Looking Back: My Hope for the Younger Generations of Officers

By Scott Reitz

Time changes everything. This can be both a good and bad thing. Joining the LAPD in 1976 was not an easy proposition. There were lines stretching for blocks at the various high schools throughout L.A. for prospective applicants. I myself had broken off from mid-terms from UNM to drive across country to be there as well. By some estimates some 20,000 plus applied. As I understand it 2,500 applicants were actively processed and less than 100 gained admittance split between two classes. Those classmates of mine in the Academy viewed the force as a career as opposed to a temporary job. Not all of us, but by far most of us felt this way. The department did a great job making sure that we understood and appreciated what had transpired before us in terms of LAPD history.

Our ‘Officer Survival’ day at Universal Studios on the back lot conducted by members of LAPD SWAT really brought home the history in terms of historically famous Officer Shootings. Each SWAT member who debriefed us had large placards with photos and diagrams of each of the shootings which they described in great detail. This really made an impact especially when the actual radio traffic was played regarding the shooting itself. We boarded a bus back to the Academy and all we could do was talk about each of the shootings so vividly described. As I have mentioned in the past it was this day which solidified my determination to go to SWAT. Strong examples make for strong desires.

The LAPD back then was widely regarded as the best in the world. This is obviously depending on one’s point of view – not to be parochial. As a whole we really wanted to be part of something special so we all tried to do our best and advance the history of the department in our own small way. For myself, this meant gaining admittance into specialized units and developing skills that would advance this end. I had a good run at it to be sure. Other classmates of mine did the same. At one point in SWAT’s history there were 5 of us from my Academy class in SWAT. That’s a fair percentage considering there were only 41 or so in our class.

I still have contact with younger Officer’s to this day and unfortunately moral does not always seem to be the greatest. Many are looking towards other departments and locations. Many are dissatisfied with the way in which the department is run. The education does not always seem to be there as it once was. There is not the same ‘spirit’ if you will, of what the department once engendered, and there are many reasons for this. The times and politics have changed, the qualifications for supervision have changed, the goals have changed and that sense of rich history which once prevailed seems to have dissipated. Sometimes time changes too much I suppose.

There are still great people on the department who keep it going. I had dinner years ago with Chief Bratton. He asked what I thought the department could do to improve morale. I was about two years from retirement when we talked. I spoke to him about the history of the department and what I viewed as a lack of passing this history on through roll calls and classes. Don’t know if this was ever implemented but I’m betting it wasn’t. It’s a rather nebulous concept but vital to any unit which seeks to distinguish itself.

I had a great run at it while on the department. Others I know did as well. It would be nice for others to experience what I did and have a sense of great satisfaction when looking back on a hard won career. Perhaps this will change for the better for many in the future, I truly hope so. Perhaps the best summation is that of the film director Sam Peckinpah when he stated that he always wanted to walk through the door at the end of the day feeling justified. That is a great feeling.