April 2024. Blues Vol 40 No. 4

FROM THE EDITOR-AT-LARGE

FROM THE EDITOR-AT-LARGE More than just a job. 8 The Blues - April ‘24 For me, law enforcement was always more than just a job. It was my career. My profession. I worked and studied diligently to be the best law enforcement officer, supervisor and administrator I could be. In an ever-changing world and environment for law enforcement, this was and continues to be a tremendous challenge. No matter who you are or where you are geographically, the community you serve and its governing body, determines how you “Police.” Along this long and winding road of wins, losses and unbelievable moments, I have learned a few things about being a supervisor and ultimately a Chief of Police for over 13 years. Here’s my top ten list…I’d love to hear yours!! 1. Stop. Just listen and take a deep breath. More often than not, especially as a Chief, a knee jerk reaction will cost you more later than the problem was ever worth. 2. Don’t be a “Micro-Manager.” I know it’s cliché. But it’s so damn true. Get off your troop’s back and just let them do their job. You might just be surprised what a great job they are actually doing. 3. Get off the damn radio. Stop yakking on that damn thing. Let them know you’re there. But to just stay on the radio all day or night. Just stop it already. 4. Policy is, Policy. I completely understand this concept. I have directed and written three Department Manuals and two complete Emergency Operations Plans. That being said, being a decent, compassionate and understanding human being is far more integral to what we do than to just bury someone with policy. Have a heart. Give people the opportunity to survive a mistake and grow. You’ll be grateful for what you did, I can promise you that. 5. Always stand up for your troops. Back your First Line Supervisors. As a Chief, I’ve seen Assistant Chiefs on down to Corporals, make good decisions. It was the delivery that was the problem. Stay on your people constantly is demoralizing and polarizing. Stop it. Be attentive and supportive to your subordinate staff and help them deliver the message the way you want or need it to be delivered. 6. This one will cause a ruckus. You and your Command Staff, and every Supervisor in the department, do NOT NEED to have every new car, radio, MDT or toy that the Department gets. I’ll repeat it for those in the back. Don’t take all the BRAND-NEW STUFF for yourself. Let the worker bees, especially your swing shift or night shift guys and gals get a taste of a new car, new radio, new body armor, etc. You’ll be shocked at the skyrocketing moral this will cause. I’m just saying. Remember where you came from. 7. Work with local agencies and department heads, not against them. One thing I can tell you working night shift as a Deputy, Sergeant, and a Lieutenant, (Yes, I can spell Lieutenant) is this, we all got along with each other. Chief’s and Command Staff need to do the same. Getting along with one another is the ONLY way we as a profession are ever going to survive this onslaught of anti-police ideologies. 8. Provide a safe, sealed means for Mental Health for your Troops. This is critical. In my younger days, the most highly recommended Mental Health Professionals were Jack Daniels and Marlboro. As a profession, we have made great strides in providing our officers with the help they need, but we still have a way to go. Providing a place for your officers to get assistance for their mental health is criti-

cal to the overall mission of the department. Not to mention to the community we are sworn to protect. Give them the space and place to get help. 9. Support your support staff. Telecommunicators, Administration, Assistants, IT, Fleet. You know the ones. They are rarely seen and always in the background getting the job done so that the front-line troops can do their job. These are the cogs that hold the entire operation together. We must stop forgetting them. 10. Finally, police work isn’t always pretty. It’s not all balloons and stickers. Sometimes, you must employ force and be hard on people to stop or prevent a violent incident, injury or death from occurring. In this profession, it’s just a FACT. We cannot continue to be totally immersed in the art of Community Policing when the bullets start flying. We must act Immediately. When someone chooses to start shooting and killing innocent people, especially children, there is no time to talk, hand them a balloon or a sticker. It’s time to punch their ticket and send them down the road. Period. These are just some of the big-ticket items that come to my mind with regards to being a solid supervisor or administrator in law enforcement. If you have more to share, please write me at bluespdmag@gmail.com. I am open to hearing more from those whom we share our Calling with. Let’s be careful out there…. START SHOPPING The Blues - April ‘24 9