View from the cop: Crime & punishment
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AJC.com > Metro > View from the cop > Archives > 2008 > February > 19
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
What I’m learning at FEMA center
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Training is a nice way to break up the everyday stress of my police job. You might think that involves life and death situations. It does. Try running out of toner at 11 a.m.
I’m tucked into the tiny town of Emmitsburg, Md., at the FEMA training center. I’m refining my lackluster skills by attending the advanced Public Information Officer courses offered through the agency.
Emmitsburg is located north of Fredrick, Md., and just south of the Gettysburg Battlefield. It’s also near Camp David. For those of you who don’t know, Camp David is where the President hangs out when he wants to give the perception he’s on a “working vacation.” It’s not a drop-in camp either which is why Emmitsburg’s town drunks stay close.
I chose to drive here for two reasons: First, I wanted to spend a couple of days on the road seeing the towns and pastures—from a fairly close distance from the freeway. Secondly, I didn’t like the sound of being stuck anywhere for a week without a car.
On the way up I met the Reverend and Mrs. Garner of Columbia S.C. They were in Greenville, walking the streets and handing out anti-abortion brochures. The reverend talked about his ministry located wherever his is at the time. They were walking along the roadway mostly taking grief from the young kids asking where the clinic was. It was tacky but the reverend said he had heard it all before and didn’t bat and eye.
I spent the night in Richmond and that evening spoke to some of the locals at the Denny’s about the Richmond Braves moving to Gwinnett County. Most didn’t know they were moving and some of them said they weren’t that interested in hockey that much anyway. Now I know why they had problems keeping the team there.
Being a veteran officer, I quickly located the popular pub in downtown Emmitsburg. The Ott House is located at the corner—the first one you come to. Across is Stevro’s Pizza where no matter what kind of pizza you order, you get extra cheese. Lots of it. Did you know that when you eat lots of cheese you get constipated?
In class we’re studying communications. This means we’re doing all sorts of role-playing exercises for the camera and personal interviews.
Today’s instructor talked about body language. I learned how to shake hands. Did you know that professionally, you should shake the hand twice and then release? Here’s what else I learned:
If someone shakes your hand and covers the top of your hand with his or hers, it’s a sign of dominance and they are most likely insecure.
When they shake your hand and place their other hand under yours, it’s a sign of support.
When they shake your hand and then kiss it and hold it to their forehead, it’s a sign they’ve got you mixed up with Queen Elizabeth.
I never knew that.
