Morals and Morale: Two Sides of the Same Coin

Morals and Morale: Two Sides of the Same Coin

I’ve been in law enforcement for 38 years. I’ve seen a lot of changes in the profession. I’ve also seen a consistency in some protocols and behavior when it comes to organizational knee-jerk reactions by bosses to complaints and/or the ever-changing political winds. Some of those ...
MAYDAY! I’m Caught in the Comparison Trap!

MAYDAY! I’m Caught in the Comparison Trap!

"The only person you should try to be better than is who you were yesterday." – Unknown Firefighters are some of the most competitive people I know. For the most part, that sense of competition is connected closely with camaraderie, and it serves us well: We push ourselves to run ...
VIDEO + ANALYSIS: S.F. Man Shot in the Back

VIDEO + ANALYSIS: S.F. Man Shot in the Back

Anywhere you look for this incident, whether websites, traditional newspapers or on the TV and Cable news channels, you will find that this incident is tagged with some form of this phrase, “San Francisco cop shoots man in the back.” After the NBA finals where some California team ...
A Crisis in Law Enforcement: Suicide

A Crisis in Law Enforcement: Suicide

Two incidents the last few weeks regarding celebrity suicides—fashion designer Kate Spade and celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain—have brought the topic of suicide to light. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide rates for the overall population have ...