Some people make resolutions at the start of a New Year — I choose to have a battle cry. For the past couple of years my first Police1 column of the year has focused on a battle cry you can take with you as the months unfold.
In 2013, it was that we remember the quote from Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, “I will not give up my life without one hell of a fight, not even by my own hand” and work hard to prevent officer suicide. In 2014, it was that we all take control of those things that are in our control — like your seatbelt, attitude, vest, emotions, speed, health, driving, fitness, and training.
In 2015, I want you to focus on education and communication in three areas: yourself, your department, and your community. Let’s examine each.
1. Yourself
There is no greater investment that you can make in life, your safety, and your career than education and communication.
Education can be going to all the cool, fun tactical training that most cops love to attend. Any day at the range is a good day. But there is more to our job than all the exciting classes that generally revolve around officer safety. What about education that enhance your career? Would a degree add to the likelihood of promotion? Are there any books, DVD’s or courses that you can take to make yourself better in your current job or better prepare you for a future assignment?
Communication is vital in our profession. Effective communication up and down the ranks, between dispatch and squads, between individual officers, between officers and the community and the department and the community are critical in our profession.
Just as critical is the communication that you have with yourself and your significant other. How do you talk to yourself? For just a minute think about the things that you say to yourself on a daily basis. Now ask yourself this question: if someone talked to me that way would I keep them as a friend? If the answer is no, take steps to improve your own self talk because you hear your voice more than anyone else’s.
Keep the communication lines open with those around you. You don’t have to go into all the gory details of the latest call, but telling them you had a “bad one” lets them know where you are at mentally and keeps them in the loop. Shutting out or closing off your closest support system can rob you of your ability to have the support you need during your career.
2. Your Department
How well is your department communicating with you? A common complaint among officers is a lack of communication or a downward-only communication style.
It goes with the profession and culture depending on where you work. Here is the tough question: what are you doing to create a better flow of information? If all you do is complain to your coworkers, there is no communication upward. Obviously, the larger the department, the less direct communications officers will have with the chief, but what about your sergeant, lieutenant, or captain?
What about with your partners? Are you willing to engage in a courageous conversation with someone who needs it? An officer making poor choices, using bad tactics, engaging in unprofessional and/or unethical behavior needs to be educated about it. Education starts with communication.
Just as importantly, are you willing to listen when the talk is directed at improving you?
3. Your Community
How is your communication with your community? How is it between your department and the community? The answer hopefully is good, for both. Never forget that you are the department representative on every call you go to. You are the representative of the law enforcement profession on every call.
If the relationship with the community isn’t what it should be, communication is probably one of the missing components.
We all know of the current trend of protests surrounding high profile police use-of-force cases. It seems that those with an anti-police agenda have a louder voice than the law enforcement profession. It is obvious to us on a daily basis that most people don’t understand what the police do — or how and why they do it.
Here are two resources you can share with your department and community to further educate them regarding one facet of law enforcement use-of-force.
• Hollywood vs. Reality Officer-Involved Shootings
• Law Enforcement’s Most Dangerous Weapon
These are a few ideas on what you can do to improve your own performance on the street — and remember, it’s always a performance.
Are you acting your part well?
