There has been a lot of talk this past year, in the wake of Ferguson, about militarization of the police. Most of the commentary on this issue has focused around the acquisition by local police departments of surplus equipment from the armed forces. Police departments have been using military surplus equipment for decades. As a rookie officer in 1974, the S&W .38 revolver issued to me was stamped "U.S. Navy" on the back strap.
I see no major concern in police agencies taking advantage of this surplus gear, within reason. A few rifles, a truck, a night vision scope, or a HumVee doesn't really worry me. Police need this kind of equipment from time to time, and normally buy it (or something similar) brand new. If you can save a few tax dollars by reusing something the taxpayers have already purchased, that's generally OK with me. Look over the list of gear Nebraska agencies have received, and it's pretty typical stuff for which there are civilian counterparts: nobody is acquiring RPGs, mortars, and land mines.
The issue of militarization of the police that concerns me, rather than surplus equipment, is the intrusion of a war-fighting ethos into police culture that is not properly counterbalanced with an even stronger mentality of service and guardianship. There was an interesting article about this recently in the Harvard Law Review. I'm all for good training and tactics for protecting police officers from the risk of violent assault. Policing is one of only a handful of occupations with a sustained record of practitioners facing felonious attacks in the course of their employment. Safety is good. Better training and procedures, along with body armor, have dramatically reduced the number of officers killed in the line of duty in felonious assaults during my career.
But it is critical for police officers to recognize that the vast majority of citizens--rather than representing a threat to their safety--are firmly on our side, and depend on us from protection and service. The public is not the adversary. Many of those citizens would put themselves in harm's way without hesitation to help an officer in distress. When police officers begin to view citizens as a population of which they must be constantly wary, it is difficult to develop and sustain good relationships. Suspicion, distrust, and fear are corrosive to trust, collaboration, and partnership.
The line between good safety practices and good interpersonal relationships is a fine one, to be sure. I don't think relationships with the community are strained when a police SWAT team executes a high-risk arrest warrant. On the other hand, it's pretty tough (although not impossible) to have a friendly rapport with an officer decked out in fatigues, a load-bearing vest, and a slung MP5, which is why the drift towards military-styled language, BDUs, and tactical gear for street officers bothers me. It is the attitude and outlook behind the uniform, however, that matters most, and that one must be one dominated by the desire to protect and help others.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
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22 comments:
Thanks for a great post. I am incredibly grateful for the men and women who serve our community and nation in law enforcement. I have the greatest respect and gratitude for those who give their lives in the service of protecting us. And thank you for your service.... You'll always be "Chief Casady" to me.
As the Officers with the “Citizen is the enemy” mentality are finally retiring, I hope, “The public is not the adversary” is more that just lip service.
Director,
Well said. I traveled all over the US and Canada during my years on the road in the trucking business. Over a twenty plus year career I had quite a few chances to observe various Law Enforcement officers doing their job. The officers of the Lincoln Police, Lancaster County Sheriff and the Nebraska State Patrol are absolutely the best in the USA and Canada. I understand all Law Enforcement Officers take an oath to defend the Constitution. From my experiences all of the Nebraska LEOs I have dealt with understood that duty.
Gun Nut
"Officers with the “Citizen is the enemy” mentality are finally retiring"-- what an insult to those who have served their community and are leaving a profession they found to be a worthy cause.
3:22,
That's a bizarre comment by 10:22. My experience has been the reverse: officers that thrive at LPD and reach retirement age after a full career normally are characterized by a high-level of service-orientation, and have an ability to take great satisfaction and joy from helping others that offsets the negative aspects of the job. They seem to realize that although we deal with the worst people at times, and some people at their worst moments, that most people are fundamentally good, and that empathy, love, caring, and self-sacrifice are mighty common characteristics among our fellow citizens.
'we are not the thin blue line'...yeah, your right Director. I bet that if all the LPD cops decide not to show up tomorrow, all those willing good citizens would intervene on behalf of the victims. What a joke you have become...haven't you considered retirement yet?
And you have learned nothing in twenty years
You are spot on Director. Thank you for all you do.
Wow! One can only hope that anonymous@10:05 is not currently employed by LPD. As for "good citizens" intervening on behalf of victims, there would probably be a lot more of that if it weren't for their legitimate concerns of being mistaken for the bad guy when the police show up or the legal liability they may face from courts that can't seem to separate what's legal from what's right.
Tom, regarding June 30 at 1022am, I would be interested in his qualification to pass judgement on the many officers I served with over almost 40 years and knew many more prior to my joining. I don't think anyone of us would say everyone who served was outstanding there were those who left over the years for various reasons.
