When I was working in the Gang Unit with the Albuquerque Police Department, there was a phrase used by gang members to express their outlook on life: “Smile Now, Cry Later.” I would sometimes see this written on tattoos depicting the ancient Greek theater masks of comedy and tragedy. The meaning implies one should live life to the fullest now and worry about the consequences later.
We can’t adhere to that carefree philosophy in police work, but there is such a thing as tombstone humor that only a cop might understand. Comedy helped us make light of ourselves and keep a more positive outlook on life during some very bleak moments. Humor is a coping mechanism to help officers deal with the constant stress of their jobs. Studies have shown that a sense of humor can improve your mental and physical health. Mark Twain said that “Humor is the great thing, the saving thing after all. The minute it crops up, all our hardness yields, all our irritations and resentments flit away, and a sunny spirit takes their place.”
Laughter and humor are ways of blowing off psychological steam, dealing with pain and redirecting hurt. There is truth to the adage, “laughter is the best medicine.” Laughing produces endorphins or “happy” brain chemicals that act as a natural pain killer — soothing stress, reducing anxiety, easing chronic pain and just making you feel really, really swell. According to long-term studies from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, laughter has been linked to lowering the risk of heart attack and stroke.
My dad was assigned to the Police Marine Unit in the late 1960s, and they would patrol the beaches along Lake Michigan in the summer. There were some very exclusive homes on the lakefront that had their own private beaches and huge backyards. There had been several reports of a naked man peering in the windows late at night…