Remember my friend Don from my helicopter jock story?

After he left the army, he became a state trooper. He hated patrol work, and eventually got assigned to teaching firearm skills to recruits at a range, where he finished out his 20 years of service.

He didn’t hesitate to tell me and other people that “I hate cops." He didn’t mean he hated police officers personally, he just hated the behavior and attitudes that became instilled in most of his colleagues. He hated bullying and dominance.

Don’s a really big guy and very strong, but he’s always been gentle and sweet. When he was still on patrol, his colleagues gave him a lot of shit for not being tougher on people, for not bullying them, for not being dominant and aggressive. That’s why he used to say that he hated cops.

The moment it made financial sense for him to leave, he did. He began a third career as a trauma RN, which suits him to a T. He can be tough and gentle at the same time and never have to worry about being required to dominate anyone.