Damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t

VK Kapoor 

A cop is the symbol of governmental authority. August Vollmer, the father of American policing,  remarked, ‘He is supposed to possess the qualifications of a soldier, lawyer, diplomat and an educator. He is condemned when he enforces law, dismissed when he does not.’ 

I served the department for 38 long years, and trained the Delhi Police for the Commonwealth Games. I had a close professional and personal interaction with all ranks.

The life of a policeman at the ground level is a gritty struggle for survival, hard work, uncomfortable personal life, pressure and want. The ‘at work’ world of a police officer is negative. He sees the bad part of society — the criminal, the abuser of rules; ordinary people at their worst. A research reveals that a cop dies 11 years earlier because of the stress and strains of the job. 

Studies have called police work a ‘high-risk lifestyle’. Not high risk in terms of the physical dangers of the job, but in developing attitudinal, behavioural and relationship problems. It is a progression from idealism to despair. During my interaction with the Delhi Police, I found high rate of physical illness, alcoholism, various family and psychological problems, including suicide. A policeman is always facing scrutiny from the community, from peers, superiors and subordinates. Everyone looks to him to take charge or solve a problem. He is never off duty. 

The relationship between a politician and a policeman is complicated. The former wants complete control of the department. I remember a senior minister wanting an SHO of his choice in a particular police station. I told him that the man was a scoundrel. He replied: ‘Maine isse puja-path nahin karwana. Teen-char bande marwane hain (I don’t want him for prayers, I have to get three-four people killed).’ Police bosses became willing tools. At the senior level, hypocrisy is at a premium; sycophancy  and deviousness the norm.

The recent incident of misconduct with a Delhi cop garnered a lot of support for the police. What is needed is for the police to adopt a humane approach. People skills are important. Primitive emotional response still holds the key to survival. 

A cop should get respect and dignity due to him. He is an important and useful segment of society. He should not be used, misused or abused.