March 30, 2010 Feds: Anti-police militia 'needed to be taken down' Planned to fake 911 call, kill responding officers By Mike Householder and Corey Williams The Associated Press   DETROIT — Worried that a plot to kill police officers and kick-start a violent revolution against the government could be just weeks away, federal authorities moved to arrest members of a Michigan militia who called themselves "Christian warriors" as they prepared to battle the Antichrist. "The time had come that we needed to arrest them and take them down," U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade said in an interview with The Associated Press. Prosecutors have said that members of the Hutaree militia, who had trained themselves to make bombs and use firearms, planned to make a false 911 call, kill responding police officers, then set off a bomb at the funeral to kill many more. Federal officials said they began monitoring the militia last summer and that they believed an attack was planned for April. Alleged ringleader David Brian Stone is among nine Hutaree members arrested in FBI raids across the Midwest at the weekend. Each of the suspects is being held without bond and they have all requested a public defender. Bond hearings are scheduled Wednesday for 44-year-old Stone of Clayton, Michigan, and other Hutaree members. Stone and his family, who lived in a rural Michigan trailer home, had always been devout, but his private devotions evolved over the years into the Hutaree - a name the group's Web site says they created to mean "Christian warrior." Stone's former wife Donna, 44, said his personal theology partly destroyed their marriage, but that nevertheless her ex-husband was able to entice her stepson, Joshua Matthew Stone, and her 19-year-old son, David Brian Stone Jr., into the militia that grew out of his faith. "I honestly feel, and think, their dad never told either of those boys what they were getting into," she said. "This a bunch of garbage, these charges. There is no way my son would do these things." Donna Stone said she met David Brian Stone in the late 1990s in a grocery store where she worked. He courted her and soon afterward, she and her son, Sean Stetten, moved into his small trailer in Lenawee County, near the Ohio state line. The boys were raised as brothers, and David Brian Stone legally adopted Sean, whose name was changed to David Brian Stone Jr. Both boys were home-schooled and at night, the family would pray together. "David would preach out of the Bible," said Donna Stone, who said they were married for about six years. "He would start at the beginning of Genesis and go to Revelations. He didn't get into Revelations because we didn't agree on it. David said it was supposed to be different. He had his own views. That's when I thought it was time for me to go." The Hutaree Web site quotes several Bible passages and declares: "We believe that one day, as prophecy says, there will be an Anti-Christ. ... Jesus wanted us to be ready to defend ourselves using the sword and stay alive using equipment." McQuade downplayed the role religious ideology played in the group's alleged plans, saying the "most troubling" finding of their investigation into the Hutaree were the details of their alleged plot. "What we were focused on here is their conduct, not on their religion. And what they have talked about is being very anti-government," McQuade said Tuesday. "They fear this `new world order' and they thought that it was their job to fight against government - the federal government in particular." The group was preparing to carry out an attack sometime in April, prosecutors said, after months of paramilitary training that began in 2008 and included learning how to shoot guns and make bombs. Authorities seized guns in the raids but would not say whether they found explosives. McQuade declined to discuss other specifics, including how the group originally came to the attention of authorities or how agents learned about the alleged plans for an attack in April. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Police Driving: Safety Behind the Wheel with Capt. Travis Yates   March 22, 2010 SWAT vehicles: The police driving challenge While it is expected that every law enforcement professional will drive a police vehicle from day one and throughout their career, it’s much less likely they will be asked to drive a tactical assault vehicle. Regardless, it is important for all in the profession to be familiar with these vehicles and some of the unique characteristics they bring to the profession. A Tale of Two Types Two of the most common alternative vehicles for tactical situations are armored vehicles and non-armored deployment vehicles. Armored vehicles go by a variety of different names but their use enables a tactical team to deploy close to a dangerous situation while repelling firearm attacks. These vehicles allow them to perform critical tasks and rescue operations in a safe, secure, and mobile fashion. Non-armored deployment vehicles are some of the most common used by tactical teams and are often economically feasible compared to other SWAT specialty vehicles. Taking the appearance of a commercial truck enables the element of surprise and its size can fit an entire SWAT team along with equipment to deploy instantly through the side or rear of the vehicle. While both of these vehicle types are common, it doesn’t take long for those agencies that have them to understand that it is important to train in how to drive them, and use them. Captain Paul Fields, Former SWAT Commander and coordinator of the 2009 NTOA National Conference, speaks about the unique characteristics of driving an armored vehicle. “There are several things that you need to be aware of including multiple blind spots, a larger turning radius and the heavier weight of the vehicle not only will increase your stopping distance but you need to be careful in grass or soft ground that you do not get the vehicle stuck.” Train the Whole Team Captain Fields points out a topic that is of extreme importance: “Everyone on the team needs to be familiar with the vehicle. A situation may arise where anyone may have to drive it and for that reason I believe everyone on the team should have some level of training with it.” Jeremy Johnson is the Director of International Operations for the Armored Group LLC, a manufacturer of rapid deployment vehicles used primarily by SWAT teams. The Armored Group’s Rapid Deployment Vehicle (RDV) is used to deploy an entire entry team in a stealth approach. While not armored, the RDV serves as an economic alternative for SWAT teams. Johnson recommends that anyone purchasing one of these unique vehicles become very familiar with how they are manufactured and he often takes buyers through their assembly plant to point out the unique features of the vehicle. Johnson states that “our deployment vehicle is custom lowered to give the teams a safer deployment out of the vehicle. While it drives very similar to a regular truck, there are numerous items one must be aware of.” For example, the driver must be aware of the height of the vehicle and at the same time account for the lower nature of the vehicle. Another issue is that while the RDV is designed for SWAT teams to stand in, it is not recommended during the driving at normal speeds. Johnson continues, “You need to ensure that your weight in the back is evenly distributed and a full team in the back can cause weight distribution issues so speeds need to be lowered and turning at high speeds is not recommended.” Len Light is the President of Lenco Armored Vehicles and their armored vehicle called the BearCat is one of the most recognizable and sought after SWAT vehicles on the market. “We give our customers an orientation. How does the vehicle work, what they can expect from it and we specifically caution them about high speeds and that it will take more time to stop the vehicle because of the weight.” Light and his company recognize something very important. According to Light, “We are not in the tactics or driving business.” That is left up to two companies that Lenco has exclusive contracts with: FTF Tactics focuses on the tactics of using the Bearcat such as vehicle set-up, ballistic capabilities, deployment considerations, and shooting platforms while Vehicle Dynamics Institute (VDI) trains in the driving of the vehicle. Driver Training Tony Scotti has conducted more training programs in more locations than any other private training institution in the world. For four decades, Tony has conducted training programs in more than 30 countries and trained students from 64 countries. On a personal note, he is a wonderful friend and advocate for the law enforcement profession and his training philosophy and expertise is continuing through the VDI. VDI has developed a driver training program for armored vehicles called Mission Oriented Driving Skills (MODS). According to Scotti, “Conducting a Mission Oriented Driving Skill (MODS) program requires an in depth understanding of vehicle dynamics and exercises design. Looking at the types of scenarios the students will encounter, trainers then must have the ability to analyze and test the vehicles to be used in the mission, develop driving exercises that replicate mission conditions and objectively measure the student’s capability to meet the mission objectives.” Joe Autera is the President of VDI and he oversees the training for the Lenco BearCat. “The objective of this highly effective program is to ensure that tactical officers develop the driving skills and behaviors needed to mitigate potential accidents while responding to an incident or if required to perform emergency or evasive maneuvers. They learn to surgically maneuver an armored vehicle with unique handling characteristics and to overcome the psychological and physiological responses to stress that tend to degrade driver performance in real world operations.” Conclusion The manufacturers, SWAT members, and trainers all agree: driving SWAT vehicles pose unique challenges to law enforcement and training is the key to safety. Unique vehicles create unique challenges and with the help of dedicate trainers and manufacturers, those challenges will continue to be met and conquered. