| Most Of Us Do The Right Thing |
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A retired trooper who taught the class took the opportunity to challenge us with thought-provoking, scenario-based exercises for evaluation and discussion. As can be the case at times in our line of work – and life in general, for that matter – some situations had shades of gray that required some deeper deliberation and healthy applications of discretion and common sense. But the underlying theme was about trying to do the right thing. The officers' responses and demeanor demonstrated their understanding and appreciation of that expectation. And it is an expectation that I have seen my colleagues meet on a consistent basis over the years. They have generally met it despite facing dangerous and ongoing risk to their own lives, along with the accompanying personal stress that a career in law enforcement can present. Unhealthy shift work and regular exposure to criminals and the devastation that they cause are just some of the stressors they face. It is that fundamental desire to do the right thing that prompts so many officers to regularly use good judgment when it comes to decisions about whether to write a traffic citation versus issue a verbal warning or make a split-second decision on using deadly force. But you wouldn't always know it from reading or listening to the news. It is not the enactment of strong oversight measures or healthy skepticism that is the problem. Police officers must expect and endorse actions that maintain levels of control on their far-reaching power as well as those that enhance their professionalism. What can be troublesome, though, is the broad-brush negativity towards law enforcement personnel that results from a variety of things such as the sensational overplaying of police misconduct or abuse stories by news agencies, inflammatory rhetoric from political figures, community activists, and irresponsible commentators, and a small group of attorneys who instinctively and irresponsibly try to place the blame on the arresting officers for their clients' crimes. Over time, these actions can have a corrosive effect on the public's perception of their police and create far-reaching implications for the very men and women committed to protecting them. Effective community policing, which is a collaborative effort by police officers and neighborhoods, can be instrumental in reducing crime and some of its root causes. By working together, the overall quality of life can be improved for an entire neighborhood. But heightened mistrust will hamper these efforts and make it less likely for people to have the courage and desire to step forward and help. It doesn't stop there, because these same individuals will be sitting on criminal juries deciding the fates of persons charged with crimes – some of a very violent and vicious nature. If they allow the guilty ones to go free because they can't take the word of an officer's testimony, they have increased the danger to themselves, their families and the officers who are sworn to protect them. Police officers and their agencies certainly play a major role in developing and maintaining that trust, and for the most part they are doing a good job and they continue to strive for improvements. For proof one need only to look at the relatively low number of corrupt officers and police scandals in comparison to the over 800,000 sworn personnel working in the U.S. today. And this is why it is incumbent for those people in the media, whose words are read and voices are heard by many, to recognize that it is essential to analyze the actions of the police in a fair manner. Giving our brave officers the benefit of doubt is not a bad thing either. Tom Wetzel is a Lieutenant with a northeast Ohio suburban police department. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites          |
