Preparation reminder
This week has been Police Week. It is a time set aside to remember those who
have given their lives in Line of Duty deaths nationally.
According
to the Officer Down Memorial Page (www.odmp.org)
in 2013, Nationally fatality statistics reported a total of 41, which is up
21%. These are reflected in the
following numbers: 16 by gunfire (up 7%), 15 by auto (up 36%), and 10 by other
means (up 25%).
Recent
deaths were reported in Polk County, FL, Shenango Township, PA, and Arizona
Department of Public Safety, AZ.
In
Alabama, we have seen a few of these fallen heroes. Since 2006, there are 25 officers who have
paid the ultimate sacrifice in Alabama.
We are familiar with Justin David Sollohub, of the Anniston Police
Department, who died in August of 2011 and Phillip Davis, of the Pelham Police
Department, who died in December of 2009.
Within the last year, in February of 2012, Steven Green of Mobile Police
Department was stabbed to death by a prisoner.
Then in November of 2012, Scott Ward of the Baldwin County Sheriff’s
Office was shot while answering a domestic call of a disturbed individual.
While we are
taking time to remember and memorialize these men and women, I have been
reminded of our motto as a Boy Scout. It
should be the motto of every law enforcement agent at all times: BE PREPARED.
During these
times, like Police Week, we think about the dangers and ultimate sacrifice that
an officer must make sometimes. We think
about the sorrow and sadness the families experience, the pain to the LE
family, and the actions those left behind can and need to take to prevent the
possibility of something like this happening in the future. While I believe these are good things
resulting from tragedy, I personally believe that we need to see our LE
community being prepared at all times.
Being prepared to
take preventive measures should be on the mind of an officer at all times. Whether it be a domestic call, a traffic stop
on a dark country lane, or proceeding through a four way. Each poses some form of unknown threat and
danger; the end result being staying alive.
We all want to go home alive.
These things are
true, but there is one more step to take.
This is as important as going home alive. We desire that LE members be prepared
mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Each of these four areas will cause problems
and struggles, leaving an officer dead while they are still living.
Each department
and office of the law enforcement community has resources and avenues to help
the staff deal with each of these areas.
The problem is that sometimes an officer thinks they do not need help,
they are “bullet proof,” and can deal with these things on their own. Preparation for the four areas, to some, is a
useless waste of their time and energy.
These individuals that accept this method of dealing with issues end up
destroying themselves, their family and interpersonal relationships through
deviate, demeaning, destructive methods.
They will turn to alcohol and drugs, an affair, suicidal thoughts,
internalization, fears and sleepless nights.
Yet, knowing there is a problem, they refuse to listen or submit
themselves to helpful, beneficial avenues to solve the issues which are
ultimately going to destroy them both personally and professional.
Mentally,
physically, emotionally, and spiritually an officer can deal with the issues
and pain which comes from traumatic events, as well as the mundane, normal
activities of the day to day routine.
Taking a vacation, adding an exercise program or changing eating habits
can make a difference in the way an individual deals with the first three
areas. Training events or conferences,
reading books related to areas outside of the individuals expertise, or talking
through a problem or event which has happened will be of great benefit in the
long run.
The spiritual side
of an officer is sometimes the most neglect area of their life. They see so much in daily routine that will
turn them to cynical thoughts and actions.
An office will view the world as corrupt and people as hopeless;
therefore ultimately attributing these things to the thought process that God
is not involved and a useless crutch to humanity.
The presence of a Chaplain in the life
of the LE community is just that: A PRESENCE.
Sometimes the Chaplain will not have to do anything, but show up and be
present. The presence offers calm, peace
in the midst of a swirling mass of mess.
At other times the Chaplain offers nothing more than a listening
ear. I often remind our deputies and
staff that talking to me is like talking to a lawyer; there is always and ever
a confidential relationship between the LE community and a Chaplain. The only thing that would bring that, is if
the information is illegal or poses danger to the life of the officer or
someone else. Then, I wil inform them
that I must help them share that information so we can deal with the
situation. Otherwise, what happens in
the patrol car or office; stays in the patrol car or the office.
As a Law
Enforcement Chaplain, I point out the areas where God is involved and active in
the life of LE officers. It might be the
quiet drive through the countryside, the near miss on a crowded road, or the
calming effect that reigns on a once combative and dangerous individual or
situation. When an officer is prepared
spiritually for the daily events, they will see these things clearly.
This is the reason
an officer needs to spend time developing this area of their life as much or
more than the other three areas of preparation.
An officer needs to pray at the beginning and end of their shift, they
need to pray throughout the day, and when they are facing an unknown call along
the way. They need to regularly read the
Bible, which is God’s instructive book for all things related to life and death. An officer needs to take time to attend
public worship with a family of God where the Bible is taught, where God is
exalted, and where people find answers for life in a relationship with the Lord
Jesus Christ. Lastly, it is important
that LE officers spend time with their family in private times of spiritual
refreshment, as well as public spiritual events.
§ Pray
§ Read
the Bible
§ Spend
time with a Family of Faith
§ There
is one more point here: Talk it out with a trusted friend who lives the
Christ-like life, a spiritual leader in a local church, or a pastor. The effects of this practice on a regular
basis will be seen in the LE officer’s life and the effectiveness of their
service to the organization in which they work.
Some will say that
they are strong without the spiritual.
They propose that they are capable of dealing with life if they take
care of their bodies, exercise the mind, and never, ever allow things to
corrupt or destroy them emotionally.
But, my thought is that such an individual is crippled and tottering on
the edge of a disaster.
Without a strong,
dynamic relationship with Christ and a firmly founded spiritual life, anyone
can succeed in this life and in the life to come. The Bible reminds us that we can do nothing
without Christ. Jesus taught that we are
to be a part of the vine in John 15.
Anything less will lead to a crippled, ineffective life.
“I am the true vine, and
My Father is the vineyard keeper. 2 Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes,
and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more
fruit. 3 You are already
clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to
produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you
unless you remain in Me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in
Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. 6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside like a
branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are
burned. 7 If you remain
in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for
you. 8 My Father is
glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples.
John 15:1-8 (HCSB)
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