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ March 15, 2010 Policy change for Texas cops who moonlight at bars The new policy prohibits officers from working for businesses like bars or clubs San Antonio Express-News   SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Bexar County deputies who provide security for bars and nightclubs will have to moonlight elsewhere because of a new sheriff's department policy that took effect this month. The policy, implemented March 1 on orders of Sheriff Amadeo Ortiz, prohibits deputies from working part time for establishments that generate more than 50 percent of their sales from alcohol. The rule change comes little more than a month after an off-duty deputy shot and killed a man outside a North Side bar in January. Though the deputy has been cleared of any wrongdoing, a Sheriff's Office spokesman said the change was made to stem a growing number of officer-involved incidents at bars over the past year. "There was already a fire brewing, and the incident in January sort of threw the match in there and set it ablaze," said Deputy Chief Dale Bennett. "It's a privilege that the sheriff had afforded these officers, and there's plenty of other work out there for them." The number of deputies employed by bars across the county - and the number of bars in which they're employed - was not immediately available, but officials said they thought the number of officers was in the hundreds. Before the change in policy, between 35 and 40 bars were on a "no work" list that prohibited deputies from working there because of previous incidents such as fighting, Bennett said. Though deputies were not allowed to work inside bars, they often were stationed outside in the parking lot, where fights tended to spill out, Bennett said. He said a growing number of injuries among officers - the exact number was unavailable but most were from breaking up drunken fights - had made the policy a liability. "We have some facilities where we never have any problems," he said. "But it was getting difficult for us to say 'You can work at this establishment but not this one.' The list was getting bigger and bigger." San Antonio police officers also can't work inside bars but are permitted to work outside establishments where alcohol is served, said Matt Porter, a police spokesman. David Kilcrease, vice president of the Deputy Sheriffs Association of Bexar County, said he expected the new rule to put even more strain on the wallets of many deputies already strapped for cash. "We are in the sixth-largest county in Texas, but our officers are paid in the bottom 50 percent of the state's 254 counties," he said. "Our guys have no choice but to work part time." He said many Bexar County deputies work an average of eight to 10 hours per week of part-time employment, everywhere from Spurs basketball games to restaurants. Unless they're on vacation, Kilcrease said, officers can perform no more than 23 hours of part-time work a week. He said most jobs average about $25 an hour but special events can bring as much as twice that. Kilcrease noted that although declaring bars off-limits was unpopular with a number of deputies, he believed most in the department understood the decision. Ortiz "knows they're underpaid, and he knows they need to work," he said. "He's not trying to take food off their table. He's strictly trying to protect the citizens of Bexar County from lawsuits that could arise if the policy didn't change." ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ March 06, 2010 Calif. gang officers targeted a third time An apparent pipe bomb was found next to an officer's car Associated Press HEMET, Calif. — A dangerous device found near an officer's car may be the third effort to booby trap gang enforcement officers, police said Friday. "Right now it is believed that it is related to the other incidents, yes," Lt. Duane Wisehart said. "Somebody's apparently declared war on us." A gang task force officer who went to a convenience store found a suspicious device next to his unmarked car at around 9 a.m., police said. Authorities closed down the street and evacuated some businesses while a Riverside County sheriff's bomb squad examined the device. The device, which was found to be "legitimately hazardous" and dangerous to officers, was rendered safe by the sheriff's team, Wisehart said. Details were not immediately released. Investigators were trying to determine whether the device was planted next to the car at the convenience store parking lot or whether it may have been attached to the car at the officer's home and come loose. The gang enforcement unit in Hemet, a desert city 85 miles east of Los Angeles, has been targeted twice by bizarre efforts to harm its members. On Dec. 31, someone drilled a hole in the roof of the unit's headquarters and diverted a natural gas line from a heater, filling it with the flammable gas. The booby trap was discovered before anyone was hurt. Last month, a gun rigged to shoot when the headquarters security gate was opened sent a bullet whizzing past an officer. Again, nobody was hurt. No arrests have been made. After the last attempt, Wisehart said the gang unit was being moved to an undisclosed location and reviewing security measures. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Saturday, February 20, 2010 NM officer sues to end K-9 'find and bite' practice The officer wants K-9s to bark at suspects instead of biting them By Scott Sandlin Albuquerque Journal ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — In November 2006, Albuquerque police officer George Gabaldon and a fellow officer pulled over a truck on Candelaria that had careered around a corner in the wrong lane, nearly hitting Gabaldon's police cruiser head-on. The truck was riding on its rims, and it turned out to be stolen. Although Gabaldon called for backup to make the arrest of the two men he had seen inside the truck, he told a judge Wednesday that he didn't expect an APD canine unit to show up. And Gabaldon certainly didn't expect that he would be the one that "Doc" sank his teeth into, sending him to the hospital with a severe bite wound and keeping him off the job for weeks. Now, Gabaldon is in court with his attorneys looking for two forms of relief that face significant legal hurdles. He wants District Judge Alan Malott to say that the state Workers Compensation Act isn't binding in his case, because the city knowingly created the hazard of a dog trained to find and bite. And he wants the judge to order the city to change its policy so that dogs are deployed wearing muzzles and trained to bark at suspects instead of gripping them with their teeth. Malott heard testimony from Gabaldon and a police dog expert hired by his attorneys Wednesday during the first day of a hearing. Testimony is expected to conclude today. Malott is not expected to rule on the issue for several weeks. The city argues that the workers comp act is the exclusive remedy for workers injured in the course and scope of their employment -- limiting the employer's liability. The state Supreme Court carved out an exception in 2004 for injured workers who can show intentional or deliberate acts their employer knew would almost certainly result in serious injury or death. The city argues that was not the case in the acts leading up to Gabaldon's injuries, which led him to be treated at a hospital emergency room, spend weeks virtually immobilized, then devote months to physical therapy for deep tears in his calf muscle. The city also says the Supreme Court's 2004 opinion recognized that workers such as firefighters and police may incur injuries because they do work that "require being in situations which may be dangerous and unpredictable." The deployment of the dog was done with "just cause," Deputy City Attorney Kathryn Levy said in written briefs. Gabaldon's lawyers, Brad Hall and Sam Bregman, counter that "A police dog bite is not an 'accident.' Defendants have deliberately created this risk. ... Law enforcement does not need biting dogs ... and the practice should stop." Vanness Bogardus, a former Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department sheriff's deputy and canine handler, testified that both the Los Angeles Police Department and the sheriff's office improved safety and dramatically reduced litigation when they changed their policies and eliminated the "find-and-bite" method of deployment. Bite night APD's use of police dogs has come under scrutiny before. In 2002, the city lost a federal civil rights lawsuit after a police dog attacked a 16-year-old. The teen was unarmed and hiding from police at a Northeast Heights schoolyard in 1999 when the police officer unleashed the 80-pound Belgian malinois to find her. The dog clamped down on the teen's right leg, causing injuries that resulted in three surgeries. In the Gabaldon case, "Doc" was unleashed to find a suspect hiding in the vehicle but failed to obey commands and bit Gabaldon. That should come as no surprise, Gabaldon said, since the intent is for the dog to bite after being unleashed, without a muzzle, and given an order to "find." The 1999 West Mesa High School graduate who served with attack forces of the 101st Airborne division in the first days of the Iraq war in 2003, squirmed uncomfortably as he relived the police dog incident in court. Here is his version of the events: After the two suspects had been taken into custody, Gabaldon had his gun drawn and attention focused on the passenger side door of the suspect vehicle to make sure no one else was inside. A canine officer arrived, and Gabaldon heard the dog barking and running. It never went to the truck, however, but instead went to Gabaldon's police car, nibbled once at his lower leg, then bit hard into his right calf. When the handler arrived and gave an order, the dog brief ly loosened its grip before taking a second bite that felt as though "it went all the way up into my arm." He briefly considered shooting the dog -- and now wishes he had -- but it would have created "a huge officer safety issue." Besides the puncture wounds, Gabaldon had gashes from where the dog tried to pull him down. After the handler finally got the dog off him, Gabaldon said he lay on the pavement, bleeding. In the aftermath, Gabaldon said he spent about seven weeks on disability, unable to walk for a while -- and then only with crutches. He couldn't get the city to pay for his torn pants, and his 7-months'-pregnant wife got dropped from his insurance, he said. Cramping and numbness in his leg continued long after he'd been ordered back to work, Gabaldon testified. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Thursday, February 25, 2010 Supreme Court gives police more leeway with suspects Questioning can resume after passage of time USA Today WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that investigators may resume questioning a suspect who invoked his Miranda right to a lawyer after the suspect has been out of police custody for 14 days. The 7-2 decision scales back a 1981 Supreme Court decision intended to protect suspects from police badgering to talk and to safeguard the rights established in the 1966 Miranda v. Arizona ruling. Justices John Paul Stevens and Clarence Thomas did not join the decision establishing the 14-day rule, but they voted with the rest of the court to reinstate the conviction of a Maryland man convicted of child sexual abuse. Michael Shatzer was in prison on a different sexual-abuse crime in 2003 when a police detective tried to question him about allegations that he had abused his 3-year-old son. Shatzer invoked his right not to talk without a lawyer, and the detective left. Two-and-a-half years later, another detective, who had obtained additional information about the abuse allegations, returned to the prison to question Shatzer. Shatzer waived his Miranda rights, and after first denying that he ordered his son to perform oral sex on him, incriminated himself, including by saying, "I didn't force him." A trial judge rejected Shatzer's request that the statements be kept out of trial, and he was convicted of sexual child abuse. A Maryland appeals court reversed, relying on the 1981 Supreme Court case of Edwards v. Arizona, which generally requires all interrogation to stop once a suspect asks for a lawyer. It presumes once the suspect invokes his Miranda right, any future waiver of the right when police return is not likely to be voluntarily. The Maryland appeals court had said the passage of time could not end the protections of Edwards v. Arizona and the concerns about police badgering. In reversing the state court, the justices said the 2 1/2-year lapse eliminated the chance that Shatzer would have been coerced to talk. Writing for the majority, Justice Antonin Scalia said that once a suspect has been released from an interrogation and returned to his "normal life" -- even, in this case, when the suspect was still in prison -- there is little reason to believe the choice to talk was coerced. Scalia said the justices needed to set -- for future cases -- a minimum time for a break from custody and they had determined that 14 days was sufficient. "That provides plenty of time for the suspect to get re-acclimated to his normal life, to consult with friends and counsel, and to shake off any residual coercive effects of his prior custody," Scalia said. The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers had told the justices that allowing new interrogations might give police an incentive "to badger suspects through repetitive catch-and-release tactics." "When you have a two-week merry-go-round that the police can now run, there has to be a concern that if the guy invokes the right to counsel and the police keep coming back, that right doesn't mean much," Stanford University professor Jeffrey Fisher, a member of the association, said Wednesday. Thirty-seven states and the U.S. Justice Department sided with Maryland, which had sought to reinstate Shatzer's conviction. Objecting to the 14-day rule, Stevens said that time might not always be enough to protect a suspect who said he does not want to talk without a lawyer present. He said a suspect could "feel that the police lied to him and that he really does not have a right to a lawyer." Thomas said the new rule of Maryland v. Shatzer was unnecessary. He found 14 days "arbitrary" and said there was no need for police to wait once custody had ended. