Disgrace?

There was another negative top story about Hong Kong Police last week – the patrolling couple in Tai Po Division.

After the rape case in MK police station and the seafood tour group in Po Toi Island, HKP keeps on letting the world down by different types of disciplinary misconducts. My friends often ask me why, and I do not know how to answer. As a probationary police officer and psychology student, all I can say to explain to them and make it up for our organization is “policemen are all human beings”.

Sigmund Freud suggested that an internal drive force known as libido is an energy source for mental and physical dynamic. According to him, there are three ‘controllers’ in our minds, namely the id, ego and superego. Id is the pleasure principle; it is primitive, instinctive, impulsive and devilish. Ego is pretty neutral, it represents the innocent bit within us, and nevertheless it is the overt part of our minds. Superego represents our moral standard, ethic, values, intelligence and judgment. It is superior, like an angel. It tells you what is wrong and what is right. Therefore, Id is in opposition of Superego, and Ego is stuck in the middle and act according to the winning side.

Freud also said that human minds are like iceberg. Our overt side, known as consciousness, is the visible bit of an iceberg, which is also our Ego. Whereas the other 90% of the iceberg which is buried under miles-deep ocean is where the sub-consciousness and unconsciousness lay, as known as the battle ground for Id and Superego.

Human world is interesting, because we are such a unique organism. We are intelligence; therefore we have language, culture and a set of moral values and numerous ordinances, laws and regulation to control our behaviors. Nonetheless we are still primitive mammals that eat, walk, sleep and excrete. The world is all about interactions between individuals. We often have to repress our REAL DESIRE due to the social norm and expectation from others. For example, let’s go back to the news headline about the patrolling young PCs. After having seen the picture I personally, and I strongly believe that they are in love. However, police work is busy and stressful and takes up more time from a person than average. The poor couples, freshly graduated from the police college are still too green to understand the meaning of our uniform. Civilians have expectations on us so that they are super critical on police actions. When we are in uniform, we are no longer ourselves. We represent the department and the government. In the psychology sense, the Superego would override our Id, and Ego has to act professionally.

But sometimes, things get out of control. Young couples on patrol have overgrown Id because they are still young; the Superego is not strong enough. Their Id, in this case represents the pleasure principle which would be the passion, lust and primitive desires to seek happiness inside them; is too strong to get hold of. They think they are acting sensibly. If we were able to interview them there and then, they would probably tell you “Hey, we aren’t holding hands so I do not see any problems, everybody takes picture!” The purpose of disciplinary training from Police College is to implant a set of enforcement values for our Superegos so that our Id in the unconsciousness is in good control. The pleasure principle for young people is often ‘bigger’; this is why the term ‘immature’ is coined on them.

Immaturity and age is not the only factor, stress can also aggravate our lust and weaken our superego. Policing is extremely stressful. We work long hours, we work shift, we deal with criminals, we get complained from the public, and from our bosses; we always have to act professionally and in order to do so, we have to be emotionally detached. So what about our real emotions? What about the true side of our minds? What do we really want to do and say? Most of the time, we have to repress these impulses and bury them miles deep down the ocean. Freud somehow said “The capacity of our unconsciousness is limited, like a balloon, it would explode if you let too much in.”

To me, this theory suits to explain the different police disciplinary misconducts recently, especially the rape case in MK police station. A professor had taught me that rape cases are often ‘hate crime’, which means rapists rape not because of their uncontrollable sexual urge, but their hatred towards women or something else which is transformed into sexual impulse and, the rape action.

Police officers are often frustrated by their work. In a disciplined organization individualism is not emphasized. Lack of recognition is the major reason for drop in performance. Without recognition, they no longer see the need of repressing their Id and meet the expectation from the public. This is a vicious cycle. More negative news will pop up, police will receive more negative comments and the public would become more cynical to our actions. There are more and more restraints to police officers, the stress would only intensify.

Better counseling is needed for police officers, especially for officers at the frontline. I believe that when needs are met, people would obey in exchange. This is human nature.

21/36 = 58.3333333333%

21st week, 58.3333333% of the training is completed. Now approaching the most cirtical period throughout the training, destiny will take command of my fate.

Things or persons that are not meant to be yours will never be yours.

Take it positive mate, at least you won't have to go through the process of losing it, or, her.

Progress

It has been 4 months and a bit, I have gone through half of the PI training.

I am progressing, right now I consider myself as half citizen, half policeman.

There are so much to learn...I can't say that they are all useful, but when it comes to reality when I am out there in my uniform, I am going to need far more knowledge than I have right now.

It indeed is a challenging job.

A view from guardroom.

So, overall progress, a transcript for myself by myself:

Law and Procedural knowledge:

I am just not a scholar type of person, so far I managed to pass all tests but there are more to come. I will do okay I am sure, but they surely will not be super amazing grades...haha

Physical Fitness:

Too bad to say that I am not  good runner, either! I am doing fine in dynamical fitness but I am still shit at endurance running...I am aiming to finish a 2.4km within 10 minutes. It sounds ridiculously slow for a lot of you, I know, but I am just not that good. Hoping to build up my muscle too...I dun wanna pass out of here like a white pig.
Oh swimming has improved! Gonna learn life saving later.

