Response to Jim Glennon’s recent commentary, Leadership Ethics: No Longer Required? was extremely heavy. Here is a selection of just a few of the many comments we received:

Chief Patrick Whitaker with the Whitefish Bay (WI) Police Department writes:

Thanks for the article expressing your thoughts.  I do feel that many of those in political power have lost their way ethically, on both sides of the political spectrum.  That added with the 24/7 media coverage where unethical behavior drives ratings and it’s a perfect storm to make people feel that ethics and moral compasses have gone out the window.  Apparently even law enforcement training with a name similar to one of your classes has possibly lost its ethical way.

I was asked to speak at a law enforcement graduation ceremony earlier this year.  They must have been desperate if they resorted to asking me (my wife even reminded me of that), but I took that as an opportunity to stress ethics.  I talked about the Stoic virtues of Wisdom, Justice, Temperance, and Courage.  Keeping those in mind will help officers live a meaningful life and have an impactful career on those they work with and those they protect and serve.

We in law enforcement should be the shining example for citizens.  We should be above the political bickering and division.  A citizen should not be able to determine what my political affiliation is because we protect and serve both sides.  When someone calls for our assistance we respond and provide the highest level of service no matter their skin color, religion, gender, political affiliation, etc.

While ethics training may not be requested often, it is needed often.  More than a class put on every year or several years, we as law enforcement leaders need to model the behaviors every day and hold ourselves accountable.  When we do that, it is not received by the ranks with skepticism and distain when we hold our officers accountable.

Chief Criminal Deputy Bill Cox with the East Feliciana Parish (LA) Sheriff’s Office responds:

I’ve been at this business a little over fifty years. I’ve seen a few things during that time. I have to agree that the state of ethics has slipped some from what it once was.

That said, I’m fortunate to work for a sheriff with high ethical values. We talk regularly about how important it is to do the right thing even if it causes us some discomfort and blowback.

In a way I feel sorry for the leaders who just don’t get it. I have disdain for those who know better but don’t practice it.

Special Investigator David Durkop with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services says:

Most politicians are at least somewhat narcissistic. They have to be to run for the position. When was the last time you heard a politician opine their opponent had a better idea…on anything? Even when their opponent is better qualified.

Chiefs of Police are politicians. They must be politicians to move up the ranks and then become a chief. Few people become a chief by bucking the system.

When was the last time someone has really held someone in power accountable for their unethical actions?

People frequently quote Lord Acton, “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” But in my opinion the more important quote comes in the next sentence: “Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority: still more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority.”

I would suggest that all chiefs read “It’s Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy” by D. Michael Abrashoff and “Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win” by Jock Willink

There is no reason for a chief to set the standard and try to improve at least 1% from yesterday. He will fail, but even in failure he will improve his department.

Dr. Sue Weaver, Professor of Criminal Justice/Program Coordinator at Emmanuel University in Georgia writes:

Could we not see the unraveling of the fabric of society coming? After retiring from a long career in law enforcement and teaching at the state police academy I switched to teaching criminal justice at the college level twenty years ago. I was also tasked with teaching a college credit course at one of the county high schools for dual enrollment. A student was failing the class miserably. He just so happened to the the quarterback on the football team. The young man pleaded with me to change his grade so that he could play and I refused. Then the boy’s father came to speak with me and offered to have his son come do work at my house if only I would change his grade. Again, my answer was no. Next, the coach came to pressure me, then the high school principal. My answer remained the same. Finally, the dean of my then employer told me I needed to change the grade. I told the dean that it is against policy to require a faculty member to change a grade. When I again refused, the college went into the grading system and changed it to a passing grade. The next week I resigned.

Since then, parents fail to discipline their children and teachers are not permitted to put a zero in the grade book when the student does not turn in work. In this modern society of no consequences, people are becoming self-serving and deplete of any morals.

I miss the posters from back in day that were hanging in our department’s training room: No excuses, No alibis.

Lt. Dennis Eberly (ret.) formerly with the East Hempfield Township (PA) Police Dept. comments:

As usual, Jim, you are SPOT ON!

This has been a problem for quite some time, but the year 2020 really brought this issue to a head.  Look at the variety of examples of “Rules for Thee, But Not for Me.”  Gavin Newsome in California and Gretchen Witmer in Michigan are a couple of those prominent political examples.

Many people who now have a problem with some of our federal agencies, such as the FBI and Secret Service, appreciate the hard work done by the rank & file.  The issues that are becoming apparent are due to the top tier leadership being comprised of people who are rewarded with those positions for their political leanings.  There is a similar system in place for law enforcement leadership at the state and local level also.  Political appointments are often valued over promoting the most competent in job performance and ethical leadership.

I have watched the documentary, “Fall of Minneapolis.”  If you note, all of the officers speaking out in the film are now retired but one. That is not an accident.  Those officers now have their pensions in hand, so city leadership cannot blackball them and stop them now for telling the truth.  I am sure they would have been subjected to department discipline had they loudly voiced what they are now telling.  I am not sure why I have not heard of any effort to gain a new trial for Chauvin.  There is a lot more going on with this case than the “official” version that has been disseminated.  Are we also to believe that the recent “Epstein” attempt on Chauvin is an accident?  Where are the myriad of “Wrongful Conviction” advocates on this case?