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Tuesday, February 23, 2010 Supreme Court backs police on questioning subjects The Court approved a rewrite of the Miranda rights warning, despite complaints Associated Press   WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Tuesday approved Florida's version of the well-known Miranda rights warning, despite complaints that it wasn't clear a suspect could have a lawyer present during questioning. The court's 7-2 decision restoring Kevin Dwayne Powell's conviction is the first of several it will make this year clarifying exactly what the long-established Miranda rights require police to do. Powell was convicted of illegally possessing a firearm after telling police he bought the weapon "off the street" for $150 for his protection. Before his confession, Powell signed a Miranda statement that included the words, "You have the right to talk to a lawyer before answering any of our questions. If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, one will be appointed for you without cost and before any questioning. You have the right to use any of these rights at any time you want during this interview." The Florida Supreme Court overturned the conviction, saying police did not explicitly tell him he had a right to a lawyer during his police interrogation. But Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, writing for the court's majority, said Powell was given enough information. "Nothing in the words used indicated that counsel's presence would be restricted after the questioning commenced," Ginsburg said. "Instead, the warning communicated that the right to counsel carried forward to and through the interrogation." Ginsburg praised a different version of the Miranda warning, one used by the FBI, which says in part, "You have the right to talk to a lawyer for advice before we ask you any questions. You have the right to have a lawyer with you during questioning." "Different words were used in the advice Powell received, but they communicated the same essential message," she said. Justice John Paul Stevens and Stephen Breyer disagreed with the majority's reasoning. Stevens wrote that the Florida warning "did not reasonably convey the right to talk to a lawyer after answering some questions, much less implicitly inform Powell of his right to have a lawyer with him at all times during interrogation." Miranda rights have been litigated since they first came into being in 1966. The courts require police to tell suspects they have the right to remain silent and the right to have a lawyer represent them, even if they can't afford one. The court has two more Miranda decisions pending, including whether officers can interrogate a suspect who said he understood his rights but didn't invoke them, and whether a request for a lawyer during interrogation can expire after a lengthy period of time. The case is Florida v. Powell, 08-1175. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Friday, February 18, 2010   Sergeant's Desk with Sgt. Steve Schrimpf Looking at officer evaluations from the supervisor’s perspective Let’s face it, cops hate paperwork. We all wish it could be like television — chase the bad guys, catch them, put them away, then go back in service without any paperwork (all before the commercial break). The truth is, our profession is littered with documentation. As law enforcement supervisors, many of these administrative duties seem ridiculous and redundant, but performance evaluations should not be considered so. Evaluations are one of the greatest tools we as supervisors have in our administrative arsenal, but unfortunately many of us are failing to utilize them in an appropriate way. As a result, our subordinates are ultimately paying the price for our malfeasance. We’ve all been there. The boss throws an evaluation on your desk and tells you it is due in a few days. We scramble through our notes scribbled on Burger King napkins, toss in some generic performance bullets we retrieved from some evaluation manual, sign our name, and then pass it down the line. We cross it off the old “to do list” and get back to “doing real police work.” We as supervisors are missing a golden opportunity every time we approach the evaluation process this way. I would like to discuss how we as supervisors can more effectively utilize evaluations to train and motivate our officers to be better performers. I would also like to challenge supervisors out there to get more involved in the ongoing evaluation process that occurs every day in our workplace. Lastly, I would like to share some tips I’ve learned over the years that have made evaluations an effective tool for motivating — and yes, even disciplining — some of the officers I’ve supervised. Let me begin by pointing out the evaluation process is not just an annual or biannual responsibility — it is something we should be focusing on every day in the workplace. A truly effective evaluation process is continuous. It never stops! In more than 23 years of military and law enforcement supervision, I have read numerous evaluations, including some written about me by previous supervisors. I’ve seen a disturbing lack of justification and specificity. I have seen performance statements and bullets copied and pasted from previous evaluations. I have seen “unsatisfactory” or “outstanding” scores supported by a mere sentence or two, with little to no supporting information. Most disturbing, I have noticed a lack of performance coaching. Supervisors, we need to do a better job supervising, mentoring, coaching, and developing our people for success. Below are a few pointers I believe will make the evaluation process not only less painful, but more effective. Set Realistic, Attainable, and Practical Goals Sit down with your subordinate at the beginning of the evaluation period. Discuss your expectations and goals for them, reduce these to a written format, and let them know you will be constantly evaluating their progress toward achieving these goals. Make sure the goals you are setting are practical and attainable in their current assignment. A bullet that states “make an impact in your assigned beat through interaction with the community” is generic and difficult to measure. Instead, tell the subordinate specifically what you want them to do: “contact three different neighborhood associations within your assigned beat and work with them to resolve criminal activity occurring in their neighborhood.” It is important to remember personal performance goals should seamlessly align with your unit, division, and department goals. It is important to conduct periodic follow-up with subordinates to confirm their progress toward achieving these goals. This lets them know you are paying attention and that you care about their career progression. Regularly Provide Performance Feedback Don’t wait until the evaluation is due, but provide formal and informal positive and negative feedback every time you notice significant progress, or a lack thereof. This is part of the continuous evaluation process mentioned above. Human nature tells us people respond better when feedback provided is specific and timely in relation to the behavior. Document, Document, Document Keep an ongoing log of all the positive and negative performance benchmarks you observe. I use a simple excel spreadsheet with fill in the blank blocks for a date and what significant performance benchmark I observed. Some departments now utilize electronic comments files to document these bullets. The point is, find a way to effectively document performance so you can write an accurate and specific evaluation. Be a Performance Coach Don’t wait for your subordinates to fail. Provide them training, direction, coaching, and constant feedback throughout the evaluation period. Performance coaching should not only be used to correct performance shortfalls, it should also be used to reinforce positive performance. Sometimes our folks need to hear they are doing a great job. Write an Accurate and Specific Evaluation There is nothing worse than reading your own evaluation and feeling disappointed your supervisor failed to recognize and document significant achievements. Whether we admit it or not, we all have a need for praise and acceptance by our leaders. Conversely, failing to document poor repeated performance can hinder a department from taking appropriate disciplinary action when an officer fails to improve their performance. The rule of thumb in writing a police report is “if it is not documented, it never happened.” It is much the same with evaluations. Accurately documenting poor performance and the steps taken to correct performance shortfalls (training, mentoring, and coaching,) is critical in the disciplinary process. Let’s face it; some subordinates stubbornly refuse to change their attitudes and behaviors. This can create a cancer in your organization if not properly dealt with. The STAR Model The military uses an effective acronym to remind supervisors how to properly document performance in an evaluation, STAR. Situation/Task – Describe the specific situation or task that needed to be performed given the circumstances. Action – What action did the subordinate take? Be specific about what they did to bring about the result. Result – What was the positive or negative outcome as a result of the performance action? What was accomplished? In closing I have a message for senior administrators: You are the gatekeepers of your organization. It is your responsibility to ensure all levels of supervision are writing effective, accurate, and comprehensive evaluations. You need to provide training to your supervisors to ensure there is continuity in the evaluation process. You owe this to the personnel in your organization. There is nothing more frustrating to your personnel than to see poor performance go unaddressed or superior performance go unrecognized. The evaluation process can have a profound effect on the moral of your organization, both in a significantly positive or negative way. Providing continuity in the evaluation process will lead to greater credibility for you, your supervisors, and your organization.   