10 Questions with a Retired NYPD Detective

George P. is a retired detective from the NYPD. He’s also a longtime close friend. I asked him to answer 10 Questions about policing during his time on the job as compared to what he sees now in New York City.

1. What made you decide to be a police officer?
My dad and my uncle were both police officers. I grew up around it. It’s all I ever wanted to do.

2. Was the NYPD your first choice? Why?
No. Choice #1 was the department my dad and uncle were on, which was the Suffolk County Police Department. They cover Suffolk County, Long Island, which is where I grew up. It’s the highest paid department in nation and positions there are highly sought after. An average of one million people take the civil service entrance test and they only hire about 50 people.

3. What was the biggest issue you dealt with in policing?
The politics and the liberal court system.

4. What training did you receive?
I spent six months of intensive training at the NYPD academy.

5. What changes have you seen in policing since you retired?
Policing has gone from a proactive approach to a reactive approach. It has been neutered by the politicians. Officers are afraid to do their jobs out of fear of repercussions, which also causes safety issues.

6. Would you recommend the NYPD to aspiring police officers?
Not at this time under this current anti-police administration.

7. What did you do after retirement?
I am currently working in the insurance industry investigating fraud.

8. Just how dangerous was your work with the NYPD?
Extremely dangerous. Policing is one of the only jobs where you might not go home from work. Also, the exposure to extreme elements, erratic work hours, and the extreme stress wears on you mentally and physically.

9. What’s the biggest misconception about the NYPD?
That the officers are seeking to hurt people and harass certain demographics. That’s the farthest thing from the truth.

10. Do you miss the job?