When you’re on the job, practicing safety measures is important, and it isn’t just about protecting yourself, but taking care of your comrades as well. In order to understand this, it is important to look at safety protocols, and what could go wrong if you choose not to abide by them.
- Staying in top shape – let’s be realistic, if you are not in physical shape as a law enforcement officer, then you aren’t going to be able to do your job as well. Not if you are an officer that’s out in the field. If you cannot handle an assailant, then other officers you’re working with, as well as the general public, is put at risk.
- Wearing safety equipment – cops that aren’t wearing body armor in situations that require it are sticking their own necks out, of course. But what you might not realize is that you put others at risk as well. What happens if you take a bullet and go down, and someone has to come into help you? They put themselves in harm’s way as well, or it could create the opportunity for a suspect to escape apprehension.
- Failing to remain in tune with surroundings – if you are not aware of what is happening around you, you cannot provide suitable backup to your partner or other officers on the force. You need to have your eyes and ears open at all times for your protection, as well as theirs.