Second Chance

By: Joe Hawk

Narrated by: Tristan Wright

Upon retiring from the New York City Transit Police Department after 22 years, I was given a second chance to start over. I was in a new police department doing what I loved—being a police officer. What I didn't know at the time was that the town of Palm Beach P.D. wasn't all that I thought it would be. Instead, the department revolved on favoritism, and if you questioned their decisions, they retaliated against you. This was obvious from the time I took my first promotion test for the rank of sergeant. I was passed over for the next three promotions, even though I was higher up on the list. They employed the "Peter Principle", promoting the man to his next level of incompetence.

I had the moral courage to speak up, and the rank and file stood idly by. Then, the retaliation started—lower yearly evaluations, refusal to sign off on off duty police courses to further my law enforcement career, avoid rewarding me Officer of the Month for outstanding arrests. Instead, it went to officers with mediocre arrests. It also took me 11 years to fully reach top out pay, whereby other officers reached the top after four to five years.

After working for the two past chiefs, the department turned around. I never gave up, and I maintained my moral courage to stand up for what was right. Finally, after 11 years, I was recognized for who I was and what I stood for. The next nine years were most rewarding.

©2022 Joe Hawk (P)2022 Joe Hawk