Articles
The Professional
"Not long ago, we had an officer murdered here. The culprits were quickly captured, and later interviewed about the incident. They were in a car and were stopped by two different officers, less than a hour apart. They gave the
first officer no problem. They murdered the second!
When asked why they did not assault the first officer, they all replied they knew right away he was 'a professional.' Alert, focused, clear, sharp. Everything about him, from his exit from the patrol car, to his sharp personal appearance, to his eventual disengagement, suggested authority, strength, and competence. 'We all figured he was a tough customer, a dangerous dude,' they echoed in unison. 'It was our immediate and unanimous decision not to mess with him.'
Conversely, when the group was contacted by the second officer, they described him as confused, distracted, and sloppy, both in appearance and demeanor. They decided he would be an easy mark and would not react to their attack quickly nor with sufficient violence. Unfortunately, they were right!
Lessons: Half of being good is looking good. The best way to win a war is by reputation!
All uniformed officers should carry at least two "options". One they see, one they don't. "options" need to be out of sight and accessible to either hand.
Check your gear, particularly emergency equipment, regularly and without fail. Make sure it is present and in the condition it needs to be. Don't " assume," and don't depend on others. Test; don't guess.
Train for life-threatening emergencies regularly and intensely. "Let's pretend" training is largely a waste of time. Don't be afraid to spend your own money on legitimate training.
Many officers are alive today only because they were lucky. Never give into adversity. Never trust prosperity. And, never fail to take full note of fortune's irritating habit of doing exactly as she pleases!
