The New Centurions

by Joseph Wambaugh

“You’re going to find out before too long that we’re the only ones that see the victims,” said Galloway. “The judges and probation officers and social workers and everybody else think mainly about the suspect and how they can help him stop whatever he specializes in doing to his victims, but you and me are the only

ones who see what he does to his victims—right after it’s done. And this is only a little burglary.”

I’m civil to all people, courteous to none. I think courtesy implies servility. Policemen don’t have to be servile or apologize to anyone for doing their job.