'm wrong, provide the stats. I'll look into it and if valid, I'll concede. If not, I'll do further research and counter.
Regardless, I'd like to put this forth to you: Both those who become LEOs and those who enter the military do so for similar, though somewhat different reasons. I won't characterize differences here.
What I'll do is characterize the similarities:
1. They want to do what's right by the law and by civilized society.
2. They've both taken an oath to uphold our Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic.
That's it. It's really that simple, with the only difference that on party is acting under international law, as relayed to the troops by means of the ROE (rules of engagement) and the other is operating under local, county, state, or federal law.
And if any of you doubt my training, here it is:
1. 12 mos basic
2. 9 mos follow-on
3. 8 mos subsequent
That's 29 months. Admittedly, much of it was weapons-specific training, and very little of it was hands-on.
ALL of it incorporated our ROE, whether the Balkans, Haiti, Gulf War, etc.
As for me, I simply met with some friends of mine for coffee tonight! We had a great time, discussed a few things from the schedule of what's next, lining up our groups' events with local events, including book club events...
Lurkers: We are you. We're no different than you, except that we may be more vociferous than you. So, lurkers. Speak up - tell us what you're feeling!
Regardless, feel free to join in on a meet. It's not an "us vs them" issue, especially here in Colorado.