The Utah Peace Officer, Issue 1, 2008

Discretion -

Time flies.  It just seems like I received the last issue of the magazine and it is time for another one.  Just a few reminders come to mind before I start on another subject.  The mid-winter conference is coming up in St. George January 30^th through February 2^nd.  This is usually a time to renew friendships, meet new people and get some training.  I hope to see you there.

With mid-winter around the corner, that means that summer convention isn’t far off.  Once again we will gather in the Logan area and exchange stories while having a good time. 

We all worked the street and many still do.  Everyone uses discretion, but the officers on the street have and use a great deal of discretion.  The nature of an officer’s job regularly requires the exercise of discretion.  Discretion is the power or right to decide or act according to one's own judgment; freedom of judgment or choice.

Each and every officer who works each day makes many important decisions throughout his or her shift and many while off duty.  Officers must frequently involve themselves in contacts with people throughout their shift.  In a traffic violation the officer must decide what action, if any, he is going to take.  This action is usually pretty broad and the officer may have many decisions to make.  For a traffic violation does he issue a citation, a written warning, a verbal warning or just ignore it all together?   

In exercising discretion, an officer must be able to analyze the situation, taking many factors into consideration.  Can you imagine not having discretion?   I think not having discretion would cause utter chaos.  Everything would basically be zero tolerance and community oriented policing would be over.  Community Oriented Policing is supposed to be about solving problems.  Imagine having to give a citation on all stops rather than a warning.  Sure, you have brought the driver into compliance, but I think you would agree that this could have been achieved, some of the time, with a warning, but you have to use your judgment and your discretion.

I was an officer for over 28 years and never did I ever understand that my primary job function was to arrest or cite every offender at every opportunity. 

Every situation involves different circumstances.  An officer will rarely, if ever, be able to thoroughly analyze all of the factors involved in every contact.  But, an officer is expected to use his training, knowledge, and experience to make an appropriate and reasonable conclusion.

My belief is, not everyone needs a citation to bring them into compliance.  Sometimes a written warning or even a verbal warning will get the person into compliance.  Isn’t that what the goal is? 

Discretion is a valuable tool in law enforcement.  A little understanding goes a long way, but don’t let compassion lower your awareness of officer safety issues.

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The Utah Peace Officer, Issue 4, 2007

Integrity

Integrity, we talk about it all the time. It is a big part of modern police work. But do we know what it really is? The UPOA coin that is given with each membership has engraved on it “Excellence In Integrity.” In the UPOA Values Statement integrity is the first thing listed, stating, “Ethical behavior is expected in all facets of each member’s life.”
After reading the Peace Officer Standards and Training Council disciplinary action each quarter one sometimes wonders if we all know what integrity is. The definition of integrity is: a steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code and soundness of moral character and honesty. Integrity is the foundation of good character. Without good character how do we expect to do our job?
As peace officers on various departments the public holds us to a higher standard. But, we should not worry what the public thinks. We need to ask ourselves what do I think of myself if I do a dishonest act or fail to do something that is required. Everything we do, those watching around us scrutinize all of our actions. Is it fair that we have to answer to the media, citizens and our superiors for our actions? Maybe we shouldn’t have questions asked by the public and media, but how else are we going to stay honest? I think it is fair to ask questions. How else do we expect the public to have trust and confidence in us?
As the new UPOA President, a retired police officer, and the new Director of the Dixie State College Regional Police Academy I firmly believe that we need to be held to a high standard. Each of the new recruits for the regional academy has been interviewed and understands what is, and what will be, expected of them both now and in the future. Throughout the training this will be reinforced time and time again. Each of them will be held to higher standards, both now during their academy experience and later when they are working for an agency.
We read all too frequently of officers who violate the public trust and they pay the ultimate price, decertification and revocation of their police powers. One wonders, what price did they pay to lose their integrity? Was it that quick drink before work, or that simple taking of public property, or a sex act? It seems that the sex, alcohol, drugs, and theft are the main things that peace officers are being disciplined for.
Every time a peace officer does something wrong and they are disciplined, the public loses confidence in the entire peace officer brotherhood. While only a very small portion of peace officers are disciplined it reflects on all who are in the profession.
Having integrity will bring a peace to us. When our actions are questioned and if the act was done with integrity we can have peace. We need to take an inventory of ourselves to see if we have anything hidden away in our lives. We must not rationalize a lack of integrity. By taking integrity lightly we only harm ourselves. In the long run we will not escape consequences of the choices we have made. Most dishonesty owes its growth to self-justification. Don’t let yourself justify something that is wrong.
I urge each of you to teach by example the values of honor, integrity and honesty to those officers just starting a career. Show them that you are honorable and can live by example.
The rewards of integrity are many. One is the peace we have with ourselves, knowing we are doing what is right. Another is an absence of guilt and anxiety. One more is the confidence that acting with integrity gives when we approach someone in need. Let us strive for integrity in everything we do, regardless of how small it may seem.
The world desperately needs men and women of integrity. Every day we as officers deal with fraud, misapplication of funds, false advertising, and other law violations designed to obtain gain by cheating or deception. Let us develop the integrity that we honor in others. By keeping our integrity, we keep honor in our chosen profession.
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