I don't think any CSI on this site has asked to be treated the same as an officer. We fully acknowledge that officers face a risk every time they put on the uniform. BUT, we would like to know that when all these chemicals we use to catch the bad guys make us sick down the road that we have been compensated appropriately so we can take care of ourselves! Just like with asbestos, we may not know the how hazardous some of the chemicals we work with currently are until it's too late. I know in my 8 year career as CSI, departments have stopped using certain chemicals because they have been deemed too toxic to work with even in the most guarded applications. I wouldn't deny an officer his pay or protection because he doesn't get shot at every day, most officers never actually use their weapons in their own defense. So why would an officer come to this message board and type such ignorant things? (I'm assuming its an officer, BTW)
And yes, in the years of being a CSI, I have been attacked by a dog (the officer forgot to tell me the dog was there), chased by a suspect wielding a machete, had a confrontation with a rape suspect who returned to the scene, and almost walked into a homicide scene with the suspect still inside (this scene had been "CLEARED" by an FTO). The only thing that kept me from entering the scene was that the suspect came to the front door and started shouting at me. All of this and many more instances, without a gun, without a vest, and with some officer who wants to berate us and say we are not deserving of high risk pay. Nevermind the rounds of meds I have taken over the years because i have been exposed to HIV, TB, MRSA, oh yes, the non lethal but ever so much fun body lice! I respectfully ask this officer to get off our board and ***** about someone else on the police boards... or maybe they are sick of him as well!
My husband is an sworn officer and would NEVER even suggest that CSI do not deserve high risk pay, not because I am his wife, but because he sees what I go through on a daily basis and knows that some day if the chemicals I work with don't harm me then an inept cop may get me killed!!!