About the author Sgt. Steve Schrimpf is the Training/Personnel Sergeant for the Greeley, Colorado Police Department. Sgt. Schrimpf was a Police Officer in Albuquerque from 1991-1994. He has worked for the Greeley Police Department since 1994 and has served in various assignments including: patrol, traffic enforcement and reconstruction, criminal investigations, and hostage negotiations. Sgt. Schrimpf spent five years active duty in Air Force Security Forces and has spent another 19 years in Security Forces in the Colorado Air National Guard. He is currently a Chief Master Sergeant and Security Forces Manager for the 137th Space Warning Squadron in Colorado; in addition to his duties with Greely PD. Sgt. Schrimpf has 15 years of military and law enforcement supervisory experience. He also currently holds a Master’s Degree in Education; with an emphasis in Organizational Performance and Change from Colorado State University.   _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Tuesday,  February 16, 2010   Ga. cop ambushed, killed with high powered weapon First Atlanta-area officer to be killed since 2008   By Dan Raley The Atlanta Journal-Constitution CHATTAHOOCHEE HILLS, Ga. — People come to Chattahoochee Hills to escape the urban encroachment and anger. Yet on Monday, even this idyllic countryside setting southwest of Atlanta couldn't provide a safe haven for one of its own peace-keepers. After traveling down a dirt road shortly after noon, police Lt. Mike Vogt was ambushed and fatally shot by someone using a high-powered weapon, turning tranquility into a den of police activity. "We will be turning up the heat and trying to find the perpetrators of this horrific crime," said Col. Jeff Holmes of the Fulton County Sheriff's Department. Vogt, whose age was unavailable, was the first Chattahoochee Hills officer killed in the line of duty. It was a 14-man department in operation a short time. He was the first Atlanta-area law enforcement figure fatally shot in a working capacity since 2008, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page, Inc., Web site. A manhunt involving several police agencies was seeking two to three men riding in a late 1980s brown Chrysler. A blue pickup truck with a ladder in the back also might have been involved, police said. People in the area reported hearing several gunshots. Vogt was pulled from his vehicle on Vernon Grove Road near Hutcheson Ferry Road, possibly with a head wound, but police would not confirm their fellow officer's injuries. He apparently was able to drive his car in reverse 50 yards and send a radio call for help after he was shot. It was unclear whether he was able to return fire. Vogt died shortly after he was airlifted by helicopter to Grady Memorial Hospital. Patrol cars from several jurisdictions cruised the back roads around the crime scene throughout the afternoon. Fulton County police officers and sheriff's deputies and units from Coweta County, the city of Palmetto and the Georgia State Patrol were among those on the scene. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation likely will assume the lead role in the investigation, Holmes said. Vogt's slaying was a huge blow for the new city, which was cobbled together by landowners in the area with a bucolic vision: Stave off the encroaching suburban-style development while preserving their farms and woodlands. Chattahoochee Hills was created by referendum in 2007, becoming Fulton's 14th municipality with fewer than 3,000 residents scattered over 33,000 acres of rural countryside along Fulton's southern and western borders. Vogt was a perfect fit for this rural backdrop. For several years, he was an investigator for USF&G, an insurance company, using his skills in a manner comparable to law enforcement. He eventually doubled up as a reserve investigator for the Union City Police Department since at least 1990. "He was very personable and a good investigator and good interviewer," said George Louth, Union City police spokesman. When the insurance company started downsizing in 2007, Vogt was one of the first hired by the new Chattahoochee Hills Police Department. He rose quickly through the ranks and recently was promoted to lieutenant. He still drove patrol. "It's obvious from the emotions at the scene that a lot of people from the responding departments knew him," Holmes said. Vogt's family members contacted by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution declined comment or said they were instructed not to speak with media. Anyone with information on the case was asked to call the Fulton County dispatch center at 404-730-7955. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Wednesday, February 10, 2010 Chicago police face strict alcohol-testing rule Policy doesn't permit drinking 4 hours before duty By Fran Spielman Chicago Sun-Times   CHICAGO — Chicago Police lieutenants and captains would face random alcohol testing at any time, mandatory drug and alcohol testing whenever they fire their weapons and be prohibited from drinking four hours before duty, under contracts ratified Monday by a joint City Council committee. Some aldermen expressed concern that City Hall may be overreacting to high-profile incidents involving officers and alcohol. "If the guy's at work and he's been drinking, it does not necessarily mean that the guy's a dipsomaniac. He just had a drink. So, how do you deal with that?" asked Ald. Ed Smith (28th). Jim Franczek, the city's chief labor negotiator, said there would be a sliding scale of disciplinary actions for those who test positive in random tests. Lieutenants and captains whose random Breathalyzer tests range from .02 to .04 will be taken off duty that day, re-tested the following day and randomly tested for the next six months. If they stay straight throughout that probationary period, their records will be wiped clean, Franczek said. If they test positive again, they'll be subject to disciplinary action by the Internal Affairs Division. Lieutenants and captains whose first random alcohol test is over .04 will also be referred to IAD, Franczek said, "But they will have the option of inviting the officer to go into a rehab program." "We tried to balance this so that we get what we want but don't get what we don't want," Franczek said, acknowledging the possibility of "unfairness." Donald O'Neill, director of management and labor affairs for the Chicago Police Department, said the same reasonable approach would apply to officers tested after firing their weapons on- or off-duty. "If you're having a glass of wine with your wife at home and a bad guy breaks in the front door, you go for your weapon and kill the bad guy, we're not gonna discipline the officer for defending his family or doing what he legally has a right to do just because he had a drink," O'Neill said. "But there's other cases where there's something wrong with the use of force. Then, we will take discipline based on anything that was done wrong with the weapon discharge incident." The five-year contracts also include changes in disciplinary procedures, at the request of both IAD and the Independent Police Review Authority. Chicago Police officers are arrested for DUI at a far lower rate than drivers as a whole, but a number of high-profile incidents have put the issue on the political front-burner. In 2006, drunken off-duty officer Anthony Abbate was caught on videotape beating a female bartender. He was convicted in the attack, sentenced to probation and fired. Other off-duty officers were charged in a highly publicized brawl at a West Loop bar that happened weeks after the  Abbate incident. Those officers were acquitted and reinstated to their jobs. Last year, two off-duty Chicago Police officers who had been drinking were involved in fatal accidents. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Having to Loosen My Gun Belt--AGAIN Are the donut jokes becoming more frequent? JIM DONAHUE Process Problem Solving Contributor Officer.com I recently received an e-mail message from a reader. It started, "I've been out of the academy for a few months now, and my eating habits are in the pot." As a competitive bodybuilder, the writer hoped I could share a few tips or maybe write an article on the topic. Well, here goes. Does Any of This Sound Familiar to You? The guys on your shift are going out for drinks on a regular basis. You don't want to miss out. You want to be part of the crew--especially if you're a rook. Your gut tells you that it's happening a bit too much, but you don't know what else to do. You are working a shift (usually noons) that most days keeps you running call-to-call with little or no time for a regular meal break. You regularly find yourself so hungry that you'll eat whatever you can find--and all too often, it's a nutritional disaster. Your partner (or worse, your FTO) has terrible eating habits. He thinks that the best meals are the ones that are free. His waistline may not show it, but yours is starting to or worse yet, already does. In recent foot pursuits, the subject seems to be running faster than in the past. Your thoughts of going to the gym are met with various excuses. You are always planning to go to the gym and resume your workouts, "tomorrow." You find yourself avoiding scales and cameras. If you're beyond the rookie stage in your career, you might even be getting to work early so that no one will see what you go through to put on your duty belt. What has happened? You've gotten the dreaded "beer belly." Maybe better termed, the "cop belly." You've got the driver's seat in the car back as far as it will go to accommodate your gut. It's an effort to see whether your boots are shined and to make sure that the magazines on your belt are still there. Leather doesn't shrink. You're not a "growing boy" anymore. The subject of one of my past articles was how the law enforcement fitness model is broken. In a lot fewer words: recruits are forced to endure all kinds of tests and demands during the selection and training process. Those physical demands are far worse, in fact, than the job demands. Once on the job, too many coppers turn into lumps of lard for the duration of their careers. What's up with that? The writer of the earlier-referenced e-mail lamented as he told me his situation: "I'm on a severely fixed budget right now, and off duty isn't an option until my department allows it. With our ever-changing schedule, no time for meals, we've got calls to answer, Taco-Bell is always open lifestyle, what do you do for nutrition? Lord knows this is the one area my FTO was not up to par for leading by example." Wake up. This could make the difference between life and death for a cop. You already know why. You've heard it a hundred times before. What Can You Do? Is There a Shortcut to Being in Shape? I believe there is a basic truth about all humans: we all do what we WANT to do. No matter what the situation or circumstance, people will do what they want to do. Now, it's correct that having a gun to your temple will drastically affect what you want at any given moment. But, once the gun is gone, you will revert to pursuing a course of action that fulfills your wants. Many years ago, I was a motivational speaker for Weight Watchers. I would see people (most frequently females) who joined because of their dire need to lose weight in preparation