The profession of policing is noble because it based on timeless, universal, objective principles that are inherently good - Good for people, families and society. (Ancient Warrior codes of humble, sacrificial service; Aristotelian principles of the Noble Guardian, Peelian and Constitutional principles of working for and under the consent of the governed with the general welfare of our communities NOT the visible actions of policing as indications of success). All of these would to connect policing to what Aristotle would have called the “telos” or core purpose of policing. Character development in these areas is the most complex to accomplish, requiring education and moral development.
At the same time the procedures or actions of policing are not inherently good, they can be good or bad, depending on the context and motivation. Skill set development in these areas is less complex to accomplish, requiring training with repetitive drills.
Let us take a simply understood example, which has direct correlation: disciplining a child. The noble motivation “telos” is the love, care and concern for the immediate and long-term wellbeing of the child. The “actions” or procedures of disciplining a child can be done with good or evil (you pissed me off, you inconvenienced me, you made me look bad) motives. The problem: The moment one mindlessly (subconsciously) slips into the insidious belief that the actions of discipline are inherently good; one has become a potential danger to the well being of children. The self-righteous indignation one can feel while doing the activity of discipline, devoid of inherently good motive, sends one down the slippery slope to evil and insulates one from reasoning to the contrary (the loss of wisdom).
Oddly, the reverse can be true. If another sees the evil done by discipliners who have become disconnected from the inherently good motivation of love and care – and reacts by ceasing all actions of discipline – they too have become a danger to the well being of children (the loss of wisdom).
Problem: The procedures and activities of policing has generally become the focus of training, management and accountability systems within policing. This tends to create a subconscious disconnect from the “telos” or inherently good and noble principles of the profession (particularly when an organization makes little or no investments in moral character development). Not only does this breed discontentment and resistance from disenfranchised community members (losing the consent of the governed) it also breeds misery and apathy within our noble guardians.
The combination of these creates an operating environment ripe for problems – at the same time most police interactions are being video recorded. On the rare occasion when an officer slips, or appears to slip, over the line – the organization tends to isolate and scapegoat the officer implicitly saying; “we have no intrinsic flaws in our education, training, management or systems, this officer was simply a fluke bad apple.” Occasionally the organization circle around the officer and the entire organization tends to become a scapegoat. Once again, mindlessly dismissing the idea that there are lapses in overall moral character development along with intrinsic flaws in the training, management and systems of policing – “This organization is a bad apple.”
Unfortunately, the cycle tends to repeat itself because corrective measures taken against officers and organizations tend to be purely and simply punitive (actions and procedures taken devoid of inherently good motives – good motives simply cannot exist in a state of ignorance of underlying causes). After punitive actions, the next phase (of corrections disconnected from noble cause) tends to take aim at limiting the ability or inclinations of officers to engage in a sacred public trust: The sanctioned use of force and violence to uphold the rights and secure the safety or community members. This again is akin to ceasing all discipline and corrections for a child; it spoils the child, ruins the relationship and leaves the child miserable, unsafe and unprepared for the realities of life – all in the name of protecting the child from a corrupt discipliner. As Aristotle said:
"Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting a particular way. We become just by performing just actions, temperate by performing temperate actions, brave by performing brave actions." - Aristotle
When bravery (the acts of policing) becomes disconnected from commitment to simple justice and the moderating affects of humble self-control (the telos of policing) you end up with raw authority carried out with cool indignation. All of which flies in the face of the noble cause of policing, even while professionally carrying out the actions of policing.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Friday, January 6, 2012
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Unleashing Respect Project update
A few weeks ago, Force Science Review http://www.forcescience.org/fsinews/2011/08/force-science-news-185-cops-not-guilty-in-mistaken-killing-of-child-scan-patterns-oiss-the-lizard-brain/ featured the Lizard Brain video. As a result, PoliceOne picked the video up this week. http://www.policeone.com/community-policing/articles/4374198-The-Lizard-Brain-and-police-officer-safety/. We are very grateful for these positive reviews from very reliable sources.
We have three more videos at Video Perceptions now. One provides an overview of the Project philosophy, one an overview of Power4Synergy our engagement / communications system, one provides a cost / benefit analysis of simply combating criminals verses a comprehensive plan borrowed from the US military where one combats the culture that supports criminals. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel so you will get notified when the new videos are released.
