Hi, I'm Andy Black, a retired state probation and parole officer/investigator in Virginia. I was a P.O. from 1986 to 2001, and was a cop and deputy sheriff/K9 officer for almost 15 years before that. I've been married since 1969 to my very patient and wonderful wife, and she and I have two grown children (thus the gray hair).
I am presently on the Board of the Police Emerald Society of Tidewater, a group of active and retired law enforcement officers with Celtic roots. I was Secretary of Lodge #9 Fraternal Order of Police in Chesapeake from 1998 to 2002, and have been a member of the FOP for many years. I also created the websites for Lodge 9 and the State FOP. Before retirement, I was also a state certified Firearms Instructor, Self Defense Instructor, and General Instructor, and greatly enjoyed teaching others what I have learned through experience, classroom instruction, and on-the-job training. I also was a state certified Peer Debriefer for our local CISD (Critical Incident Stress Debriefing) Team, and proud to have been able to respond to "Helpers needing Help" (Cops, Firefighters and EMS Folks who had been involved in incidents of a high emotional-stress level).
Based on my over 28 years of criminal justice experience, I have one piece of very sincere advice for any young person who is considering joining that vocation in Virginia - STAY AWAY FROM THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS/ COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS! In my 60+ years of living, I have never witnessed such a capricious, uncaring management style, and it runs deep in that agency. Any change of management would have to go at least 4 layers from the top if the problem is to be remedied. The probation and parole officers in Virginia are overworked, underpaid, armed with extremely dangerous ammunition, and micro-managed to the Nth degree! Rehabilitation and public safety seem to take a back seat to empire building and resume enhancement in Community Corrections, and the administration knows full well that such practices are dangerous and cause high turnover - they simply don't care! Find another place to work!!
After many years of criminal justice experience, I have developed what many think is a "sick" sense of humor, and I make no apology for that. Only those who have personally witnessed and dealt with "man's inhumanity to man" can understand the need for such a defense mechanism, so attempting to explain it to those who haven't would be fruitless!
Enjoy my
page, check out the link to the Pictures of my life, and drop me an email if
you have time.
Click here to
see
Pictures of my life:
Click on torch to see my
goodbye to a good friend
...............
These two plaques were presented to me at retirement by the two
departments of which I will always be proud to say that I was a member.
All my badges and patches, representing 1966 through 2001
Feel free to Email me