for: a wedding, a class reunion, or the event-of-the-day. They could lose 50 pounds or more as they fanatically deprived themselves of nourishment. If I'd see those same folks six months following said event, all of the weight was back--and more. At the age of 40 I was obese--seriously overweight to the point where it threatened my health. Then, I lost nearly 100 pounds. It's been gone ever since. I learned early on that long term behavior modification would occur only when I was getting something that I wanted more than food. I didn't want to diet. I've never met anyone who did. People feel forced into it, but no one truly wants to deprive themselves of food that they want and like. I found a way to deal with it. I decided that I didn't want to lose weight. What I really wanted was to be thin. (Not skinny, but muscular and lean) And, I could continue to want to be thin no matter what my weight, nor how many years passed. I still want that today. So, tactic #1--Decide what you really, truly want regarding fitness. It's not a choice for anyone else, just you. You needn't tell anyone else. It's a private matter just for xou. Telling others what you want may cause you to make a choice based on what you "should" want rather than what would really please you. I remember deciding early on in my weight loss program that I wanted to go on vacation the next summer and be able to draw an admiring glance from women at the pool when I took off my shirt. Needless to say, I didn't share that desire with my wife. But, it kept me going for many months of tough dieting and workouts in the gym. Tactic #2--Think ahead. At the beginning of most weeks and certainly at the beginning of each day, I try to identify anything that is going to alter my normal eating plan. It could be Thanksgiving Dinner, a wedding, a beer brawl, going to Police Week in D.C. --whatever. Consider how you will adjust and compensate for what you will be doing. Changes shouldn't be severe or radical. Simple course adjustments will work wonders. Example: one donut eaten (or skipped) daily will account for 52 pounds of body fat gained (or lost) at the end of the year? Just one donut. Tactic #3--Never be caught without food close at hand. When I'm working in patrol, I make sure that I have a couple of energy bars in my duty bag. If I'm preparing for a bodybuilding contest, I have a cooler in the trunk with a range of food choices and drinks. I won't allow myself to be caught for a long time at some scene without food. The reality is that you're likely to do the most damage to your eating plan when you allow yourself to become too hungry. Try to eat something every couple of hours--even if it's just a piece of fruit or small package of peanuts. Tactic #4--Be a bastard about getting your food. When it's time to eat; it's time to eat. Make it clear to those in your life that there are some things in life that do not allow compromise. For you, food is one of them. Be as serious as a heart attack about it. I had a partner once who chided my demands for food. "Can't you skip lunch, just this once?" he asked. I responded in a very direct manner: "the next time you need to use the rest room, let's just plan on you waiting for six or eight hours ...How about we do that?" I made my point. Tactic #5--Make sure you choose food; don't let food choose you. Have you ever been to a wedding where long after the meal, you were given a piece of wedding cake? You probably ate it. Why? Most wedding cake is terrible. There is nothing worse than gaining weight from food that you didn't want, didn't like, or can't remember. When you go to the movie theatre right after dinner, you find yourself at the concession stand buying popcorn. You're not hungry. You don't really want it. But, you've just got to have it. That's called situational eating. Avoid this like the plague. One of the rules I learned at Weight Watchers: never eat food that is round, never eat food from a paper bag, and NEVER eat food that is handed to you through a car window. These are words to live by, indeed. Tactic #6--Don't be bullied into being fat. I recall working with a senior officer on a midnight shift while I was in the final stages of preparation for a bodybuilding contest. We went to a restaurant where I ordered grilled chicken breasts, a salad with just vinegar as the dressing, and I provided a container of rice for them to warm and serve as the carbohydrate with the meal. My partner thought I'd gone goofy for carrying in my own rice. Now this guy was far from lean. He had no room to criticize me, I figured. A short while later, this same guy was leading a meeting that I attended. He made a point of recounting the story of our meal and my rice. The entire group laughed. That is until I announced that I was wearing a pair of Levis with a 29" waist and asked what size his were. "Nuf" said. Don't let them push you around. When you go to the bar, remember that regular beer has 160 calories; light beer has only 100. You get three for the price of two. Drink slowly. Alternate alcoholic drinks with a diet Coke or water. Booze is generally very high in calories, i.e. vodka has 180 calories per ounce. Don't make yourself nuts over this. But have a general knowledge of the kinds of foods you want to eat a lot of and those that you should shy away from. Enjoy the foods you want IN MODERATION. If you want potato chips, pour some into a bowl. When the bowl is empty, you're done. Never, never, never eat chips from a bag. How would you ever stay aware of how much you've eaten? Until you get a handle on it, don't eat in front of the TV. Pay attention to what you're eating when you're eating. Eat slowly and continue until the hunger subsides. Don't eat until you're full, just to the point where you're not hungry anymore. There's a huge difference. Is chocolate your thing? Six Hershey Kisses are an ounce--160 calories. Put six into small baggies and throw them into the freezer. When you're really needing something sweet, take out ONE bag and eat it. Satisfying your mouth doesn't require a dump truck full of food. Remember that.   The BROTHERHOOD ...I Don't Give a Damn I took this job because of the benefits & a steady paycheck JIM DONAHUE Process Problem Solving Contributor Officer.com "It's not like it used to be," laments one of your buddies over coffee. "We used to get together after the shift for a beer. We played softball together. We partied together. When someone had a big project at home, we all pitched in and helped get it done. These young kids just don't care anymore." I want you to think about those guys. As you read this, I encourage you to imagine who it is in your department that best fits this description. Stay with me here. The scenario: the shift is really busy with calls backed up. You're down a couple of reports. Then, one of the guys ties himself up on a B.S. arrest that will take him out of service for a couple of hours, leaving everyone else to cover his area. When a list goes up announcing an upcoming overtime detail, this guy's name will always be at or near the top. Anytime you're near him, he's complaining--about something. Never a positive word comes out of his mouth. Another scenario: a group in your community plans a charity event--like collecting toys at Christmas to be given to kids whose families are facing tough times. The cops are invited to help. This guy only shows up if he's getting paid. Otherwise, he's nowhere to be found. If one of the guys on your crew is off for some time healing from an injury or long-term illness, this guy won't find time to stop by or even call. He's too busy taking care of his own wants and needs. Help someone on the crew lay some sod or rebuild a deck? Forget it! As for Police Week in Washington D.C.--are you kidding? This guy wouldn't think of burning the time, unless the department is footing the bill and giving him the time to do it. We all know "This Guy" too well. And, we're glad that he's not our partner. You find yourself wondering why he became a cop. If asked, he may or may not answer honestly. There's little chance of layoff. Retirement after 20-25 years. The benefits and retirement are generally better than the private sector, even though the pay may not be as good. Of course, there is some occasional excitement that fuels an adrenaline rush. This guy has no sense of camaraderie or The Brotherhood. He just doesn't care. You know this guy. You know his name, don't you? Heart of a cop I have a video from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. In it, there is a scene showing one of the Officers of the Month: Dennis Sullivan. Dennis says, "I truly believe that if you don't have the heart of a cop, you won't be a good one." Amen. Being a cop is first and foremost who you are at heart. Yes, it may also be the job you do. But you can have the job without being a "cop." Just remember the guy I described earlier. He's got the man-made credentials, but without a change of heart, he will never be a cop. Being a cop starts in the heart. It becomes a state of mind. It's a lifestyle. It flavors your decisions. It is the basis of your attitude. It's the warrior mindset. It's a willingness to fight for what's right, even if it costs your life. A sense of brotherhood Likely, the best experience of the Brotherhood occurs each May in Washington D.C. The NLEOMF and the F.O.P. create an experience that is an immersion in what it means to be part of this Brotherhood. I have been blessed with being there every year for most of a decade. First timers all say the same thing at the conclusion of their first experience, "this was my first time, but I'll never miss it again." That message is universal. Upon arrival, the presence of cops everywhere is in the air. Guys pepper the population wearing police garb. Many are carrying their badges on a chain around their necks. Cops permeate the region with flat-top haircuts and steely gazes. You see guys at the hotel. They're on the Metro ride into town. Arriving at The Wall stirs my soul with deep reflection: 18,000 names of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The most recent additions are freshly etched and on the bottom-most lines. There are letters from the kids of fallen officers with pictures saying, "I miss you, Daddy." There are notes from wives and family members attesting to their loved ones' call to duty and expressing the deepest pain of loss. The "work families" often post messages, pictures, and other tributes to their fallen brother or sister, as well. These names, these messages, and this experience is like no other. Words can only fractionally describe this most powerful moment. Throughout the week, we shared the very stirring Candlelight Vigil. We stood at the Capitol and listened to the President give thanks for those who have fallen and for those who remain on guard. We shared time over a beer (maybe two) in different venues. Each year, I leave with many new "old friends" who will remain for the rest of my life. The emotional exchange is overwhelming and the bonds created are permanent. My attempt to share it with you is like my wife trying to help me understand the experience of giving birth to our kids. I understand the words; I'll never comprehend the experience. The greater good I recently taught an eight hour block to new recruits at the academy. "You are joining a family. There are some benefits: you've probably received your last traffic ticket. But, remember this: for every one thing you receive, you owe at least a hundred in return," I explained. I am indeed fortunate. I