From The Utah Peace Officer, Vol 83, Issue 1

VOLUNTARY SERVICE

There are important principles in which our beloved and remarkably effective democracy is rooted. Freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of religion are some of the more commonly recognized of these principles. These are documented in our Bill of Rights. We live these principles daily. However, there are other principles which are also vitally important to our democracy and our freedoms which are not so well understood, not so readily documented, and not so universally practiced. One of these is the principle of voluntary service or volunteerism.
Volunteerism is the willingness of our citizens to participate, actively, in our democratic society and its institutions - - official, unofficial, public, private, religious, secular, political, social, special interest, and common interest.
America is a diverse nation. Its landscape is broad and diverse. Its people come from broad and diverse backgrounds. Its interests, needs, and activities are broad and diverse. Now, diversity is a good thing. Diversity is what makes a metal alloy strong - - a gold ring, like one we may wear on our finger, would be weak if it were pure gold and not an alloy of diverse metals. Diversity is what makes an exercise program effective. A diverse investment portfolio is desirable because this type of diversity reduces risk. The diversity of America gives rise to a plurality of interests. This plurality of interests, and our ability to embrace this plurality, is what makes America strong (Iraq is struggling because it cannot embrace plurality and it will not value diversity). One of the ways we celebrate this plurality of diverse interests, or pluralism, is through a broad, diverse network volunteer organizations, special interest groups, and clubs. Think about it, there are clubs, groups, and associations for just about everything - - wildlife, trees, birds, ducks, philosophies, causes, kids, museums, schools, rock and roll, art, sports, hospitals, doctors (AMA), lawyers (Bar Associations), and even peace officers (UPOA).
And yet, pluralism is more than a celebration; pluralism and voluntary service serve a practical purpose. We see how diversity makes our nation stronger and more secure. Our participation in, and our service through, these volunteer organizations is the very fabric of our nation. It is how we get so much of the necessary work and political process of our society done. We don’t depend on our government to do it all. We all pitch-in to lead a scout troop, coach a little league team, raise funds for the indigent, teach the illiterate to read, or serve in a professional organization. The economic value of this service in the United States very significant and would be measured in Trillions of dollars if it could be measured. The social value cannot be measured in dollars and most certainly exceeds the economic value in terms of the good work that gets done.
Also, most of our volunteer efforts, through this celebration of pluralism, have an important political impact. It is through this network of volunteer organizations and efforts that our diversity as a nation finds expression. In our system of government we have a constitutionally established method of checks and balances - - a legislative branch, an executive branch, and a judicial branch. In our society we have an unwritten doctrine of pluralism which creates checks and balances through an informal process of countervailing forces. When the pendulum swings too far on one side or the other, it is this network of pluralistic interests which pulls the pendulum more near the center.
Voluntary service then is a vitally important principle for our American way of life. Voluntary service through pluralism is a celebration of the value we place on diversity. This volunteerism accounts for a significant contribution to our economy. Americans, through voluntary service, find important political expression which serves as countervailing force to moderate extreme political swings.
Voluntary service: just show up and vote. That’s how we keep American strong - - politically, socially, and economically.<

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From the Utah Peace Officer, Issue 82, Vol 4

VALUES AND PRINCIPLES

Values are not to be confused with principles. As Dr Stephen R Covey explains in his national bestseller book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, “A gang of thieves can share values,....”
Values are like an on-off switch. The light is on – the light is off. If we value a certain principle, then the switch is on. If we do not value a certain principle – then the switch is off.
Principles are natural laws or agreed upon standards or codes of conduct. An example is The Law of the Harvest: plant in the spring; water, weed, and feed in the summer; harvest in the fall. We may or may not be switched on to The Law of the Harvest, but whether we are or are not does not change the efficacy of this law or principle.
Some natural laws or principles are correct principles and some may not be. People with character value correct principles. People who lack character, like the band of thieves in Dr Covey’s example, may still share values. The problem is they may value an incorrect principle.
Can there be incorrect principles? I think so. It has been said that there is an opposition in all things. If one can teach correct principles then it follows that someone can teach incorrect principles.
An example of an incorrect principle might be The Law of the Jungle - - might makes right. The law of the jungle says the strong rule at the expense of the weak - - the lion king eats his weaker subjects. On the other hand, King Arthur, of round table fame, advocated a more correct principle. He taught that might should be used for right - - might for right.
As Americans, we share some common values. Many Americans value certain correct principles such as the principle of Human Dignity which is embodied in the Declaration of Independence - - all are created with equal rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
As peace officers in Utah we share a value of this principle of Dignity and many other principles. We value the principles of Justice, Integrity, Diversity, Honesty, Quality, Excellence, and Professionalism to name a few.
Values and principles are not the same thing. What matters is that we stay switched-on to, and celebrate our value of, correct principles.

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From the Utah Peace Officer Issue 82/3

WHAT WE ARE


One young officer in our department commented to me on his impression that the UPOA is rather like a bowling league. Apparently he felt that organizations, like the UPOA, were for old duffers with time on their hands who joined such groups primarily for social reasons.
This is useful feedback. Either we hadn’t successfully conveyed our message or, worse yet, we may resemble a bowling league more than we had realized.
Let’s clarify a few of the facts here and now. The Utah Peace Officers Association (UPOA) is the premier law enforcement association in the State of Utah. The UPOA is the oldest and largest association for law enforcement in the State. The UPOA is an association of law enforcement professionals. Now, whatever else we do, this is what we are - - a professional organization.
Professional organizations, in any field, are the active stewards for professional standards in that field. Professionals in any field can be identified by 5 hallmarks. These hallmarks are 1) standards for required knowledge, 2) standards of necessary skills, #3) standards for appropriate ethics, and 4) standards for desired continued education. The 5th standard is for association with other professionals in that field. It is through this association that standards are maintained in a dynamic profession like law enforcement.
The Utah Peace Officers Association has a long history of promoting, establishing, and maintaining professional standards in law enforcement. In the 1920’s, the UPOA actively supported the establishment of the Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) - - the original name of the UPOA was “Utah State Division of the International Association for Identification.” In the 1930’s, the UPOA was instrumental in establishing a statewide radio system and in providing the necessary training, statewide, to make this system work. During the 1940’s, it was the UPOA which helped to create a uniform accident reporting system. In the 1950’s, the UPOA played an essential role in the operation of a police academy. It was in the 1960’s that the UPOA helped organize POST - - Peace Officers Standards and Training. The establishment of POST, and the professional standards it maintains, marks the point at which law enforcement in Utah crossed the line and became a true profession.
And today, we cannot be a profession without the required association with other professionals throughout the state. If we want to be thought of as a professional, we must join together in a continuing effort to promote, establish, and maintain professional standards. That’s what professionals do, and that is what we are.

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