I am sure most officers can recall instances of the Chief posting a notice or sending an e-mail to the entire department, ordering them to not discuss a particular case with anyone outside the department (press, etc.).  I realize, in many cases, this was to protect the integrity of a criminal investigation, but sometimes, maybe not.

One thing is for sure:  good red-blooded ethical cops like you, Jim, get fired up by this widespread societal epidemic of HYPOCRISY!  We really need to find a way to “right this ship!”

From Reserve Sgt. Michael Creek with the South Pasadena (CA) PD:

Political reliability is all that matters in a banana republic or communist nation. That is how we select university presidents, police chiefs, mayors and other officials now. As long as they follow the party line, nothing else matters. So when a congressman says that Hamas is the victim and they vote leftist, they are okay. The nation is selecting every job based upon diversity not competence. I want police and doctors and airline pilots selected for their ability to do the job, not the slot they fit into, nor their political agenda.

There are many groups that seek the destruction of Western Civilization in the hope they can rebuild it in their own image and they get all these tiny 1% groups to work together to do that. It is happening in Europe now also.

I think the long-term plan is to create such chaos that the left will propose a national police department to replace state and local police. That way local police will not be there to stand against Federal or State overreach when it comes to gun confiscation and voter integrity issues.

Sgt. Joseph Schlau (ret.) with the Schaumburg (IL) Police Dept. writes:

Right on target. I retired from my main career after 30 years and 1 day.  Not because I was ready, but because the then Director of Police embarked on a campaign of demoting supervisors who disagreed with his situational ethics.

Or as I wryly remarked, his moral compass was like Captain Jack Sparrow’s compass, (Pirates of the Caribbean analogy): it pointed to wherever he wanted it to go.

After that I worked part time for another 10 years. My final agency had the best definition of ethics I ever saw.  Doing the right thing, at the right time, for the right reason.  Practiced from the top down.

I was saddened to leave there, and they were saddened to see me go.  Only the birth of my 4th grandchild and the need for childcare, I finally ended 43 years in law enforcement.

I had the honor to go out from a top agency.

Warrant Officer Robert Cantu with the River Oaks (TX) Police Dept. comments:

I started my career in law enforcement in 1985 as a reserve, went to the academy, and then began full-time paid policing in 1986. Back then you could still “be a cop”, within reason, no brutality, lying, or cheating, but there were consequences for criminal’s actions, and the courts and public still had faith in our profession. Over the years I was an FTO and trained several good officers, whom I had to reassure that we can only do our part in the Criminal Justice system, and that whatever the end result of a criminal’s conviction or release was out of our hands, but to insure we did our part correctly.

I have been proud to be an officer and always attempted to do the right thing, both on and off duty. I had great FTO’s who were “old school” and taught me how to treat folks decently and be respectful, which during my career has always allowed me to go home safe and sound at the end of the shift.

I always tried to teach new officers that if you were respectful to those we deal with regularly, you usually fared well and didn’t have to end up in a fight. Over my career I have encountered a bit of everything and only had to literally fight with 2-3 folks after all other methods failed, but I was thanked by many whom I arrested for treating them with respect.

I am closing in on the end of my career and see the changes that have taken place in the last several years, and it is very unsettling. I have told folks that when I started. the folks we arrested didn’t always respect our profession, but generally their parents did. Now, the folks we arrest really don’t respect us, and their parents didn’t either, so the result is falling into chaos.

I have worked for both types; those who would back you as long as you did the right thing, and those who would throw you under the bus in a heartbeat. I also worked in the private security sector for a few years and discovered that in the corporate world, rules are made, yet they only apply to the chosen few, and not to the executive leadership. My loving wife told me that I needed to learn to “play the game” and be careful. Well, coming from a profession where the rules are supposed to apply to all equally, I ended up leaving the private sector with better pay and returned to “just being a cop.” My stress level went down to zero, and my job satisfaction went through the roof. I was back where I belonged.

I have always loved wearing a badge, standing by my oath, and standing up for what is right, but seems as those days are numbered now.

Thanks for what you do. I was fortunate to attend one of your Street Survival courses in Ft. Worth with you and “Buck Savage” as our instructors. It was one of the best classes ever. I am also a bit long winded, so I apologize. The world is changing and wanting everyone to change with it, but ethics, morals, and principals shall always stand for something.

Lt. Michael Wilson with the Williston (ND) Police Dept. writes:

If you don’t already have ethics by the time you reach adulthood, particularly past the age of mid to late 20’s, you can’t be taught what ethics should be. You’ve already formed an ideological opinion that can only be overcome by consequences. Consequences are no longer acknowledged because the necessary consequences for moral/ethical breaches are now considered too severe to be applied. We have reached a point where the younger generation of adults are only partially to blame for their shortcomings. The entire social/parental/educational system has failed to do what was necessary to produce citizens compatible with a social structure built around a Constitutional Republic. Those systems have acquiesced to a corporate model of culturally driven consumerism and narcissistic ideologies.

