Many of us (the older crowd) have suffered through the good and bad eras of police work. Gone are the days of Post-911 when all emergency services were highly respected. Most of us feel that this current atmosphere of cop hating seems to be the worst ever on record. The politicians, so-called entertainers, and the media constantly feed negativity and gravitate towards whatever new hype to fuel their activism or gain their ratings. Police officers are in the sights both off and on duty, not just from the scrutiny of the camera but their general safety as well. Some activists consider that they are at war with the police and this should make it a 24/7 operational security matter for us all. So, as leaders what are we doing to promote and prepare our officers and their families?
Take a Walk
Go to any police station and walk around the parking lot. In a few seconds, you will be able to pick out the police officer’s POV (privately owned vehicles). There will be stickers and medallions attached to the windows or in some cases on the license plates, proclaiming their affiliation with a police fraternity/organization. Is this to notify a traffic officer who pull in behind that you are a cop and hoping for a professional pass, if they pull you over? Maybe the officer who sees this sticker will not write the expired parking meter ticket. In addition to proclaiming your profession, you are letting every thug; gang member and creep know that this is a law enforcement officer’s car. So when you are driving down the road, are you always ready for a confrontation? Cop haters can see these identifiers as well, so they know this car is a good target for their pranks. Remember where you park this car as well, out for wings and beer at your favorite tavern, so now everyone knows the cops are drinking and later driving. What if your spouse and/or kids are in the car or worse case, they are alone and something bad starts to happen? I have not even brought up the bumper stickers proclaiming your car is “protected” by a favorite firearms company’s product. In a parking lot, the stupid drug user can equate this to police equipment in a car that is ripe for them to break-in. Take a long hard look at your POV’s, are you sending a message that you can defend at all times. Yes, I know the pride of being a LEO but you cannot protect this all the time, evaluate your POV’s image. We may need to sanitize our car from the unwanted attention to protect our loved ones.
Check your wardrobe
When I was a director of training and tasked to the regional police academy, it was near a large mall. Often times at lunch the students would go to the food court. It was nearly a game for us to spot (identify) the off-duty cops. Most had jeans with both hip pockets with wallets (regular wallet and credentials), a familiar bulge of firearms love, tactical knife tucked in, some ‘kill-em’ all’ t-shirt, sunglasses and baseball hat with the proper crush on the brim. They might as well have been in uniform for their attire screamed off-duty cop. They sat together and the code words and ‘cop talk’ marked them. Now if something ever happened, it would have been an equal to an action movie. Many departments have logo shirts (golf/polo) for call outs, training and so forth. If you are wearing a police identifier shirt, are you armed? The wearing of logo or police identifier clothing should be in your departmental policy. Do not even get me started at the police raid shirts that are available on-line or at every flea market. These are ones with federal alphabet agencies or POLICE silk-screened on the front. I guess the police wanna-be role-players wear these and I still have a problem with people who wear these in public. If you are in public, are you portraying yourself as the ‘alpha’, it can bring the fight to you without you even asking. Look in the mirror and reevaluate your attire, for you may actually want a day off to relax.
If an officer decides to be in the public’s eye with the impression of being a police officer, then be prepared. You need to expect the ‘excuse me officer can I ask a question’ interruption during lunch. If perceived by a citizen as a police officer, there can be expectations placed on you when things go bad. Granted some officers dream of this action event but there are times you could be at a tactical disadvantage to respond. Most officers would consider a gun and badge to be all they need for an off-duty encounter. Do you have a line of communication, extra ammo, flashlight, and other tools? A badge and gun coupled with good looks may get you through but really think of what you have and how you can effectively respond. Look at your attire in public and if you are setting yourself up for failure.
Set the Example
Recently I was having a conversation with a chief who told me that he could not recall when he ever carried a gun off-duty. I was bemused listening to his conversation that he carries only when he has to in today’s world. He asked me when I carried a weapon. I told him all the time except in the shower and in the gym. How our officers view each of us is not my point. I cannot speak for others, but you know the officers that carry and those that do not. Why should your officers carry off-duty if you do not set the positive role model example?
Keep a reading file of current articles or news clippings from credible sources of where police officers and/or their families were targets because of who they were. When there is a ‘teaching moment’ with an officer there are several points you need to cover. Have you ever discussed with your spouse/partner and kids about what they are to do if there is a confrontation? Do you a family action plan and have you even discussed it or practiced? What would happen if you were disabled from accident or injury, do they understand how to secure your weapon or how to even identify you to first responders that you are armed? Do you practice weapons security and safety at home? One recommendation is that your spouse/partner be trained and consider that they obtain a concealed weapon permit. Now there may be some push back by some on this. Maybe it is not for their carrying but for legal possession questions. However, you could hand them your weapon to secure or should you leave it in the car and they, in some states they could get pinched with a weapons violation. As I have always said, have ‘but what if then thinking’.
Finally, discuss with your officers their operational security when with their families. Do they scan a location before going in? Do you know where the exits are? If the crowd or the atmosphere gives you ‘the willies’ don’t go in. In today’s world, there are some things beyond our control but we can prepare for. When it come to the safety of our family, you must prepare that much harder.
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.
