Currently in Massachusetts, there are several things going on that appear to show misconduct among several police departments in the state and the ‘bad cop’ refrain is playing regularly on television and in the newspapers.

This type of negative publicity spills onto all law enforcement officers and gives the profession a real black eye. But you know what I bet? I bet that as angry as the citizenry is at the allegations of corruption in those departments, that the good police officers everywhere are even angrier. No one likes their occupation degraded.

An interesting aspect of our perspective on law enforcement leaders is that we expect them to be perfect and we take the good ones for granted. You probably know someone in the occupation, maybe even a relative, and you sometimes wonder why people become police officers and what the good ones are thinking.

I am not an expert, and don't claim to be, but something happened this year that made me think about this, and about how I take good policing for granted.

When I was growing up the side of the police cars in my hometown were painted with the phrase ‘To Serve and Protect.’ I think that is still the role of police officers, although sometimes we think their role is catch us driving at 65.5 miles per hour, or to flash their lights on the side of the road at a construction site.

The reality is that serving and protecting are the real reasons for police officers, but we take them for granted more often than not. 

Things like the destruction of the Twin Towers in New York, and the Boston Marathon bombings where first responders ran toward danger are the kinds of situations where our appreciation for the job they do is enhanced, but all too often we forget. We forget about the risks, we forget about the judgment needed, we forget about the training, and we forget about the families.

A recent experience helped remind me, and re-heightened my appreciation for the men, and women, in blue. It reminded me about the risks, the judgement, the training and the families of those in law enforcement.

Although I am Irish-Catholic, and from Boston, surprisingly there are no police officers in my family, and until recently, I didn’t know any police officers. Of course there is a priest in the family, but that is another story. 

Manny. pictured here, was one of the students in the fraternity that I advised at the University of Massachusetts, and he became a Boston Police Officer a couple of years ago but that was the extent of my ‘personal’ connection to the occupation, except for a speeding ticket or three in my 56 years of driving.

On a Friday in May, however, I was invited to a graduation ceremony from the police academy program at Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill, Massachusetts. I hadn’t been to a graduation of any kind in many years and wasn’t sure what to expect. I left with a different perspective about the occupation than when I arrived because I had time to think about what I think. 

Picture being in a gym, one side of the basketball court folding bleachers is pulled down and packed with family members. There is a stage set up at midcourt, and a giant curtain as a backdrop, with empty chairs in front for the 50 graduates. 

One side of the stage had seating for about 150 close family members and friends, and the other side had the same amount of seating for 150 police officers, chiefs of police, mayors and other elected officials.

While waiting for the ceremony to start, I gazed around the gym and wondered. What could make the 50 cadets about to graduate and the 150+ police officers want to ‘serve and protect’ and while sitting on those hard bleachers, I came up with four reasons:

•  They absolutely have to respect law and order
• They absolutely want to make a difference
• They absolutely have the personality to take charge
• They absolutely identify with honor

RESPECT

Remember now, I am not a cadet, nor a police officer and I am not sharing what the actual motivation might be. I am speculating from my years of being in the world, what would make someone want to serve and protect. 

The first element I thought of is related to Respect. In order to join the force, you have to respect the occupation, the government, the country, the rule of law, the need for protection, the concept of justice and more. You have to see your role in the system as being an important one, one that is essential. 

Now maybe you don’t need to read the Constitution (or maybe you do or take a class in Constitutional Law). But you do need to believe that someone has the right to remain silent. You do need to believe that everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

You have to respect certain values and practices. I think we take this for granted, but I don’t think good police officers take it for granted.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Is keeping a place safe making a difference? I think so. Is making sure that others respect your rights making a difference? I know so. 

There is no way you could possibly want to be a police officer unless you wanted to make a difference. You have to feel that you have standards and a vision and can model behavior that is above reproach.

We all want to make a difference, my guess is that an aspiring officer wants to make a difference not only in their own lives, but in the lives of others.  I think we take this for granted, but I don’t think good police officers take it for granted.

PERSONALITY TO TAKE CHARGE

Let’s face it, an introvert as a police officer doesn’t make sense. I do a lot of Clifton Strengthsfinders assessment reviews, and in my opinion, to be a police officer requires ‘Influence’ skills as well as ‘Relationship Building’ skills. 

The nature of the badge involves ‘taking charge’ in certain situations, whether that is directing traffic, closing off a crime scene, or responding to an altercation. I think we take this for granted, but I don’t think good police officers take it for granted.

IDENTIFY WITH HONOR

In our country there are about 800,000 sworn law enforcement officers, (and about 12% of those are women). 

You have to be proud to put the uniform and badge on. You have to recognize that you are ‘on stage’ no matter what you are doing. 

In my opinion, you have to feel it is an honor to be an officer. I think we take this for granted, but I don’t think good police officers take it for granted.

Tiffany: a new member of the Leominster Police Department who has respect for law and order, wants to make a difference, has the personality to take charge, and performs with honor.