A few weeks ago, I reported on who reads this blog. Here's an update: since I launched the Chief's Corner in mid April, there have been 26,882 visits. Things have settled in at around 300-400 daily visits, but last Tuesday, the blog drew the peak number of 695 visits. I can track hits by network location (don't worry, I can't go any further than that), so I know that the biggest single group of visitors are our own employees at LPD, but there are lots of others, both Lincoln readers and far-flung visitors from across the country--many of whom are regulars. The news media would be included in the regulars.
I get a glimpse into the readership not only with the site tracking software, Google Analytics, but also with the off-list emails, phone calls, and comments. For example, that's how I know about the media readership: the blog is spawning news stories from time to time. Since the audience is diverse, I'm trying to keep the content moving as well. The Chief's Corner has been becoming something like an internal bulletin board for the police department, and some of the comments--both mine and other poster's--are more meaningful if you understand the inner-workings of the Lincoln Police Department.
Without discouraging my most loyal blog readers, LPD personnel should keep in mind that the majority of the visitors here are in the dark on some of the LPD esoterica. It's pretty obvious to me, for example, that some of the comments last week are oblivious to the case of Francisco Renteria that shapes some of my conservatism relating to TASER.
Good information flow and discussion is a valuable commodity in policing, and to the extent this blog helps a little, that's a good thing. The informality and anonymity of a blog comment probably encourages a different type of dialog that the proverbial open door policy.
But remember, I'm only a phone call or an email away, too. And my office door remains open. On the exceptionally rare occasion I must close it (noise control), you will notice that the keys are in lock on the exterior--on purpose. There are plenty of employees that avail themselves of the opportunity to bend my ear on all manner of subjects--in my office, in the locker room, before or after lineup, and in the inbox. It is always welcomed. If you don't want to be seen hanging out in the chief's office, you could always close the door--just don't remove the keys!
Monday, July 23, 2007
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4 comments:
While many may be in the dark as to the LPD esoterica, we are all in the dark as to what esoterica is, dictionary please.
Okay, Tom's tip of the day:
In Google's search box, enter the word define: followed by the word you wish to discover the meaning of (no space after the colon), as in
define:esoterica
Hope that helps, Al. If not, just take it from me, it means secrets known only to an initiated minority. ;-)
Here is some LPD non-esoterica. Chief Casady loves his Webster's unabridged dictionary. Some 25 plus years ago a then Sgt Casady requested two cruiser officers meet him in a TRUNCATED roadway near downtown Lincoln with laboriously worded mystery directions. After much discussion and apparent delight on Ch. 3 by the Sgt., we were told to meet him at the DEAD END of a street which was under construction. Whew!! I guess taking the long way around the barn becomes habit....................
Open door policies are great but it much more important to have a open mind. Keeping in touch with the realities of officers lives envolves leaving the office once in awhile (and not just on the rare holidays you work), No matter the text you may read and a brief you may obtain from a supervisor you need to listen for understanding to your officers. Affecting change in a department your size is diificult enough with out the flavor of the day management style that is rampant at LPD. If I had a easy solution I would offer it to you on a recipe card so that you may cook it up with your steak. Nonetheless, I really do hope your open door serves those brave enough to come forward. But you need to be brave enough to listen and for once....just once....see their world and understand that the officer may be right and you were wrong.
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