A POLICING NEWSLETTER SUPPORTING OFFICERS
THE ONLY TWO THINGS I AM AFRAID OF ARE: KNOWLEDGE ON ICE AND IGNORANCE ON FIRE!
Let’s get started!
While policing has changed a lot in the last few years, so has the world. Consider that a strategic plan finalized in 2018 has virtually no relevance today. While there are numerous negative changes caused by issues related to the pandemic, there are a few that were positive. An unintended consequence included churches that normally did not record and post their services did so and began to adopt that as a normal practice. The unexpected benefit was that church shoppers could eliminate a bunch of churches without a Sunday visit.
The Economist of London reported in early May of 2020 of the failure by Black Lives Matter activists to maintain traction on civic issues, just prior to the police custody death of George Floyd which resulted in police officer murder convictions and unbridled civil disorder.
The events of May 25, 2020, altered the strategic trajectory of policing far more than the effects of the pandemic, and highlighted the leadership issues that law enforcement had been experiencing for some time before.
1. Why this, why now?
If I could have found someone else to stand up and state the undisputed facts without inflammatory language, I would have gladly stepped aside. There does not appear to be a Plan B. (I have found some amazing contributors here on SubStack that you will appreciate too.)
Unfortunately, there is more than one enemy targeting your virtuous profession. Being the good guy doing the right thing doesn’t shield you from this new regimen of doubt and questioning, including being raked over the coals in the media with no support from your command staff.
I joined the law enforcement community because the seed was planted as a child a long ago while traveling into and across New York City on holidays to celebrate with relatives. The only people working those days were the toll bridge collectors and the police. I felt the police were serving a more elevated function and probably experienced more adventure so I joined them.
When I was in the academy, we were on the cusp of the O.J. Simpson trial and it was an opportune time to reconsider police procedure and evidence integrity. Every aspect of policing was questioned publicly during the trial of the century.
To those who read this in the distant future, there have been five in January 2023 and one in February 2023, Memphis Police Officers fired related to the death of Tyre Nichols. The five black police officers were charged with second degree murder without cause or manner of death from the medical examiner.
This newsletter was not launched because of this case. It is because of this case and the next one, the one after that and the one that finally affects you or someone you work with. This work has been in progress for several years and now with this platform, it is the right time to make this content available on a widespread basis.
2. What kind of community am I looking to build here?
The sole goal is to provide a resource of knowledge and best practices to the policing community at large. Officers are told that if they follow the training and practice the policies, upper level management will have their back. However, this has not been the case for more than the last decade. In fact, police executives have been quickly removed for incidents where they had no failing, other than backing their officers.
Our country needs the next generation to have some touchstones to navigate the future of policing. Some of our best will be sacrificed due to poor leadership but we need to provide truth to our front line officers and to the public at large that the strong blue line separates community from chaos.
3. Critical Success Factors!
The deliverable is a newsletter that provides value to the rank and file officers, deputies, and agents who suit up daily to keep our streets safe.
Three newsletters per week with one of those viewable without a paid subscription. The best content will be reserved for paid subscribers. This is the plan but not a promise.
For example, if you knew the truth about mass incarceration, you might plan a parade. If you had any idea of how well broken windows policing saved lives and how harm reduction models devastate minority communities, you would be better equipped to do your job. Also, data dumps from all the letter agencies will be translated into the practical news that street level officers need to have between their ears.
Also, the hotter the subject, the less you can expect written about it here. As you’ve heard, the lie makes it halfway around the world before the truth gets its pants on. There is no need to passionately discuss subjects, for example, prior to getting a cause and manner of death in a murder case. That would be unwise and is addressed in the subtitle.
4. Join and Subscribe
You and your friends are the business plan. The success of this Substack involves both the financial commitment of subscribing and sharing the topics of concern to you for future articles. Expect great guest writers and citations from the most level headed police supporters in the nation. What has happened to the American Peace Officer is nothing less than the most callous betrayal on record. For the sake of our nation, I pray we can turn it around.