h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The wrist/arm problems I've been dealing with for weeks continue. My occupational therapist sat me down for a serious talk this afternoon. She'd mentioned before that I should consider a career change; doing law enforcement and maintenance are tough on joints. Today, she basically told me flat out that if I stay in this profession, I'm letting myself in for long term pain, even if I get surgery.

Unfortunately, this is not only the career I've been in since '87, and the field my degree is in, but it's the job that quite literally keeps a roof over my head. A house to live in comes with the position. So if I leave State Parks, I'm not only unemployed, but homeless.

Merry Christmas

Sh*t!!

Man, I couldn't cope with the thought of having to look for a new job as it is...adding the whole "looking for somewhere else to live" kust makes it that extra bit unbearable...

...have you asked your boss what other oprions there are for you that could keep you where you are, just in another capacity?

Supposedly, my boss is checking with The Powers That Be to see if I could keep the job, but not do law enforcement anymore. I could probably get by with that, since I only do SOME maintenance. Shooting and baton work are far and away the most painful things I do on a regular basis.

Unfortunately, my boss is a weasel, so who knows how much effort he's putting into it. I decided I wasn't gonna ask 'til after the holidays.

I just don't know what I'm gonna do if they say NO.

It's not a nice position to be in at all!!

Is it a work-related injury? Can you get some sort of compenstaion?

It's work related, but not one specific injury... this type of tendonitis is a long-term degeneration, rather than a single event. Shooting is what made it unbearable, but if it goes to civil court, the State can make a good case that life in general did it: computer use, Playstation, the injury that necessitated surgery 3 years ago... you name it. If they have a good lawyer, they'll also find my Mom had carpal tunnel surgery, and my sis nearly required it in both wrists, and say I'm genetically predisposed to wrist problems...

So I MIGHT get disability, but I can't count on it.

I thought that cops got good cover in those kinds of things ?

See, that's an inherent problem with the system in my agency. We're cops when it's convenient for THEM... if there's a drunken idiot in the campground, we better arrest him. But we better not p*ss off any fine, upstanding citizens who happen to know the Governor! If we arrest someone with political connections, g*d help us.

So, since they only think of us as "part-time" cops, we don't get the perks, like 20 year retirement at 100% of our pay rate... we get 26 year retirement at 80%. And if they can get rid of us without paying disability, so much the better.

I've seen it happen to friends.

Pardon my French, but that's f**ked up!

I mean especially in a job like yours...where you put your @rse on the line for "the greater good"...you'd think you'd get better treatment...

Yeah, you'd think. It's horrible to say, but I don't think that The Brass will acknowledge us as cops until one of us is killed in the line of duty. And even then, it won't be a matter of respect, it'll be a liability issue...

That's so screwy !

Yup. Accurate, unfortunately.

Awwww, hunni I'm sorry 2 hear that...... I've been reading this thread & i gotta just say "that is just bang outta order!" There should be sum plan 2 fall back on, in sitch's such as ur own...... Sren't there any government benefits ur elegable for hunni?? (excuse my spelling)

loadz a n s Faith xx

There may be some options like that, I don't really know. But it looks like I'm gonna have to start doing some research when I get back from the holidays...

I hope everything goes well 4 u hun
F xx

Damn!

Your agency sound like the sort who'd kill Kenny on a daily basis

Is there some sort of consciencious get-out clause for people who don't want to carry guns, or is it more or less compulsory??

Hiya, AD!

Yeah, it is kinda like working in South Park sometimes

Nearly all field positions from my level on up require law enforcement (LE). The only other options are low ranking positions, or becoming one of The Powers That Be.

I did talk to my boss about it just today, and he said that They agreed to do a permanent waiver for me, so I wouldn't have to do LE, if I have to give up shooting for good. I'm not sure just how far I trust that, but at least they don't plan to fire me next week or anything!

Well that sounds like better news: let's hope They stick to it.

Either that, or you'll have to develop your knowledge of the Force!

The kind of LE where either you don't need a gun, or you can hide behind something armoured and order someone else to get shot at always sounds better to me....

"Use the Force, Ranger..." I like the sounds of that!



Just got back from therapy. I'm to continue with brace and sling, and she said I need to make an appointment to see about surgery. There just hasn't been the improvement they should have seen by now in the hand. She wants me to ask about more serious treatment for my elbow, too.

That's gr8 news hun, i know it ain't wot u wanted but it's better than being jobless & homeless...

Faith xx

At this rate, in a black helmet and cloak do I see you,

Breathing heavily and sounding uncannily like James Earl Jones do I hear you...



OF course, the old Jedi mind tricks would be great on management:

"Why yes, I do want to give you an enormous pay rise..."