To My Fellow Law Enforcement Officers Three Things You Should Know By Sheriff Frank Reynolds In recent months, a dim shadow was once again cast upon the profession of law enforcement due to the actions of a few. There is very little about law enforcement that is pretty. People dont call 911 to ask officers to come to their house for their family cookout. They do, however, call us when the drinking gets out of hand, and tempers fly, and they want us to come fix their problem. But thats what we do we chose to put on the badge. Cops listen up. We get paid to be brilliant in advance. What does that mean? It means we must determine the outcome of a situation before it happens. I dont mean while en route to the call; I mean days, months, and years in advance. Your choices must be predetermined through your training and your inner dialogue (What would I do?). This is why training is so important. Training is not just the firearms proficiency or the defensive tactics skills. It is also what is known as Tactics of Intervention. In this profession, each individual, each shift, and each agency must predetermine the outcome of a situation by knowing three things: Know yourself. Know your physical and emotional limitations. Know when your ego overrides your better judgment and learn when to ask for help. Know your partner. Know when you need to intervene to save your partner from him/herself. Simply standing by and hoping a situation is going to get better is not an excuse. If someone, cop or not, is trying to intercede on your behalf, know when to let them help. Know your organization. It is YOUR job to build trust within an organization and the community. If you think that is solely the responsibility of the chief, the sheriff, or your command staff, you need to reevaluate your thought process. It is YOUR responsibility, too. When you are on the street, you are the chief and the sheriff. To my public safety friends, we build trust through meaningful relationships and partnerships with our communities. Thankfully, we live in a community that supports us. To my community, please dont paint the law enforcement portrait with a broad brush. Together, we are stronger.
to your business!