Whenever I chat with my pilot colleagues, they speak with the pilot’s mindset. You plan the flight, you practice the plan and then you fly the plan. Seems pretty simple but when you see what this includes there is far more to this than meets the eye. There is no doubt that when they encounter an in-flight emergency, they have planned and practiced their response countless times. Whether in a simulator or in their head, they have prepared for this event. Maybe we should take a closer look at this moniker.
Before every flight, a pilot completes a preflight plan checklist. From the pre-flight inspection to destination- they are reviewing the flight plan. Their mindset is to plan the flight then fly that plan without changes. Something comes up, no time to complain or whine – only time to respond and complete this flight safely.
Changes in our plans
Law enforcement has been going through changes for years. While some say it is the same, here is the test. Find the resident departmental curmudgeon, minimum of 25 years on the job. Ask about their police academy - total hours and curriculum. When compared to today’s academy, it has expanded if not doubled. Then review the new topics that have been added, some that would have been unheard of back then. Compare the original rules and regulations of yesteryear to the current one. The old rule book was far thinner and less complicated, but in today’s world it has become far more complex.
Just in everyday topics I have seen transition from revolver to semi pistol. Our style of policing has undergone the professional model to community policing to comp-stat to more recent policing models (pick one). Then is it the 9mm or 45ACP? Straight baton or side handle? Leather or nylon or kydex? And the debates go on and on. Law enforcement has weathered through its share of changes for the good and some the jury is still out on. But the final statement is that we have changed and continue to change to meet the new demands.
Why is it cops hate change so much?
First it is out of their comfort zone – we like ‘routine’. A detour on the drive in and we miss our coffee, it’s going to be a bad day. It is not that we are set in our way, but we want to remain on autopilot. No rethinking, which often new skill sets mandate we change long ingrained habits (psychomotor skills). So, it involves the four-letter word that ends with a ‘k’ – work.
Balance and connections – whenever there is a new widget, there needs to be documentation on its training, use and maintenance. This includes training requirements, policy and connections with other policies as they tend to interrelate. Change one model number and how many changes will there be in ‘the book’? Therefore, we are now doing more work than expected and more changes begotten by change. Changing a model number on an item will create the acknowledgement of several changes in policy, prepare for the mere shock factor!
Older employees may have a more difficult time adjusting to learning. This is where your trainers need to step-up to address all of the students’ needs. Extra work or sweat equity into the new areas needs to be recognized and rewarded. A true waste of energy are the endless debates that start with ‘I don’t know why we changed this’ or ‘we used to do this and that but now we have to’. Stop wasting your time lamenting over past practices and policies. The sooner you let go of the past, the easier it will be. Do you want to relive changing the channel on the television every time you pick up the remote?
Organizational resistance to change. Some departments become the new idea incubators – the organization seems to embrace experimenting new ideas. On the other hand, there are some that are so steeped in rudimentary routine, a minute change will uproot their organizational norms. Do not believe me, elect a new sheriff or appoint a new chief to such a department, then hang on.
Some love to complain, it is their hobby. We all know those who would argue with tide ebbing and flowing. You can’t stop the wind from blowing, but you can adjust the tacking of your sails to move forward. Learn to adapt, it is easier than to fight unwinnable conquests.
Field Change 46 – For those who are military veterans and most police officers who have been around. We all wait for our favorite phrase in a pre-event briefing before heading out to our posts. ‘Ok, listen up Field Change 46’ and so it begins. There really isn’t a field change rooster of changes, this maxim filtered over into our vernacular years ago. It is just when you thought you had the directions down, someone up above changed it without warning. The simple assignment now becomes an all-nighter.
It is in our human DNA to dislike change. Those who claim they embrace it either don’t like the current situation or perceive an opportunity from this. We don’t like it but learn to adjust the older we become. This reminds me of a quote “If you want to make enemies, try to change something” by Woodrow Wilson. Nothing ruins a day faster than changes, minor or major it is unsettling. One drill I will leave you with is that change actually changes, your ill feelings of today will be gone soon. On a bad day, I was told to write down what was chaffing me one day, fold it up and tuck it away. In a few weeks, open it up and you will probably discover what was a big problem that day has been long ago forgotten. Try it, it actually works. Most who can handle change have a sense of humor, if you don’t have one become a parent – that will give you another insight. Change is constant and how we face it is often more complex than the change itself.
William L. Harvey | Chief
William L. "Bill" Harvey is a U.S. Army Military Police Corps veteran. He has a BA in criminology from St. Leo University and is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute of the University of Louisville (103rd AOC). Harvey served for over 23 years with the Savannah (GA) Police Department in field operations, investigations and completed his career as the director of training. Served as the chief of police of the Lebanon City Police Dept (PA) for over seven years and then ten years as Chief of Police for the Ephrata Police Dept (PA). In retirement he continues to publish for professional periodicals and train.
