We are our own worst enemy. Heard that one before? For many years I have been repeating this over and over again. In the classroom, on the road, in meetings, and lectures to other police officers I told folks the same message. Today I heard someone say it in a class that I do for Public Agency Training Council.
Until today, I thought I was the only one that said it much less thought it. In the class were four generations of first line supervisors. It was one of the best I have taught. The young were learning from the old and the old from the young. It was impressive what we had in common once we are removed from our employees. It is not often that supervisors from other departments listen to each other's problems and concerns. We have a lot to be worried about but, then again there is nothing we can't settle by simple talking to each other and our officers.
Everyone agreed on the point we can screw up anything we are given to do our jobs property. Some examples discussed follow...
We fail when we don't sanction an officer for not turning their camera mike on so, they can be heard on the five thousand dollar camera system. The same system the Chief went to bat for that will save a career. Had we done our job would a trivial complaint turns into an internal affair investigation? We are our own worst enemy.
When we are on a call with a subordinate and they become condescending to a complainant, an arrestee, or another officer, we should do our jobs and correct the officer then. Correcting them displays to the public we are going to take the necessary steps to correct the problems. Any supervisor who does not should see that we are letting down our chief, sheriff and the public. We are letting ourselves down. We are our own worst enemy.
In my thirty-four year career I have seen our gun belts go from a firearm, cuffs, baton, and flashlight weighing very little but leaving us very few options to arrest a violent offender. Officers now have a firearm, two pair of handcuffs, pepper spray, two magazines, portable radios, and an Electronic Control Device (ECD). We have been given the best tools and equipment available to modern man to cut down on complaints and unnecessary use of force. We turn on the evening news and see officers kicking and beating suspects with fists and feet. We are our own worst enemy.
We do not train on policy and procedure, use of force, legal updates, and other high risk management issues. We don't retrain on pepper spray, asp, or, the ECD. These are internal affair investigations waiting to happen. We may as well have the checkbook open to write the check for the damage done. We are our own worst enemy.
It is time that supervisors step up to the plate and do what we should have been doing all along. Be a supervisor show you care by correcting officers immediately. DON'T wait till the end of the shift. React decisively, don't knee jerk, don't look the other way, and don't forget why you are in your position. You were put there because someone believed in you. Now make them glad they made the decision they did. Just do your job and keep in the back of your mind we are our own worst enemy. Take care of a problem now will - eliminate a problem later.
