There is always the question, "What motto or motif do you live by as a chief of police?" A better question would be, "What are the mottos that you live your life by?" There are a few excellent and time (if not battle) tested ones that ring true to me. No order or favorite; certain times created the need for the appropriate one. But why are the quotes even important? Some quotes have deeper meanings and serve as practical guides for living or moral decision-making. They serve as quick reminders of what to do or how to proceed and be successful with your daily craft by speaking the general truth or rule of proper conduct. So, let’s review my short list, not in any order but time-tested ones. 

When it comes to the significance of planning, there is one solid quote to remind you of its importance in your life. General and later President Dwight D. Eisenhower when asked about the planning of Operation Overlord (D-Day). "Plans are worthless, but planning is everything." It means that while the rigid, written blueprint of a plan will quickly become obsolete when reality strikes, the actual process of planning forces you to understand the landscape, anticipate contingencies, and think clearly. If you are a chief/sheriff and you fail to plan, you need to keep your resume updated and ready to launch it. The hardest thing for you to explain is to attempt to explain why you did not plan for emergencies or contingencies. 

While discussing planning, elements such as equipment and supply chains will surface. All this boils down to logistics. When I was on the Incident Management Team for Pennsylvania, it was drilled into my head by our team leaders that “nothing happens without logistics; it is everything." A better one is from General Robert H. Barrow, USMC, who coined his famous military maxim that "Amateurs talk about tactics, but professionals study logistics.” Again, nothing happens without logistical planning. 

The value of your staff can be seen and not heard. A lot can be determined about you when it boils down to how you treat your staff. The proper treatment of your staff or even how it is perceived is paramount to your success as a leader. There is a time-tested military maxim that “officers eat last" comes to mind. This implies that leaders should put the needs of their team before their own. This symbolizes true servant leadership and building deep team trust. A long-standing cultural ethos dictates that in the field or in the chow line, the most junior personnel are fed first! The most senior officers wait until the very end to ensure their troops are cared for. Nothing sends the message of disappointment and disrespect to your staff more than a chief or sheriff who runs to the front of the line. 

This idealism has many origins from different eras. "First, take care of the horses, then the men, and finally, your feet" was a philosophy often attributed to General Robert E. Lee. The idea resurfaced and resonated with the late singer Toby Keith, who had a song, “Whiskey for my men and beer for my horses." This is simple stuff; you take care of your staff first. The horses or your equipment are next. Now, you can go eat. There is a humorous spinoff of this as a self-care tip. Military veterans have heard many times. If you even sneeze, a US Navy corpsman friend of mine will always reply, "Drink water, take ibuprofen, and change your socks.” Note to everyone, your feet are important!

I was mentored by a command sergeant major who was always the first into the company area and usually the last to leave. It was not about poor time management but preparation for the day and ending up the day by preparing for the next one. He left no stone unturned; he was consistent and thorough. I once asked him about his relentless dedication to duty, and he told me. “Leaders first in and last out." This was his management philosophy. In explanation, he emphasized that great non-commissioned officers (NCO) should shoulder their leadership workloads. He told me to prioritize my squad’s safety and well-being over my own personal comfort. Through the years, I applied what he taught me. What worked for me was being in the office a minimum of 30 minutes to an hour before the day started. Get the overnight emails and notes slid into your mailbox or under your office door, read, and prepare for the oncoming day's events. Do not walk into surprises; be prepared for what is thrown at you. To me, this work ethic of first in and last out ensures your officers can work effectively and safely. 

Bonus round: At my Savannah retirement party before leaving for a chief’s job I was reminded by a fellow officer of one thing. He told me to never forget what it is like to be a good cop and not forget about the officers on the street. I thought about this, and why I became a cop was to do good for all. On the backside of my desk nameplate facing me always was this quote. It is an excerpt from a 1936 Esquire magazine essay, "On the Blue Water," written by Ernest Hemingway. "There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it never care for anything else thereafter." Most view this as the actual hunting of man as in combat, but not necessarily for me. This quote reminded me of the obsession of why I took this job in the first place. Removing the wicked, the predators, and evil from the streets and neighborhoods so all can live safely. It is not hunting but seeking out and removing the criminal elements by good police work and investigations. It reminded me to “be a cop’s cop, not just a chief."