We have three more videos at Video Perceptions now. One provides an overview of the Project philosophy, one an overview of Power4Synergy our engagement / communications system, one provides a cost / benefit analysis of simply combating criminals verses a comprehensive plan borrowed from the US military where one combats the culture that supports criminals. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel so you will get notified when the new videos are released.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
More with Less
With the downturn in the economy, policing organizations are confronting the need to do “more with less.” At the same time, in many places around the country, policing units are making an amazing discovery – even while tax dollars are drying up, there exists a practically endless stream of resources available to supplement the mission of policing. As an added benefit, what it takes to tap into these resources simultaneously increases officer - safety and personal satisfaction along with health and well-being.
We invite you to explore the source of this influence with us!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Unleashing Respect Project
Take a look at the video (about 12 minutes) and then visit the web site for the project. http://unleashingrespectproject.com/
Friday, March 4, 2011
Police and police departments are poised like no other profession to offer culture-changing leadership in the 21st century
When do community members usually experience contact with police? Often, contact occurs when a criminal act or something traumatic has occurred. This tends to leave people emotionally vulnerable, needy, and thus impressionable – right where they live! Who, besides the police, have the opportunity to hear and respond to the voice of those who feel oppressed, and weak – at ground zero – where and when it really matters?
To explain this, let me use the term C.O.I.N. from the U.S. military. Put simply, C.O.I.N. means working to create a COunterInsurgency eNvironment. This means that the Army “fights” insurgents (those who oppose law and order) by building relationship with the community they are protecting. What a concept for policing!
Here are some thoughts on putting C.O.I.N. into circulation through police officers and police departments.
“C.O.I.N. Press” (officers must press C.O.I.N. upon themselves; they must become the bearers of the image they want to see replicated). Police officers should consider Ghandi’s advice and become the change they would see in the world. What do our most troubled communities need? The general need is for people with Humility to have empathic insight, Compassion for the plight of others, along with the courage and boldness to challenge the status quo. The specific need is for police officers who are skilled, conditioned and trained (this comes at a high cost of personal daily commitment few are willing to pay) to discharge their sacred public trust with effectiveness and vigor (the sanctioned use of force to secure safety and security in our communities).
Putting C.O.I.N. into circulation (don’t bother until C.O.I.N. is “pressed” upon you) – by inspiring our communities through passionate leadership - this stuff travels like a rampant, positive social virus:
• Courageously and relentlessly confront our own prejudices, biases and fears that prevent empathy in relationships
• Employing conversation to transform an angry person into a supporter, even a raving fan
• Making human connection that leaves the victim of a crime touched by heartfelt service
• Finding “wealth” and a sense of self-fulfillment in generosity – nothing is more satisfying or more contagious
To explain this, let me use the term C.O.I.N. from the U.S. military. Put simply, C.O.I.N. means working to create a COunterInsurgency eNvironment. This means that the Army “fights” insurgents (those who oppose law and order) by building relationship with the community they are protecting. What a concept for policing!
Here are some thoughts on putting C.O.I.N. into circulation through police officers and police departments.
“C.O.I.N. Press” (officers must press C.O.I.N. upon themselves; they must become the bearers of the image they want to see replicated). Police officers should consider Ghandi’s advice and become the change they would see in the world. What do our most troubled communities need? The general need is for people with Humility to have empathic insight, Compassion for the plight of others, along with the courage and boldness to challenge the status quo. The specific need is for police officers who are skilled, conditioned and trained (this comes at a high cost of personal daily commitment few are willing to pay) to discharge their sacred public trust with effectiveness and vigor (the sanctioned use of force to secure safety and security in our communities).
Putting C.O.I.N. into circulation (don’t bother until C.O.I.N. is “pressed” upon you) – by inspiring our communities through passionate leadership - this stuff travels like a rampant, positive social virus:
• Courageously and relentlessly confront our own prejudices, biases and fears that prevent empathy in relationships
• Employing conversation to transform an angry person into a supporter, even a raving fan
• Making human connection that leaves the victim of a crime touched by heartfelt service
• Finding “wealth” and a sense of self-fulfillment in generosity – nothing is more satisfying or more contagious
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