These Police Career Tips Can Enhance Your Job Path Without Endangering Yourself

I am often asked by young officers — “how do I start my career off on a positive note?” On a similar note, newly assigned supervisors who are taking a first-time position have the same basic questions but are more focused on career building. New chiefs or sheriffs, pay attention, this is how to get off on a good foot with staff.

These are a few general pointers with some insights. Let’s delve into them.

First, be on time. Show up early, not just on time for the start. I was taught it is better to be an hour early than a minute late. That may be over the top, but be sure you are always ahead of your appointments by 5 to 10 minutes ahead of time. Once there, study the agenda and be ready to engage with the meeting. Do not be that person that walks in after the meeting has started as if it is some grand appearance. Punctuality exhibits that you are committed to this meeting or event.

Listen before you speak. You have been taught that you have two ears, and one mouth, so listen contently. Then process what is being said before you respond.

Respond with clarity. Clearly state what you mean. Now, this may be an issue for people who are working in new areas. If you are working in a new geographical location much different from your home, there are going to be little nuances in conversations. Regional accents or ethnic dialects can be a stumbling block to effective communication. For instance, is it called a police call, assignment or job. Is it called an ambulance, rescue or bus? Learn and practice the language of the new land. Also, enunciate! I recall going to my first instructor school when I was in the U.S. Army and hailing from a small, rural southern city. Well, my accent and vocabulary may have been familiar to me, but it was foreign to others. I remember a Sergeant First Class screaming at me “learn to enunciate” with a few expletives added for emphasis. Embarrassed at first, but point well taken. Do some reading and enhance your vocabulary. Use efficient language when you are speaking. I am not inferring that you should not be proud of your home. But you must learn to adjust your speech patterns to your audience.

Always offer real solutions and not just point out the problems. I think there should be a “no whining sign” posted at every meeting. It is easy to find problems; most are obvious enough. Become the one who is a solution provider.

Often before and after these meetings there will always be some delicious gossip served up. Avoid office gossip. You never know who is listening or has an axe to grind. I have been quoted that police departments do not run on electricity or petrol; they run off of rumors, gossip and innuendos. Stay curious but be not judgmental and be ready to learn why the problems exists. Forget and do not retell the juicy backstories.

Keep your word (integrity) every time. Whatever you do, do not compromise yourself and become a labeled as a “Brady cop.” If you are not familiar with this term, it comes from the U. S. Supreme Court case Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963). You see prosecutors must disclose to the defense any evidence that is favorable to the defendant, including information that could be used to impeach your credibility, you are radioactive at best. Should you be named on a prosecutor’s Brady list, you are done. Let’s face it your career in nearly over for past dishonesty or misconduct.

Create ownership in your work. Learn to take ownership, even if it means you made a mistake. I was taught, “if you mess up, then dress up and fess up.” This means if you have made a mistake, make sure you straighten your tie, dust yourself off, and admit you made a mistake. It is not career ending making a mistake, but excuses and blaming others just shows your lack of accountability. There is a famous quote on this point: “The public, more often than not, will forgive mistakes, but it will not forgive trying to wiggle out of one.” — Lewis Grizzard (1946-1994).

Feedback: seek out honest feedback. If you are lucky enough to be surrounded with people whom you trust, ask them privately for feedback. You want to ensure that you are in touch or on the right pathway. Oftentimes, you may be receiving an annual assessment or evaluation. Like them or not, sit down and study them. Take note of what is being said on how you can improve from the evaluators’ viewpoint. We always want to improve our strengths to keep them sharp. But what are your weak points? This may be what you need to concentrate on and go the extra mile for improvement.

Be consistent in all things that you do. Your co-workers should not have to make daily bets on which version of you will show up today. Consistency tops indecisiveness. Also, stop and look at all the internal and external customers of the products that you produce. Take for example, the basic patrol report of a burglary. It will become the base foundation for the investigation by a detective. A crime location for the precinct sergeant to assign extra patrol. A foundation for the prosecutor’s court case. See where I am going here? Be consistent and never settle for ‘good enough for government work.’ Take pride in all that you do. That extra little work to build a good product will always pay off.

Finally, keep your cool! There was a vintage (80’s) television commercial for Dry Idea deodorant that declared — “never let ‘em see you sweat.” Under all pressures, keep your calm demeanor. When you convert your energy into anger, you have lost your control. I am reminded by the famous quote of “Control your anger. If you have anger toward others, they have control over you” — Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645).

In closing, praise in public and chastise in private. Be sure to praise others for their great contributions. Everyone wants to feel that their worth is valued. Award them, I have rarely seen much that a ten-pound plaque could not cure. Never, ever make a spectacle of their faults or mistakes. Always find the way to be the coach, the leader that they want to work with and not run from.