Leadership Exercises:

This thing can be fetal, if you cannot be a commander of a sub-unit, or act like one. I kicked off with a bad start, did real shit in a simple robbery case. Comments received were horrible. I was termed "lack of common sense", "lack of control", "poor at observation"...etc etc by the exercise inspectors, it had let me down for a good while. After some serious observation and learning from my squadmates I think I have made substantial improvement, well, not bluffing but the latest report was impressive. This shouldn't be a problem to me anymore right now, the gist of it is to know what you do and act lawfully, sensibly.
Planned operations are of great fun and there are so much to take away. But well, the next time I be the OC Case of an operation as such would be quite a long time after passing out from here...

Oh the beautiful police college...just to let this post look less boring!

Tactics:

I dunno how good or how bad I am because I have not received any official performance report based on my individual performance. So far I think I am not too bad at it although I am not Jacky Chan in his movie "Super Cop". Tactics isn't as cool as it appears to be...it is about self protection, observation, and use of force in a lawful way. I have only had four sections on it so there are still a lot to learn!

Resistance Control:

No, it's not about fighting and kung-fu. It is about how to use the handcuffs properly, how to search a person and how to remove trouble making protestors. Everyone would do okay in this aspect unless he is a spastics or extreme moron.

Taken in Aberdeen.

Firearm:

Yes, it is fun to play with the S&W police revolver! Meanwhile shooting isn't as easy as all of you would think. There are lot of techniques and theories inside which you will never be able to execute during an emergency situation when shooting is required. My accuracy is 85% so far. (note, the targets are non-moving ones.)

Footdrill:

It's something fancy...I am not especially good at it, I am just an average guy on the drill square who gets bollocking from the instructors once in a while for turning to the wrong direction...at least I don't look ugly!
well, I guess.
Who cares anyway...you don't see cops marching on the streets. As my instructors said, the major reason for practising footdrill, aside from the team building and cooperation cliche; is to march like a real man in passing out parade (especially for the inspectors); and why should an inspector march like a real man in passing out parade? 'Coz your mom and dad are there and its a reward to them for paying expensive school fees over the years.
Very true!

Open University Course:

I thought it would be fun but hell no. Its a complete waste of time. Sociology and Policing; Psychology and Policing. They sound very professional, but the contents are elementary and boring. No elaboration is needed, just remember those model answers on past papers and you will make a pass.

Overall, training is going on okay and I can feel the progress. It is a bit boring sometimes and it can get real hectic. I have met some really good guys right here whom I am sure they are friends for life; things always come in with two extremes, it is impossible to get on well with everybody and impress everyone. Well, I still hope that everyone in 515 and 516 will pass out from this college on time. 27th Feb 2010, its our first destination.

Don't worry mom and dad, I am doing just perfectly fine in here!

It is for you

Dear you,

You know who this is written to, it's a letter wirrten to you.
How have you been? We haven't talked for long. It's been a while since we last met.
The last piece of memory about you is left my old car. You were there, and I am now holding in my hand, what you gave me that day.

You have done so many things that I 'd never expected you would have done.
That piece of paper means so much to me, it is still in my wallet. It has been there since that day. It has been with me all along. It brings me luck.
It reminds me about you from time to time, it is all symbolic thou,
in reality, it is a piece of your heart.

I was on a bus the other day, alone, and thought about you. I got to Wah Fu Station ( I guess you wouldn't know where it is, I know you.) and it was six ish. The sunset was beautiful, I wished you were there. The sky was set from blue, then orange, to purple, then pink, and finally bleached dark slowly. I know you love sunset. Remember the time we went Pak Nai together? Also in Tai Mei Tuk, Macau...

You know...I really hope that you can forgive me. I was fucked up. If you think that I am finding myself an excuse then please let this be my last excuse. I should have done more for you. I should have done more for both of us. I just can't figure out what the heck went wrong with me. It seems that there is a demon in me who'd stop me from loving anyone. I know, I sound exactly like a bloody jerk.

I didn't even know who I am.
But I can remember you lovely smile, how you jumped around and how you pulled your face when I did something wrong.

I know, I know, I am a fucking idiot. Damn it, I am feeling so blue right now while typing this.
Things can never be turned back. I wonder where you are now and what you're doing.
Be happy and be fine. You are special to me.

From

A jerk.

And to the other you,

You bloody know who you are, thank God that you wouldn't read this miserable blog by a miserable loser that you once met in your princess life.

Thank you for all the happy memories, to be real honest, every moment that I had spent with you, they are beautiful.

You were once the best to me.

But now, screw you.
And screw your lies too.

From

That loser you wouldn't even dream of in nightmare.

Reflection

Attitude to start off with, there is only one fine line between arrogant and confident.

Desperate need of extending the attention span. Jesus Christ can you just focus and at least make yourself looks focused???

Maximization of potential is the key.

Wah Fu is probably the best public housing estate you can get in Hong Kong. Believe me.

Patrol Sub-unit Commander is...

To look at this PSUC thing from a different perspective, it is actually simple and straight forward.
There are too much information in minds and that would cause our common sense and intuition suppressed. Assumption kills but believe your sense. Yes, it is hard to grasp the balance.
Do everything with reasons, as an officer, do it with justification too.

It is often ourselves who make the whole thing more complicated.

My best friend is...

Damn it man, damn it...
How long has it been? It has been some quick 6 months already!

I am so happy to seeing your success, proud of you brother.
So I guess you will be sitting at your office with your feet put up high, scratching your balls in front of Youtube while receiving money from tax payers. The worst thing is your shift arrangement...I wish I was a fireman too.

Good luck bro

and you will come to my P.O.P. on 27th Feb 2010.