am part of a close-knit group of cops. My group of guys have ensured that the family of an officer who had fallen on hard times had a fitting Christmas when they otherwise would not. We adopted officers in Louisiana who had lost everything in Katrina. We have been at the hospital when one was sick or injured. That's what it means to be part of this Brotherhood. Small things, big things, no matter. We are there. So does this responsibility now move to the recruits as its newest members. Critically important It is vital to our well being that we nurture this sense of Brotherhood and pass it along. It must be kept alive and made to thrive. Each year, Police Week reminds us that we are part of a very large family. We have a stake in the lives of each other. This Brotherhood is greater than even the largest agency. It spans the globe. This year brought brothers from Canada, England, the Netherlands, Italy and Australia to Washington D.C. Humans fight harder and longer when they are emotionally tied to the outcome. One example is a man fighting to protect his wife and children. He will fight to the death. Our military leaders have long recognized the need for the emotional bond between fighters. The Marines have spent a lifetime engraining the messages: WE NEED A FEW GOOD MEN MARINES--THE FEW, THE PROUD, THE BRAVE SEMPER FI This is no accident. Marines are recognized as The Force on this planet. They are second to none. They are prepared to give all without hesitation for the sake of their country and their brothers. That same emotional bond among cops causes them to excel beyond anything they ever thought possible. Our brothers become heroes every day. They will do their best when they have a strong emotional bond to those with whom they serve. What can I do? Get involved. The major events of Police Week are the Candlelight Vigil, which is held on the evening of May 13th every year. The second is the Memorial Service which is held at the Capitol on May 15th every year. In 2008, that's a Tuesday and a Thursday. Mark your calendar now. Join the Fraternal Order of Police. Read at least one periodical (Officer.com is an excellent choice). There are many from which to select. One will suit you. Do something TODAY! Something big or something small--it doesn't matter. But, do something! For those of you who were in D.C. this year: bring a new person next year. Just one. Invite them now. Help them with the cost, if you can. Remember the guy you had in mind at the first part of this article? He's an excellent candidate. Every Police Week attendee should strive to bring just one new person the next year. Your life may well depend on backup one day. Do you want that person to be driven by his emotional tie to you, or just there because the paycheck is steady? Think about the Marines. There's your answer. Get involved. Tie your heart to your career. Being a good cop starts in the heart and goes out from there. Come on ...your Brothers are waiting to welcome you! THE BROTHERHOOD: What Does It Cost to Belong? Is the current academy system destroying The Thin Blue Line   JIM DONAHUE Process Problem Solving Contributor I preach this to every academy class of recruits: "You're joining a Brotherhood. You have probably received your last traffic ticket. Most times, when you eat at a restaurant, you won't pay full price -- if anything at all." This is always greeted with grins and a few snickers. But then, I add, "always remember this: for every single benefit you receive, you owe a hundred times more back to your brothers." This usually draws blank stares throughout the group. I have been favored with a wonderful career opportunity. While practicing my skills as a cop, I travel across the country. I teach classes to cops. Some of it is in the classroom. But much of it happens one-on-one in the patrol car in small agencies and large agencies, alike, and in well-run departments and bad. I have seen cop skills that are across the board. I have been exposed to methods and tactics by the best. I have ridden with hundreds (maybe thousands) of cops and done my best to learn at least one thing from each of them. I've been able to incorporate their best into my own style. That's a gift few cops ever receive. While cops are reluctant to speak in a classroom setting, I find the opposite to be true in the patrol car. After working together for a short time, in most cases we relax and begin talking about everything and anything. Some guys share some very deep thoughts about their personal lives. Other times, it's about lifting weights (I'm a bodybuilder), good beer, or hot women. On occasion, the conversation even drifts to topics of police work (wink). There's a story I've heard dozens of times. It usually comes from a seasoned officer. "It's not like the old days, anymore," the cop laments. "These kids today are here just for the paycheck. We don't get together at the end of our shift for beer anymore. If someone's out sick or injured, no one seems to care -- much less stop by and check in," "Copping just ain't what it used to be. It's such a shame," seems to be the common message. They're right. Today isn't yesterday. Tomorrow and every day that follows will be different, as well. But exactly what are these seasoned cops describing? I'm one of the old dogs OK, I'm strange. I'll admit it. I'm middle-aged and have been a cop for just 10 years. It was a second career. I was the "old guy" in my academy class. Mentally though, I'm still 10 years old (much to the consternation of my wife). This approach gives me a great deal of latitude in my behavior. My chronological age makes me a dinosaur; my mental age makes me a kid. A strange mix, indeed. I've looked back over my career for examples of how one "pays their dues" in this Brotherhood. I've decided to share some short stories. The big events of Brotherhood are obvious: funerals, academy graduations, saving the life of a fellow officer. We all can recognize those moments. I think it's the smaller opportunities that are often missed. A LETTER TO THE EDITOR appeared in "American Police Beat" in September, 2003. It read (in part), "I was forced to retire on a medical in 2002 and I receive $831 monthly. My department made a lot of promises but so far not one has been kept. I have an $18,000 hospital bill and no insurance. I used to have pride, but I have none left. If any of my fellow officers know of a foundation or charity that I could call for help, please let me know." Our FOP Lodge banded together. We got the kids clothes. We sent food. We sent money for the utilities and other necessities. We saw to it that they had a good Thanksgiving meal and that their kids got everything on their Christmas lists. A Lodge brother in New York found a place to provide medical treatment. I could have skipped over that letter and no one would have ever known -- except me. I BELONG TO AN E-MAIL DISCUSSION GROUP restricted just to cops. There's about 3,000 members, worldwide. Some time ago, a cop from Connecticut posted that he would be traveling to my home town to take a pre-employment test for the feds. "Could someone recommend a place to stay," he asked in a posting. I could. At my insistence, he stayed in our home and I made a new life-long friend. It was a done deal. I WAS HAVING LUNCH with some pals from my (soon to be) agency. Out of the group, a young kid/cop (2 years on) seemed very sullen and troubled that day. I asked casually, if something was wrong. "Things aren't so good at home," he said, referring to his new wife and the struggles of being married to a cop. While the others were paying the bill, I got him off to the side. I reminded him that he's never alone, i.e. his brothers are there 24/7. No matter how difficult, he could always turn to one of us. Nothing big, but it drew a sincere handshake and "thank you" in response. POLICE WEEK in Washington D.C. during May each year has been termed by some as, "spring break for cops." Parts of it are, no doubt. On arrival each year, I wonder if that year will be the one where it becomes "mundane" or "routine," but it never does. The first visit each year renews my commitment to my brothers as I see the names that are freshly etched at the bottom of the panels. I look at the letters, notes, pictures and other items expressing both love and loss that have been left in the honor of a fallen officer. I look for fellow officers who may (at that moment) need an arm, a hug, a word of encouragement, or simply a knowing glance of affirmation that they are not alone. We stand together. We always will. I READ WITH HORROR the accounts of how a 3-year-old child of a friend/fellow officer in another city had found his weapon and the child killed himself with it. My friend posted to our list some of what he was feeling: loss, remorse, guilt and the pain of losing a child. He invited our prayers of support. The night after the funeral, I picked up the phone and called him. I simply said that his brothers encircle him; we love him; we know that he carries a burden too great to describe and that he does not carry it alone. Then, I listened until my friend ran out of things to say. I reminded him that both God and his brothers will always love him and that he can always turn to us for consolation. THE HOUSE THAT WENT SIDEWAYS is a story of how my best friend got into an investment in a house which made sense at the time. But, then the housing market went down and interest rates went up. Suddenly, he was losing financial ground every month and making up for it by working overtime and side details every waking moment. He doesn't have time for himself, for fun, not even to hit the gym for a workout. He can't go on like this indefinitely. There are no miracle cures. But, our brother was so embroiled in the situation that he couldn't see a way out. I found a real estate/financial advisor for him who knows how to handle this situation with limited pain. I will introduce them shortly. I'VE GOT A BUDDY FROM MINNEAPOLIS who sent an email saying that he was coming to my town. I hadn't known it, but he grew up here. His ailing mother still lived here. She had been taken to an area hospital and wasn't expected to live very long. He wanted to be at her side as her life ended. He wanted me to recommend a rental car company, which I did. Without forewarning, I showed up at the hospital room when I knew he would likely be there. I discreetly walked into the room, found my brother Bob, and introduced myself. I hugged him and told him I was there to share his burden and help in any way that I could. He was overwhelmed in tears. Enough of the stories. I could go on, but if you're still reading, you get the message -- the important points that I want to get across: None of these were big, earth-shaking events. No one would have known if I had chosen to ignore the opportunity to do something for a brother -- except me. These situations are best recognized through careful listening and watching, rather than talking and acting. Is today's academy system still to blame? I have worked with departments where they held their own academy training. Today we're more "enlightened" in the training process. Agencies are seemingly not smart enough to train their own cops without big brothers of a state agency telling them every move to make. Learning to be a cop used to be like learning an art form. One apprenticed much like an electrician or a plumber. Learning the elements was inextricably wound around learning the style and the art simultaneously. But, no more. Learning to be a cop today is now done