Time for Introspection

Time for Introspection

It is good—no, let me rephrase that—it’s quite necessary for me to look in the mirror and carefully, honestly, and methodically self-assess what I am about. As a law enforcement professional, my self-assessment deals with my actions, as well as those of my brother and sisters who put ...
Making Criticism Constructive

Making Criticism Constructive

Police officers are typically a straightforward, direct bunch. They’ll tell you when they think you’re doing something wrong, or when you could be doing it better. And mostly that’s good—we can’t afford to be dancing around one another’s feelings when we’re  in a foot pursuit or ...
Police & Group Identity

Police & Group Identity

“We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he today that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother…” Shakespeare’s Henry V, Act IV Human history is a repeated dialogue of division. From the earliest times, humans have divided themselves into groups and then competed with ...
Is Your Department Drifting?

Is Your Department Drifting?

I recently read a story about two teenage boys who came upon an abandoned boat floating in the river. The paddles were broken, but that didn't deter them. They jumped in the boat without much thought. We shoved off and drifted downstream talking, joking and carrying on. I'm not ...
New Year’s Homicide

New Year’s Homicide

Every now and then I like to author a reality piece that our readers might enjoy. No real teaching point, just interesting cop stuff. (The last such piece was in April, 2016, “The Full-Moon Kidnapper & a Clerk Named Sue.”) This new article has to deal with the last case I worked ...