If we want progression, change, standards and excellence in law enforcement, we need to start seeking age and life experience as preferences for our applicants during the hiring process.
We keep talking about “humanizing the badge” but how can a 21 year old, who has never struggled to pay bills, dealt with the stresses of raising a family or the strain of being a partner in a married, ever see anyone other than a traffic citation or criminal charge when they come in contact with them?
We have immature children with badges enforcing laws when their faces aren’t glued to social media and given discretion over citizens they don’t even see as humans, struggling with life issues, to begin with.
No man or woman under the age of 30 should ever be allowed to be a police officer. Our current generation of 20somethings are the most immature, self absorbed, unprepared, incapable and nothing like the men and women of decades ago who responsibility and ability was just part of their moral obligation.
If we want to humanize the badge, we need to start hiring some mature ones first who can see the humanity in others and not just a stat for roll call.