Frank Borelli
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
Well, fans, Police Week has begun. Officer.com will have some excellent coverage of it posted probably later today (Wednesday) as well as Thursday and Friday.
On Sunday the Law Ride ended at the memorial. Thousands of police officers on motorcycles - some looking like outlaw bikers and others in uniform on duty bikes - rolled into DC. It’s important to realize that, as with all events this week, their ride and arrival and tribute paid at the Memorial is to honor and remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Read the rest of this entry »
Frank Borelli
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
Administration Proposes Significant Cuts to Benefits of Slain Officers
As I sat drinking my first cup of coffee this morning, scanning the morning news online as I do each weekday, I saw the headline suggesting our President is proposing to cut survivor benefits to the families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. My very first thought was: Police Week starts Sunday. He’s really not announcing this now, right? Read the rest of this entry »
Frank Borelli
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
As the Editor for Officer.com I get a lot of emails from folks around the country (and some around the world) providing insight into various concerns. For obvious reasons, the feedback this week has focused on Swine Flu, its seriousness, response protocols, public safety concerns, etc. I thought I would share some of what I’ve received with you. To the best of my knowledge none of this is strictly controlled “FOUO” type of information. Read the rest of this entry »
Frank Borelli
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
I am often perplexed by situations wherein one group of people feel that it is hateful and should be illegal for another group to feel and demonstrate pride in its existence. What makes speech against one group “hateful” or illegal but speech against the other group perfectly acceptable? The difference seems to simply be that one group has been determined to be a minority. Read the rest of this entry »
Frank Borelli
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
“Sometimes doing the right thing isn’t doing the right thing.” Schmuck Captain from the movie SWAT.
“You know how it is, Street; sometimes doin’ the right thing ain’t doin’ the right thing.” Sgt. Hondo from the movie SWAT.
Those statements are almost identical. Voice inflection and attitude are definitely different. But do they really say the same thing? Not when you think about it. When you think about what each meant they mean nearly the opposite. The Captain is essentially saying to do nothing at all while the Sergeant is saying to do something that probably violates rules but needs to be done. Read the rest of this entry »
Frank Borelli
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
It’s not just a job; it’s an adventure.
Be all you can be.
Looking for a few good men.
All of those sayings are as applicable to law enforcement as they are to the branches of military service they are recruiting tools for. What law enforcement further shares in common with those branches of service is that it’s a lifestyle - as much as being a serviceman or woman is. Read the rest of this entry »
Frank Borelli
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
A Gift Horse In The Mouth
Just recently I’ve run into a situation where a number of people, using a totally free service, have decided that the service isn’t being provided the way they’d like, so they’re complaining about it. Of those complaining only one has offered to PAY for the service if said service would be modified to his desires, but the remainder of them - those complaining - complained even louder at the thought of having to pay for it. Read the rest of this entry »
Frank Borelli
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
This past week one of the most televised news stories, most discussed news reports, and most blogged about “news” events, was the traffic stop of an NFL player for running a red light. Like everyone else who has commented, for good or bad, on the incident, I have my opinion too. Unlike some of those who have commented, I’ve actually spent a career in law enforcement. Unlike some others, I refuse to pass judgment based on edited video clips and reporter OPINION - because I wasn’t there; didn’t see, hear and experience everything that officer did; and I don’t have HIS life experiences to develop my decisions based on. Read the rest of this entry »
Frank Borelli
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
I wish I could find out who said:
It’s not how you die that counts; It’s how you lived.
This past week the police community has stood together in grief once again as a criminal takes the lives of three of our brothers in a single day. Some say justice prevailed because the criminal himself was justifiably shot and killed. I wouldn’t argue with that - but I would debate when the ultimate justice is served. Read the rest of this entry »
Frank Borelli
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
As is so common in my household, my youngest son saw something on television that inspired him to ask me a question that made me have to think. In this case the question was about how NOT to be prey - or how to escape the hunter. After further conversation and some philosophical thinking we came to the conclusion that the only way to cease being prey was to become a hunter; even if that means turning the tables on the hunter to make him the prey. In fact, that’s the ONLY way to stop being prey. Read the rest of this entry »