For at least two, possibly three generations of Americans, their education and social conditioning has become more and more truncated to the purpose of this self-destructive, selfish consumer model. Couple that with an increase in neurodivergence, more than likely caused by our national food production and industrial existence, and that causes even more disruption in normative social interactions.

They cannot accept criticism, they’re unable to debate, only recognizing a difference of opinion as a threat to their ego-driven mindset. In social media and popular culture, we have given them an artificial playground, free of any structure or rules of conduct, with an abundance of corrupting prurient subject-matter, in which to develop their growing brains, and we wonder why they are the way they are. A training class isn’t going to fix this.

Retired Chief Jerry Boyd from Martinez, CA responds:

When it became “OK” for politicians rather than police chiefs to dictate policies and procedures for law enforcement agencies, it was the beginning of the end for ethical and professional law enforcement in this country. Chiefs were forced to become political whores to keep their jobs or they could pursue another line of work.

I served as a police chief for 15 years. Only in my last year did a mayor and council think it was OK to dictate to me how to run the department. I advised them that ethically I could not agree to that because the department was my responsibility. If they persisted, I would retire. They did and I did.

A Florida officer responds:

It will get worse before it gets worse. Hiring standards are undergoing steady erosion. Training standards are undergoing a steady erosion. Selection of supervisors is undergoing a steady erosion. I was a sworn officer for a total of 46 years, a trainer for 53. I have trained officers around the US, the Balkans, and the Middle East. I think I can speak with some certainty about these issues.

In hiring, we dip into the same general pool as the military, but with fewer waivers for certain behaviors. More than 3/4 of that pool are unfit for MILITARY service. Can you imagine how many less are fit for police service? I’ve seen and directly experienced training standards lowered because too many recruits could not pass the existing standards. All shotgun training removed, handgun distance decreased, time limits increased, etc. I don’t even want to get started on the incredible political BS the past decade has introduced into the selecting of first line supervisors, middle managers, and FTOs. FTOs with a year on are not uncommon.

Sgt. Douglas Bertoglio (ret.) who served with the Orange County (CA) Sheriff’s Dept. writes:

1. OK. The Chief needs to “network” with the public so this justifies his free country club membership. Hey……Chief……Your line staff grabbing a free cup of coffee allows them the opportunity to “network” with the public many times over.

2. Unfortunately, it’s gotten to the point that cops are no longer expected to do their job properly. They are expected to do their jobs PERFECTLY. This, of course, is an unattainable goal. Then they get fanged if their actions aren’t perfect.

A Sergeant in Pennsylvania writes:

Spot on in every aspect, except I truly believe that the number of bad or unethical leaders is certainly more than “some.” Not all in this pool are ruthless or evil, many are simply morally weak, having a compass oriented towards self-preservation or selfish apathy.

The spectrum is relatively wide on the level of narcissism in this large group of unethical leaders, but it all comes down to primarily serving self rather than others. However, I think it essentially all starts with bad politicians who breed bad leaders in law enforcement.

Another trend I see is that upper echelon management is promoting leadership and ethics training to their field level supervisors, but they themselves appear to believe they are above the same standards they are promoting to their subordinate leaders.

David O’Laughlin, Director of Training for the Municipal Police Institute in Massachusetts writes:

Thank you, Jim, for this heartfelt and necessary message. Like you, I also teach ethics to law enforcement officers from line officers to command staff. Some appreciate the topic while others dismiss its value. I am optimistic that change is on the way, but when that will happen has me worried.

From Dennis Leonard, an instructor with the Nebraska Crime Commission:

Great article LT, you are SPOT on! As one with more than 35 years in this business, I’ve watched as department leaders have allowed the definition of gross misconduct decline to an almost unrecognizable point. And far more due to political pressures than public opinion.

I, too, agree with your attribution to RFK that communities get the law enforcement and criminals they deserve, but those are the outcomes. I think the root is that in a democratic system, we get the government we deserve then government leaders mandate police response and criminal consequences.

We’re in a sad state right now and hope we are able to rebound rather than collapse.

Finally, another officer writes:

Jim, you speak the truth. It is refreshing to hear. Your description of integrity, “Do the right thing when no one is looking” is correct. But how do people define what is “right”? That’s the heart of the problem. If you believe there is an absolute right and wrong, then you must believe in God. If there is no God, then there is no such thing as absolute right and wrong. In that case, right and wrong is dependant upon societal and cultural opinions at that time in history.

Our current culture believes lying is okay in order to further progressive agendas. They believe discrimination is okay and having lighter skin makes you inherently evil. They believe male and female are interchangeable words. The rejection of God in our universities and places of higher learning is driving the moral failure in our country. You can’t have a discussion about morality without discussing the importance of God.

Thanks for speaking up!