In 1963 a new house set you back about $12,000. Unemployment hovered at 5.5 percent. The LA Dodgers trumped the Yankees in the World Series and a stone’s throw from the Washington Monument Dr. Martin Luther King told crowds, “I have a dream”.
On my desk sits a relic. Two giant, dirty-blue binders filled with page after yellowing page of Milwaukee Police Department Training School materials from 1963. The hefty tomes at one time belonged to a single officer. It’s signed and dated “18 November 1963”—four days prior to the assassination of President Kennedy.
It’s fascinating to flip through the type-written pages as we plan, write and edit our August issue on Training and Officer Safety. Components of the binder include: Notebook Inspection; Rules of Evidence; Search and Seizure; Arrests; Rules and Regulations; Courtesy (PR and the policeman, public relations; LE code of ethics); Report Writing; Firearms; Criminal Codes; Miscellaneous.
Back then, as today, any scrutiny, criticism, or praise bestowed upon an individual officer or entire agency began with policies and procedures like those laid out in this book. In ’63 Milwaukee PD officers are reminded to keep their uniforms polished and presentable. Ballistic armor wasn’t part of the equation. A wardrobe malfunction consisted of “On Thursday, September 12 I failed to be present at roll call at 8:00 a.m. because I couldn’t find my trousers this morning.”
Fast forward to today. Pants may still go missing, but the uniform is a bit more involved. Not only are officers better protected, but that protection looks good too. BDU style uniforms are becoming increasingly popular as they allow for more freedom of movement, a polished look, and yes, space for ballistic protection (p. 8).
In the ‘Firearms’ section of the ’63 binder the rookie cop learned how to fire the police revolver; off-duty precaution for his service revolver; nomenclature and maintenance of firearms and ammunition; range rules; point shoulder shooting in combat situations; police cartridges and shot shells and shooting tips. Close combat shooting remains a huge skill to practice and to know. This month we add to that by addressing ideas for implementing use-of-force training beyond the academy. How often do you put officers through “shoot/don’t shoot” scenarios while providing them with tools like friction lock batons (padded), inert OC spray or handcuffs? This is one way to integrate decision-making with basic tool proficiency—and keep skills fresh.One page asked the young officer to define the following terms. His response:
- Zeal … Eagerness, enthusiasm
- Courage … The quality of being brave
- Discretion … The freedom to make decisions
- Fidelity … Faithful, dedication to duty, loyalty
Even now this recipe for a strong police officer hasn’t changed.
