Profile Paper Revised

Pearson 1
Trace Pearson
Professor Bown
English 2010
7 March 8, 2015
Figure 1 Source Flickr
A Day with an Officer

When I called Layne I heard a dog barking and kids squealing in the
background. The duality of someone that straps a handgun on every
morning and then comes home to peaceful family life is immediately
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apparent. At first he sounded tired, I had called right after his shift ended but
his personable personality came through the phone.
Greetings
When I met him I saw a tall man with a buzzed haircut with a hint of
red hair highlighted by the sun. He had an inviting friendly smile balanced by
the eyes of a raptor that looked at me like a prey item.
We walk towards his unmarked blacked out charger, the only hint that
it was a police car was the emblem of his SWAT team on the back window, a
shield with a sword and star emblazoned on top. Bringing images of a
medieval knight with modern weapons and armor. He opened his trunk which
is brimming with his SWAT gear. A rifle case holding his automatic rifle inside,
boots, armor, and helmet. His department has chosen desert tan as their
uniform colors, a move away from the standard all black of other
departments. When we jump in his car the growl of the engine is washed out
by the radio, Pharrel Williams Happy occasionally getting interrupted with
voices of dispatch from his radio.
Motivations
Layne decided to get into law enforcement while serving an LDS
mission. He was serving in the San Francisco area where he happened to
meet several FBI agents that got him interested in federal law. When he got
back home he started working towards a degree because a bachelors is a
requirement for the federal agencies. He also joined the Peace Officer and
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Standards Training program to get credit towards a degree. While in the

academy he unexpectedly quit his job, and took a job offer as a prison guard.
It was not his dream job but the prison was going to sponsor him for the rest
of his tenure at the academy.
Ten years ago he accepted the job from the prison, shortly after he
wanted to try a normal police officer position and got hired with the City of
Murray. Since then he has raised to the rank of Master Officer. His current
assignment within Murray PD is detective, he loves the new job for the
freedom he has and the shift is an improvement from the graveyard shift he
used to work as a patrol officer. He also explains that while detective is a
lateral position compared to patrol, sergeants are chosen from former
detectives.
New Challenges
Recently, he has gotten on the SWAT team, so far he has been on call
to serve warrants on drug houses. He told me about some training that he
just finished. The Utah Highway Patrol had hosted an arduous week long
training event for chosen people from all the local SWAT teams. They had to
stay in the barracks of the academy and went through a series of challenges
set up by the instructor.
The experience involved the standard shooting exercises and fitness
tests with all their gear on. They received training and mock operations
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through the night, instructors would wake them up early in the morning. The
memory of the hardship puts a smile on his face.
Figure 2 Source Flickr
The training also stressed teamwork and unity, they were expected to
do everything as one. He told me of the first morning when they showed up
for breakfast in groups as they trickled in. The instructors punished them
with exercise, using up the time they had for breakfast. Throughout the week
they were given time hacks for finishing up tasks, if they did not make the
goal they would get punished. In one instance somebody had left behind
some gear and a flash bang grenade. The instructors had taken and hidden
everything. They started the next time hack and told everyone they needed
to find the hidden gear, eating up time they had to accomplish their next
task. While going through all this they had to carry a big door ram, just a
heavy metal pipe with wielded handles on it, they had to bring it everywhere
with them and they could only set it down when given permission to do so.
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At one point he explained about an officer that did a mistake, the

punishment was to get shot with a non-lethal riot control bullet, it stings and
leaves a bruise but would not break through the skin. After he was shot, he
said, We decided as a group that all of us were going to get shot to stick
together. Again he laughs at the adversity displaying his willingness to
accept a challenge.
After ten years in in law enforcement Layne has managed to stay
driven in a field so often blamed and beaten down by the public and the
media. He is well trained in dealing with conflict when he needs it but that
trained aggression is balanced by his kindness. When asked if his perception
has changed since first dreaming of the FBI job, he said I was gung ho when
I started, I wanted to arrest bad people. Now I have a better understanding,
more respect for people. I dont need to be so hard on people. I have become
a more kind public servant.
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Works Cited
Peterson, Layne. Personal Interview. 3 March 2015.
Motorcycle Officer. Hy Crutchett. Digital Image. Flickr. 18 Oct. 2011.
Web. 7 Mar. 2015.
HCC Police Academy. HCCphotos. Digital Image. Flickr. 26 Jung 2013.
Web. 7 Mar. 2015.

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Pearson 1

Figure 1 Source Flickr

A Day with an Officer

Standards Training program to get credit towards a degree. While in the

Figure 2 Source Flickr

At one point he explained about an officer that did a mistake, the

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