Gun Permits

Gun permits are a really big part of working in a police station. Lots of people want gun licenses, FICs, etc. But is everyone qualified to even carry a gun? No. No they are not. Part of what I did today was input information into Pro4, the police department's archaic information system. Like... this thing is old school man. So basically, i was handed a large stack of forms and told, "Make sure all the information is right". So I did. When someone moves, gets a new phone number, a new license number, a new anything... you have to update Pro4 so that everything is accurate. Massachusetts is especially strict about gun licenses.

There are several things that you need.
-Your form, filled out with correct personal information.
           This is used to do a background check. if you fail the background check, you don't get a gun.
-A firearms safety class.
           To even receive the background check, one must first do a day long class on gun safety.
-Recommendations from responsible people.
          This is to make sure that you're not some crazy person with no criminal history who wants a gun.
-Luck.
           Once that is all done, the Chief of Police decides to grant, or not grant your request. Afterwards, you
           can get a gun, from the class that you were granted.

Talking talking talking 'bout...

Police officers love to talk and that's a fact. Walking into the station this morning, I was greeted by the Lieutenant, and two other officers in a conversation about what they do with mice after they catch them... because their kids are against them killing pests. Later, the conversation turned to hockey, and stories about the force's hockey team, and who played hockey, and who was insane and who was crazy... and then got into funny stories about retired officers.

You can learn a lot about people who like to talk and talk and talk. You learn about their personality, their family life, what kind of person they are. It's all private and yet none of it is, because all these guys are friends. When you work at a dangerous job, you learn to be friends with your co-workers real fast. You not only want them to have your backs, but you're gonna want company during those slow days where nothing is happening... and as a college student with friends, I can tell you that you talk to your friends. All the time. About pretty much everything.

And another thing. Police officers swear a lot. Not all of them, but the Lieutenant does. Everything is always "fucking shit" and "goddamn" and it's all woven into his sentences, because hey, his job is to protect, he deserves leeway on his bad language. But he NEVER EVER talks like that around his kids. Only when he's on the job.

AND THE STEREOTYPE IS TRUE! Well... less about the donuts, and more about the coffee. The officers and Lieutenant I work with have so much coffee, it's kind of unreal. But then again, they work very hard all the time, and are very tired. The coffee is to keep them awake. Makes sense now, doesn't it. (I find the officers eating pizza more than any other thing to tell you the truth).

Police Work Can Be Unfruitful At The Worst of Times

So, a couple weeks ago, I was part of a suicide case that was happening here. Now, it was pretty open and shut... except, now, the dead guy's car has gone missing! Now, the usual suspects have been found. The owner of the guy's apartment, and the Realtor who sells the apartments for the owner.

So far today, one of the officers and I went out on a ride to take a look at all the Wholesale car sellers in the area. We were on the lookout for this car, which needs to be found so that we can determine who sold it, why they sold it, and what's so important about the damn car.

It is ILLEGAL to sell someone else's car without their permission, or the permission of their immediate family... if that person happens to be dead. You don't get to just take it and sell it... even if the guy owed you money and committed suicide in the apartment you own. That's not how the law works.

These guys are pretty legit scumbags.

Don't be stupid. Follow the law or you'll get busted.