in the sterile environment of academia. Of course, today's academies must be politically correct and properly sanitized. Gone are the days when guys in an agency knew their class number throughout their entire career. They worked the entire time with the same guys who were in their class. Most could name the guys in their class at any time, without much effort. You learned to be a cop by being a cop. You worked with a journeyman, so to speak, until you were judged by your peers ready to go it alone. Today's cop spends hundreds of hours in a classroom. Many of the instructors are so boring or poor at teaching that the greatest challenge is staying awake. And in the end, do we produce better cops? I suspect not. Most cops aren't considered "real" cops until they finish the FTO program, which is a modern term for an apprenticeship. How do we teach the Brotherhood? Yesterday's cops learned about the bond of the Thin Blue Line by watching their training officers. They went along when someone on the crew needed help at their home with a project. They stayed at the end of the shift for a few beers out behind the station. They were in the car when a senior officer stopped by the house of another, who was either sick or injured. They watched this in their formative years. Like young children watch and learn from their parents. Today's learning experience (regional academies) preclude it. If the Brotherhood is to survive, those who understand its tenets must step forward and take responsibility to teach the young. Call the coordinator of your local academy and offer to speak to the class about The Brotherhood and how it has affected your life. If there isn't time available during regular classes, do it while they eat lunch. But, do it. Offer to mentor a small group of recruits in the academy. Take them on shift with you as often as possible. Let them see "real" cop work while they're doing their book-learning. Join the honor guard in your department and ask one of the 'rooks' to join with you. Listen, listen, listen and watch the young guys in your department. If you sense that one of them is troubled or struggling, privately ask if they need anything. It's a chance to remind and show them that we stand together. Young people learn much more from watching than they do from listening. If you have the chance to take a shift assignment with a newbie, do it. Use the time to ask and learn about him. Ask how he's handling the stress of the job. Share your experiences. Don't every "tell" him what he should do but rather let him know what has worked (or not worked) for you. We must remember that the "old dogs" had a very different front-end on their careers. They learned from a different bunch of guys. They were taught that the bond of The Brotherhood was equal in importance to nearly everything else they would do as a cop. They learned it from Day One. Today's young cops probably have not had the benefits that we did. If they've figured it out for themselves (as many have), they've done it differently than you or me. The seasoned veterans are responsible for proactively teaching. Don't be afraid of sharing the message. I train cops around the country. I arrive at an agency ahead of class with enough time to ride for part or all of a shift. My understanding of the agency and its people is far from deep, but I do the best that I can. My class material is about 50 % on the specific subject matter (usually technology), 25% on the tactical implications of that technology, and the remaining on the obligations we have to our Brotherhood. Nearly every class concludes with reviews or verbal comments that thank me for including the messages about our fraternal obligations. Many question why it isn't part of our formal curriculum. Good question. The answer: education eggheads don't have clue. So, the Brotherhood gets swept aside. Only we can stop the erosion. One cop at a time. You and me. It's up to you. What will you do TODAY to strengthen our Brotherhood? Only you know. As my Dad used to say to me, "make sure that when you look in the mirror each day to shave, you're seeing someone you're proud of." I'm doing my best. I hope you are too. Sunday, May 11, 2008 9:16:58 PM The Brotherhood: Police Week - Why Should I Go? Is it really just spring break for cops? WHO HAS BEEN TO WASHINGTON D.C. FOR POLICE WEEK? I hold classes for cops across the country on the topics of technology and tactics. As I finish the course material each time, I turn to the group and pose the question above. Of a group of maybe 20, I might see one or two hands. Maybe none. "Who has heard of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in D.C.?" I continue. Thankfully, most of them have. It is then that I try to tell the story. I must admit that explaining Police Week is like my wife trying to share her experience of child birth with me. She uses words that I know (or can look up). The words somehow always fall short of making me feel what she felt. I know it's the same in a classroom with a group of cops. Words alone just don't cut it. Yet, I hope to touch a nerve or strike a chord in the heart of just one of those cops. I hope to light a fire in the heart of just one. Most of the time, the effort succeeds. For that I am grateful. WHAT IS POLICE WEEK LIKE? It starts with the preparations. I feel a spark inside as I make the hotel reservations. I talk to my past travel companions, confirming who will be going each year. We always reminisce about what we did in years past (though carefully not admitting to anything incriminating in front of our wives). We wonder what this year will bring - much like a starry-eyed kids wonders what Santa will bring for Christmas. Having lived in Detroit until last year, D.C. was within driving distance. We could make it in 7+ hours by car (DON'T ASK). Now that I'm in Florida, I suppose air will be the only practical choice. The trip there feels like Christmas Eve Day did when I was a kid. I am eager with anticipation. It's tough to sit still. It's almost impossible to focus on any of the things my wife or boss wants me to do. The last time I felt like that was in college when a VW bug full of us traveled from Michigan’s cold to a South Florida beach in March/April. Yippee! I'M AWED I've been part of Police Week six or seven times. With each repeat visit, I think that it will feel like "old stuff" this time. I sort of fear the "been-there, done-that" sense will set in. It doesn't. On arrival at the hotel, it's swarming in cops. They are in plain clothes. Many have their badges hanging around their neck. Many don't. But there is no mistaking them for who and what the are: COPS. It feels like arriving at a huge family reunion that is already underway. After unpacking our gear, we jump on the Metro (tin gets you on gratis) and head for Judiciary Square - the Wall. Let me explain the geography. The Wall in total takes up most of a city block in central Washington D.C. The Wall itself is actually in two sections sitting at opposite sides of the Memorial, shaped like parenthesis. It is shrouded in manicured trees and shrubs. In the center is a reflecting pond and a large NLEOMF badge etched into the granite surface. The Wall is divided into panels (sections). On each panel are the names of the 18,000+ fallen officers that have been etched into its stone surface. The newest names are always on the very bottom rows of each panel. You now have a sense of what it's like, from a physical standpoint. There are usually throngs of people there. Along the Wall are mementos that have been left there by friends, by survivors, and by agencies from all across the country. Those mementos tell a message of love and of loss. Some start out, "Dear Daddy... I miss you..." The totality of the experience is overwhelming - to say the least. Grown men are shaking hands as old friendships are renewed. There are pats on the back. There are eyes filled with tears and hearts filled with pain, everywhere. Each year, I've worried that I won't "feel it." That hasn't happened so far. Each year is as touching as the first time I was there. I hope it always will be that way. I've really never kept track. But, I suspect that our visit consumes a couple of hours of time as we pay homage to the new names and comfort the survivors who have lost someone that's close. It's sort of like going to a funeral for few hundred of your closest family members all at the same time. We visit. We laugh. We cry. We try to bolster one another through the rough spots. FINDING BEER For most, this is a "must-do" function on the Washington tour circuit (wink). It is nearly a 24x7 activity. Nearby one finds a few familiar haunts: the Irish Channel Pub, the F.O.P. Lodge #1, and the F.O.P. Beer Tent which has dozens of vendors selling every kind of cop thing you can imagine - and some that you can't. If you decide to hang out at the Irish Channel you can almost bet that sometime late in the evening, a group of pipers will round the corner from the Memorial, march up the street, and join you in the pub while playing Amazing Grace and everyone holds their beers high in remembrance and respect. The beer spots will be jammed with cops. Yet, there will be no arguments. Aaaah yes, cops, guns, and beer... what a great mix (wink). Everyone acts as if you are their best friend, I guess, because you are. There are no strangers here; only family. This is another part (a very important part) of the family reunion and the experience. You will see more cops in once place than you've ever seen anywhere before. After a beer or two, you will come to the realization that our family is greater than any single agency, greater than all of the bad bosses, greater than any state, it is the greatest body you could know. And, you are part of it. THE EVENTS Truly, there are events for everyone. I can't do all of it justice here. However, there are two web sites that are listed below for your ease of reference. Events go on all week. There is the Blue Mass, the Law Ride (motormen), multiple gatherings for surviving family members, the Emerald Society Pipe Band Service, Honor Guards from everywhere standing at the Memorial (24x7), and the arrival of the Unity Tour, just to name a few. To me, the peak of the week is the Candlelight Vigil. It is always held on May 13th at dusk at the Memorial. There are famous people giving speeches. There are songs sung that will stir your heart. There is the awe of watching a sea of 25,000 candles come sweeping to light as we hear Amazing Grace sung and watch a laser driven Thin Blue Line appear over our heads. We hold our candles high, inspired at the notion that our fallen brothers and sisters are looking down from above and can somehow see those lights and our tears. Then, there is the Final Roll Call where the name of each officer that has been added to the Wall that year is read aloud for all to hear one last time. We stand together (yes, about 25,000 of us). We cry together. We pay our respects together. We grieve together. We try to support the Surviving family members whose pain is even greater than our own. Being cops, once that's over, we try to find solace in a brown bottle with an adult beverage inside. (wink) We usually do that until the sun starts to rise. (sigh) The Police Memorial Service is always held on May 15th on the steps of the Capitol. Since I've been going to Police Week, it has been attended by thousands of cops, mostly in uniform. Every year, President Bush has spoken to us. The names change, but the message is clear and resonant. He extends sympathy and