Interview Q's with Officer Barry Flores

1. Do you believe that exposure to danger causes police officers to have a pessimistic outlook on human behavior?
I don't believe that exposure to danger causes police officers to have a pessimistic outlook on human behavior. It has made me more aware and cautious that certain stressful situations tend to make an individual(s) react differently. In this line of work, an officer should always try to remain non-bias. Every situation should be dealt with case by case. One case cannot justify a pessimistic reasoning for all others.

2) Have you ever experienced what is populary known as "Police Stress" - 'the emotional pressure produced by the nature of police work such as public apathy, exposure to criminals, or injury to fellow officers?
True, but this is a common element that all police officers are exposed to. Prior to applying to any law enforcement agency, the applicant does not fully understand what is expected of him/her. The so called "stress factors" within the police department are numerous. more so, than any other profession that I've been a part of. The large majority of the public and criminals respect officers, the badge and what the badge represents. As for a fellow officer being injured, I am sure all officers feel something, but each officer copes with it in his/her way. "Police Stress" encompasses a wide range of concerns. This type of profession exposes officers to situations like no other job on earth. Officers see, record in writing, testify to the most heinous crimes imaginable. The work hours are long, the shortage of officers are constant, overtime pay outs are dependant on agency funds available, spouses and children pray for the safe return of their loved one when he/she leaves for work each time, etc., etc., etc. The list can go on and on....

3)Alexander Smith conducted a series of studies on the influence of education on attitudes of police officers. He found that the more college education an officer has attained, the less dogmatic their attitudes were and the higher/better their job performance. Do you believe this to be true? Besides adding more to your 'to do list', how has your college education affected your performance at work?
Any individual, policemen or any other profession, have already been raised through their years with insight and an attitude. Learning something else within a classroon or book only alters an attitude, that I feel is temporary. In short, speaking from experience, attending college for a degree only adds to the so called "police stress" that you asked about in question number 2. Even after receiving a college degree, there is no guarantee of a promotion towards rank. School like anything else, is done for self improvement. The only thing school adds, is to the already high level of stress.

4) Police Attitude is said to stem from two sources. The first is the Socialization Model which states that police officers learn their attitudes and values from socializing experiences, such as education and experience on the job. The second is the Predispositional Model which states that the attitudes and values of police officers are developed prior to entry into the law enforcement profession? Which theory do you agree with?
Like I mentioned, a person's attitude is shaped from his/her upbringing not from training.

5. As briefly as possible, describe a typical day of work.
My typical day begins at 7am. though my regular starting time is 8am. Being that I am attending college, I start work earlier than usual to make up for my time at school. I also skip my lunch hour to also compensate for time away. My day starts by doing write up of interviews conducted on the previous day(s). In between these write-ups, I schedule appointments. I deal with reading case files over and over to see if all investigations were completed. I can go on and on, but there is a lot. I am also a member of the Crisis/Hostage Negotion Team. When off from my regular daily duties at 6pm, I am an on-call investigaor to be activated for any crucial case(s) at any time of need.

6) Is it difficult to seperate your occupation from your family/home life?
I've learned to keep both separate, though, at times they conflict. This takes some juggling and patience from the wife and family before a system is down pat.



7) Do you feel that the general public is non - supportive when working with police?
The general public is very cooperative when dealing with the police. Sometimes, of course, there are those unwilling individuals or those individuals who tend to watch a lot of "Law and Order" or some other law enforcement series.

8) In what ways do media images distort the true nature of policing? What is a common misconception about police officers?
Media will always print and say anything that helps to sell the product. They try to be careful of what they say. There's is always the First Amendment "Freedom of Speech". Investigators are very selective on what they pesent to the media without providing too much details. The media, will not jeopardize their relations with the police department by printing damaging material. It would not be worth ruining communications just on a one-time story.