Police work is not all glory and gain. An often thankless position of being damned if we do and double damned if we don't, a police officer is expected to respond to each call for assistance with vigor. We are expected to contend with the lowest conditions of human life expeditiously, yet compassionately, while maintaining hope for the future. It is expected that we can brilliantly maneuver through the muck and mire of society and not get any on us but, hard as we may try, we are never completely able to do this. In addition to skirting public ire, we compete with colleagues whose only claim to excellence is to know someone in high places (of authority). We contend with acts of racism, sexism, favoritism and misuse of authority that exist within the walls of any randomly selected police agency. Speaking up against this man (clan) made system can get one transferred to positions never applied for and specialized positions often go to the officer most willing to turn his or her back on observed improprieties. Integrity and dignity soon become no more than words in a dictionary.