The Vanguard of Leadership

If you go back through the August 2019 issue of Law Enforcement Technology you’ll find articles regarding body armor, the latest technology that is connected to you/on your person as you work a shift, precision engagement of targets from an aerial platform, and more. Almost every article reveals one great truth about the law enforcement profession: If you wear a uniform and you work the street in any capacity, you stand the chance—at any moment and without any warning—of facing a deadly threat. You would think that 100% of our preparations and training would focus on that potential threat. But we also have the duty of enforcing the law, assisting our community, being an example—the list goes on. In all of it, we are on the leading edge of development and risk combined. 

If you read that last statement and thought, “No I’m not. My agency isn’t anywhere close,” then you have an additional duty, most especially if you are in any type of leadership or command position. That duty is to push your agency, in whatever legal means you can, toward increasing capability and preparation. It also helps if you do that without risking your job. Be professional. Don’t use the lack of “cutting edge” status within your agency to run against the Sheriff, or whatever. Help your agency without being negative.

In addition to training for potential threats, our duty of enforcing the law, assisting our community, being an example, etc., includes pushing your agency toward increasing capability and preparation.

You can do this in a number of ways, for example:

  • Educate yourself and remain aware of the “latest greatest” in firearms, ammunition, training protocols, body armor, surveillance technologies, communications tools, and first-aid equipment.
  • Seek out and attend training. Yes, even on your own time and your own dime, if it benefits you or your agency. Why would you do something like that for your agency? Because by benefiting your agency you benefit your brother and sister officers. We are all “The Thin Blue Line” and as family, that’s what we should be doing for each other.

Keeping that in mind, consider the officers you typically work with, whether it’s the officers on your squad, allied agencies, or those from private firms with very limited jurisdictions. Do they need assistance in getting up to date? If their agency isn’t as up to date as yours, what can you do to help and support them? So many agencies/departments have restrictions on what you can or can’t do to help allied agencies, and most often there are good (legal) reasons for the restrictions. That said, do any of the limitations prevent you from helping them in crisis situations? Let’s hope not. If so, communicate up your chain of command of the need to be more open and helpful for those allied agency members. If they’re that close that you’re running calls together and backing each other up, then assisting each other assists the communities you both serve. In other words, helping them helps your citizens in the long run.

And with all of that out of the way… welcome to the latter half of summer. The heat, I’m sure, has been challenging at times and body armor never gets more comfortable as the temperatures rise. Wear it anyway. It can save your life after all. Something I heard way back in MP School from one of the instructors was, “Stay alert to stay alive.” It’s as true every day as it was when I first heard it. Remember it. Live it. Go home at the end of your shift whole and healthy.  

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