gratitude for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and simultaneously thanks those who continue to stand guard over our freedoms. I guess I am most impressed by what follows his speech. Each year, our president spends 3 - 4 hours, away from the lectern, greeting each member of every surviving family. No matter what your opinion of his politics, he has a deep and abiding respect for our Brotherhood and all that it contemplates. THE REAL REASON YOU SHOULD BE THERE A couple of years ago, I decided to take one last walk by the Wall on the night before our return trip home. I had been with brothers, consuming a few barley-pops, and thought it would be my last chance to see it for another year. I had begun my walk down the east side of the wall. I was trying to soak in the totality of the experience: the new names etched at the bottom, the wreaths or remembrance, the cards, the pictures, and the notes taped carefully in place. I came upon a young man, I'd estimate about 25 years old. He was stooped before the Wall, touching a name etched there. The name was at the bottom, so I knew it was newly added. It was obvious that he was crying. A woman of about the same age stood behind him, touching him lightly on the shoulder. I stopped and stood next to him. I too, touched his shoulder. He stood up and looked at me with tears streaming down his face. I asked of the relationship to the person on the wall. "He was my FTO," the man struggled. With that, he hugged me and sobbed on my shoulder. I held him tight and reminded him that his FTO is now in a better place. I also reminded him that he will never be alone. Never. After a few moments, we shook hands and parted company. THE LETTER Just before leaving, I came upon the most profound memento of the entire week. I saw a single sheet of loose-leaf paper, complete with 3 holes that had been taped to a very low spot on one of the panels. The writing was in pencil. I stooped over to read it. It looked like a memo, with headings and all. It began - TO: Officer Joshua Mathew Williams FROM: Your daughter, Lisa DATE: May 14, 2004 Realizing what it was, I checked the area, and sat down right on the ground in front of this panel so that I could fully absorb that letter. Dear Daddy, I am 13 now, and am really growing up fast. I'm very different, looking like a young lady. My mouth looks like the front end of a Cadillac because, you see, I have braces. I am playing soccer this year and I was in the school play. I just had a small part, but I did my best, because that's what you taught me to do. Johnny is 10 now, and he really makes me mad sometimes. But, Mom says that I have to be patient because he's my little brother and we all need one another. We're doing OK, but I know that Mom really misses you. I see her sitting in her favorite chair looking at your picture. I think she cries sometimes. We miss you, Daddy, and we wish so badly that you could be here. Love, Lisa P.S. Thanks for taking the time to paint the pictures of the sunsets, Daddy. They are hanging in the hallway. I see them every morning when I get up. They remind me of you and how lucky we are to have a Daddy like you. EPILOGUE I have read that letter to the students of every class that I have taught since that day. I've made sure that a copy is in their student books. We can't tell this story too much. Spring Break for Cops? Maybe. For me, it's a time to recharge, refocus, and get my mind around the "Big Picture," once more. If you're a cop who stays in the job simply because it is a regular paycheck, stay home. You'd probably just get in the way. Otherwise, if you're a cop in your heart, be there. If you're a cop to the center of your being, show up. If you're a cop with all your heart and soul, you need to share in this experience. Do it once. Chances are you'll never miss it again. Comments? Questions? Thoughts? I welcome them all. You can reach me by email by clicking on my name below. I hope to hear from you. More important: I hope to meet you in D.C. in May. Jim Donahue is a native of the Midwest, getting his education at Michigan State University. At mid-life, he has spent most of his life working in his own business, has been an elected official, and most recently has embarked on a career in law enforcement. Jim has worked with police departments across the country on process improvement at the patrol car level, focusing on technology to improve tactics, safety, and productivity. He instructs in a variety of police academies and having taught "Technology and Tactics" to thousands of cops in-service nationally. He is an accomplished grant writer. Jim has worked as a reserve officer, initially with U.S. Customs & Immigration at the Detroit/Canada border in the year following the attacks of 9/11. He has also worked as a patrolman on the street in a suburban Detroit community. As a new resident of Florida, Jim anticipates that he will be working (part-time) as a street cop for a local agency. Jim is married to Paula and they have two children. Jim is a competitive bodybuilder, with six contests to his credit. Jim is active in his community and his church. reprinted with permission from officer.com-webmaster     Sunday, May 04, 2008 The Brotherhood: It's The Small Stuff This article is like an episode of Seinfeld: about nothing & everything It's Saturday morning. I'm a few hours past the deadline for this article. My editor will soon be breathing down my neck. I hate being late. It's been a hectic couple of weeks as I've been away from home and procrastination has gotten the better of me. I expect this article will be short and maybe a little bit sweet. It will be the last one before my annual pilgrimage to Washington D.C. for Police Week. This article is about me. More importantly, it is about you. It is another attempt to raise awareness of your brothers that are all around you. It is another reminder that we must take care of one another, because no one else will. I've been in Michigan for the last couple of weeks. My wife and I returned here from our new home in Florida. There was some business to handle. Most important, our kids, grandkids, friends, and my brothers are here. We needed to spend time with them. I want to tell you about some of the small events that come and go each day which are opportunities to reach out and help a brother. Some of these things were done to my benefit, others were done by me to benefit others. That doesn't matter. What does matter is that the opportunities were seen and acted upon. I guarantee you that you stumble across the same kind of opportunities each day, no matter where you are. Last night, I attended a fund raiser for Border Patrol Officer Richard Hedglen who works in the Detroit area. At 37, he is enduring his third go around with cancer. It is terminal. He may only live a few more months. He has a wife and two small children. They were all present among the huge gathering of fellow cops. Midway through the evening, Hedglen spoke to us from the DJ stand. He told us that about a year ago, he and his wife had a chance to move from the southwestern U.S. to Michigan - where their family lives. They decided to make the move and Hedglen said he was comforted knowing that he would be near his blood relatives. He worried though about whether or not the local law enforcement community would receive him as one of their own. With tears in his eyes, he said that he now knows that his brothers have surrounded him throughout this journey. As a group, we have stood at his side, shared his burden, and made our presence felt in their lives. He thanked us all. There wasn't a dry eye in the place. Later, I was talking with another attendee who said that he had never actually attended a fund raiser like this before. He had always sent a donation, but not gone in person. He resolved right then to show up, in person, whenever possible from then on. It meant a lot to a dying officer. It meant a lot to everyone. It's the small stuff. On Thursday, I found that there was a couple of hours open in an otherwise busy schedule. I could have gone to the bar with a pal and had a beer or two. Why not? I'd been really busy and deserved a break. Instead, I called the guy who runs a local police academy and offered that time to him. I could take an hour or so and instruct the recruit class of 30. The topic: as new members of the Brotherhood, what are your responsibilities? I told them about the small and the big stuff. I played a video about the Memorial in D.C. I told them of their obligation to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice: NEVER FORGET. I told them about what it's like to go to the funeral of a fallen officer - even when you don't know him. I passed around rubbings of names of cops I knew from The Wall and closed with a letter I'd found there one year written by the 13 year old daughter of a fallen officer to her Dad in heaven. I was done. There wasn't a dry eye in the place. I knew that I had planted a seed and could only hope it would grow. It's the small stuff. Planning a trip away from home has its challenges. I checked on line to learn that the cost of renting a car for use during our visit would be huge. Worse, at the last minute, the invitation to stay with a family member evaporated. I wrote an email and sent it to my Michigan brothers asking if anyone could recommend an inexpensive car rental as well as lodging options. Within a day, I had a response from one buddy who works for Customs (CBP) offering his extra car for free. Another buddy who I'd worked with and known since the beginning of my cop career said that my wife and I would be welcome at his home. The list of opportunities to reach out is endless. Our FOP Lodge helped a Maryland sheriff's deputy who had fallen on very bad times. A large group of us helped out 34 cops in Slidell, LA who lost their homes during Katrina. It can be as small as slowing down in order to help a fellow officer who is alone on a traffic stop - if needed... You can stay tuned in to the guys you work with and when something seems wrong, offer help or maybe, just an ear. You can do something right now. Today. This minute. Each of us has an enormous obligation to NEVER FORGET those 18,000+ cops who have made the ultimate sacrifice. We must remember them. We must care for their families. We have an obligation to comfort the brothers who worked at their side. If you have not given serious consideration to participating in Police Week in D.C., please consider it now. If you cannot go, find someone who is going and send a memento of remembrance for the Wall. Ask someone who is attending to bring you a souvenir. It could be a badge, a patch, a challenge coin; it could be the rubbing of the name of an officer on the Wall that you know or worked in your department. Visit the web sites that detail all that will happen and will even be updated as the Week unfolds. Links to the web sites are at the end of this article. No, I'm not being corny. On the evening of May13th, after dusk, say a prayer of remembrance for the officers whose names who are being added during the Candlelight Vigil as well as the 25,000 cops who will be there to share in the experience. Even if you can't be there physically, be there in spirit. Be there in your heart. Never Forget. It's the small stuff. It is up to us to carry the torch. It is our job to teach the young. They will learn far more from our actions than they will from our words. Consider it carefully. You only got through this life once. Do all that you can to be proud and be a credit to The Badge.