Over my years I developed many relationships with the citizens and the media. So in closing 1022 until you have walked in my families and my shoes for the price we paid and time spent with LPD Zip it.
185
What disappoints me is the stance that a load bearing vest is viewed as "too militaristic" or causes the officer to appear "aggressive". If this is a department that "leverages technology", why aren't officers being allowed to wear gear available to them that reduces the risk of long term health, medical, and back problems? It seems it is a greater cost to the city and subsequently tax payers to pay insurance claims and potential medical retirement for the way equipment is currently carried. It is in the attitude and outlook, but if an officer is going to work in physical pain because of back problems I would suspect that affects their demeanor and how they deal with others.
If you have the right personalities behind the uniform, it won't matter what they are wearing. Community based policing is about the personality of the officer.
Director,
11:25 makes a valid point. I suffer from excruciating back pain when I have to stand for more than a few seconds at a time. If I should ever encounter a situation that would prevent me from sitting down to get relief Heaven help anyone trying to stop me! Nothing can ruin your day faster than pain. It definitely affects your mood.
Gun Nut
To borrow from a shirt I purchased for my son at the National Law Enforcement Memorial, "the wicked flee when no man pursueth but the righteous are bold as a lion".
This, to me, means that no matter how our LEO's are attired or equipped, those who have reason to fear them will. But, I also believe that the good people of our state and city will, and would, stand side by side with that "Thin Blue Line". Yes, I realize that you don't care for that term, but in my opinion, it is the truth.
My father gave his life to protect those in this city and my brother recently retired after many, MANY years.
Call us, and we'll be there!
The force is strong in my family. My grandfather had it. My father has it. I have it. My sister has it. (yes a shameless Star Wars plug)
To all those wearing the badge, disregard the naysayers and sissies.
We are the Thin Blue Line. It isn't a bad thing; its our identity and it hurts to hear you say that isn't who/what we are.
There is no question that we need to treat everyone with dignity and respect and overwhelmingly we do. The few who haven't done so typically are not long for a career at LPD. Your predecessors, yourself and those who have followed you see to that. Remaining vigilant and safe can go hand in hand with treating people with compassion, empathy, respect and dignity. And we do just that; everyday. The few times we don't, we address it.
You have 300+ sworn who come to work prepared for anything. That are willing to do whatever it takes to protect others at a moments notice. Who troll through all of the mundane day in and day out, always hoping to avoid that one horrific scenario that could happen at anytime. That scenario that HAS happened in Lincoln in the past, that scenario that DOES happen TOO often in our Country.
You have 300+ employees that you owe an apology to for taking away from them who they are and what they do for the City of Lincoln.
1:53,
I respect your opinion, but I think you're missing mine: attitudes that separate us from the people we serve are not healthy. We are part of the community, not apart from it.
All the cops in the world won't stop crime. Remember Robert Peel's doctrine -The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with it.
It is ironic that load bearing vests get burdened with extra "gear" that adds even more weight to the officer's shoulders and back.
Tom, once again you have lost your way. "The Thin Blue Line is a symbol used by law enforcement, originating in the United Kingdom but now prevalent in the United States and Canada to commemorate fallen law enforcement officers and to symbolize the relationship of law enforcement in the community as the protectors of civilians from criminal elements." A symbol that represents us separating the good members of the community from the criminal element. It shows our relationship with the community, it does not separate us from them. We are the community. Attitude is everything when communicating with the public. However, it is much easier to communicate with the public from a politically appointed position then it is to do it as an officer on the street. Now I'm sure you will say that you served on the street and everyone knows that, the problem is you haven't done it in quite some time and you have lost touched.
7:31,
Metaphor aside, it sounds like you and I share the same viewpoint. If you like the mental image of a thin blue line, have at it. As we have both said, we are the community, and attitude is everything.
My apologies for serving this community for the past 41 years and becoming so dad-gum out of touch in the process. I promise to put an end to your misery sometime in the next few years. ;-)
Wasn't it either George Orwell or Aldous Huxley that first used the term "a thin blue line" in a novel?
Gun Nut
"Big Tall Charlie Marti" said it best when he gave his retirement speech a couple years back. In fact, of all the retirement speeches I've heard in my short 15 years on the job, Charlie's comment is the only one that has stuck in my coconut. (Sorry Chief I really don't remember what you said either)
"No matter who you meet, or where they are in life when you meet them, there is always some amount of humanity in anyone we contact."
I couldn't agree more and try to adhere to this every challenging day; even before Charlie's departure. If more officers understood and just remembered people are usually not mad at us, they are mad at the uniform. Even if we were in BDUs and ball hats :)
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