Are you earning your salary? This is not a question from the crusty old chief who wants to know if you are working. It is a question for self-examination as to the quality of your work and contributions to the job. Well, go ahead and answer the question – did you give it your best last shift or not?
Ever since my days in the US Army, I have always heard the maxim of “that’s good enough for government work”. Many times, some added to it that our equipment and lives are built upon the lowest bidder as well. Then one can surmise that this minimalist approach to quality should carry through our production. I was taught by my father that your job performance and job satisfaction go hand in hand. He reminded me that in his day one was lucky if not blessed to have a good paying job with any kind of benefits. Therefore, you should work hard to maintain your employment. I found that his theory of a good income flow with a positive outlook does create some form of self-satisfaction. So, I am still grateful of his life lessons, now to apply them to public service.
Police work, no matter how you paint the picture is often described as “the unappreciated must the do unimaginable and see the unthinkable to protect the ungrateful”. After four decades of being on ‘the job’ the realist side of me gets this more than you ever will. I should share with you several learning experiences that came my way, some may give you new insights.
As a young officer a curmudgeon old sergeant sat me down for some advice. It was not a formal counseling session but rather learn from me now while you are still young. He asked me the question – “what is the most dangerous item you carry?” Of course, it was my issued 38 Special! Wrong, he pulled a cheap ink pen out of his pocket and held it in his hand. The point was that with a properly written report or case, you can change a persons’ life – a quality case will send a man to prison. Inversely, a poor case will let him free to prey upon more victims. Still foggy with his counseling, he dumbed it down to a ‘rookie version’. If you write a good report, the bosses, the detectives and the prosecutors will not call you in or call you on the phone to explain a shoddy report. So, you can be off and sleep (I was on midnight shift). Now this was a revelation.
Additionally, he looked at my minimalist report I have submitted. Back then it was four paper sheets with carbon packet or one mistake equals four mistakes packet. There should be some of these in a museum somewhere. He pointed to the block ‘report officer’s signature’ and then remarked, it matters not how fancy your payroll signature is. Your report is your signature, make it a good one. Your signature or mark should be the one that the end-users of this product desire. He reminded me of the old advertising scheme of Sears & Roebuck. They had sale flyers with three tiers of a product. Good -Better-Best with the higher tier more expensive or desired. Always produce the best version of the report or product.
Now, segment to my detective sergeant era- my tour of Detectiveland. We were interviewing candidates for Criminal Investigations where we had a team of detective supervisors who were tasked to select the best candidates form the applicate field. I was tasked to go to police records and select random reports from each candidate. I was to select a non-end burglary (window broke- stuff gone), simple accident report (red car hit blue car), a DUI (saw drunk, arrested same) and any report that was assigned before end of a shift. Each report in the packet was scrutinized. Why or how can you become a detective where investigative reports are the main product, and you cannot produce a good quality basic report? The old sergeant’s lesson became more evident now.
Today, what advice can I give you. Give it your best at all times. Yes, think of the trust that the citizens and business owners have in you to help them on a bad day. When they find out from their insurance company, the prosecutor or whoever that you gave them a shoddy product and performance- trust is broken in you and the department. No, I am not speaking about that guy who wants the report changed to fit his needs. The other part of this is look for all of the end users of a report. I have already mentioned the insurance adjusters, detectives and prosecutors. If the case goes to higher courts, appeals courts or the jury, even more get to see your work ethic. I have seen officers appear in court in their uniform all spit and polished. I recall one defense attorney’s favorite trick – get the ticket, report or any piece of paperwork blown-up to a large poster. Place it on a tripod before the jury. If there were any misspelled words, cross outs, coffee stains or anything that could discredit the value of that report and thus you- he did it. Do not be the officer that loses a case due to lack of effort, I am trying to protect you from that walk of shame. I know the academy staff and your Field Training Officer (FTO) tried to drive this into your memory banks as well.
Today, with various software packages and terminals available to you, you have a distinct advantage over yesteryear. The report templates remind you of missing data. Spellcheck and grammar check have helped us all. You can transmit a report without wrinkles and staple holes. But with that said, it all starts with you and your quality input. My goal here is to make it real and to promote you to increase your game. My other goal is to see your prosecutions increase and you respected by all, who knows someday you will be promoted on ‘your signature’.
