YOU GOTTA SERVE SOMEBODY

Bob Dylan said it well in his classic song – “Gotta Serve Somebody”  http://www.bobdylan.com/us/songs/gotta-serve-somebody 

from the album Slow Train Comin’

You may be a state trooper, you might be a young Turk
You may be the head of some big TV network
You may be rich or poor, you may be blind or lame
You may be living in another country under another name

But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re gonna have to serve somebody
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody

FAITH? IN THE FIRST RESPONDER COMMUNITY? FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE!

 First I’ll state the obvious. Law enforcement experiences, what we see, smell, experience – breeds cynicism.  Working so focused on the bad in society, it is easy to lose sight of the good.  Moreover, seeing the terrible carnage, mangled bodies, and inhuman treatment inflicted on victims – especially when it involves a child – the emotional damage is deep and lasting.

Honestly, the only way we survive is through what I call a “cast iron shield” over our heart. Perhaps not a psychological term, it nonetheless adequately describes the defense mechanism our mind uses to survive. Without it, an officer will wash out an emotional basket case.  I learned about it in counseling, after talking about life in growing up in an abusive home, all I witnessed in law enforcement, etc.  The counselor mused that I was the “most emotionally shallow person he had met,” because as I talked I was emotionally flat lined.  He explained the idea – that I developed a “cast iron plate” over my heart to protect my emotions. In essence, we learn not to emote.

The tragic truth is, the very shield that protects our emotions on the job, easily can shatter relationships at home.  We can take off the uniform, the gun and badge, but the cast iron shield stays put.  This is one reason 75% of LEO marriages end up in divorce.

However, another victim of the job, of the cast iron shield and the visual and emotional trauma and cynicism is our faith.  Many officers grew up in a faith environment, attending church. They believed. But time on the job, especially for those who become an LEO after military experience, faith gets crowded out by the harsh reality of life. The job feeds the cynicism; it hardens the cast iron shield.  And, the work schedule distances us from church and starves our faith for lack of input, not to mention peer pressure from those who have been there longer.

I know. I lived it.  I joined the 229^th Military Police Battalion in ‘70 and then the Norfolk Police Department (VA) in ‘73, where the guys who came on in the 50’s and 60’s trained me. Hard cases. My life centered on the job, first on patrol, then as a detective working burglary squad. They knew I was active in Church, and called me “deacon.” The pressure to fit in, to be as tough as they were took its toll.  Church attendance slacked, even when I could go.

There was a direct impact. My language, physicality in arrests, and my cynicism blended easily. No one made me change – I chose that path.

After a year, with NPD I met Drew Grant.  He and his Dad, the Police Chief, Charles D. Grant Sr. chose a different path.  They embraced their faith, walked it daily. Drew became my partner, and honestly, thank God for two man units. I could easily see just how far I drifted. Without any condemnation, Drew’s life caused me to reevaluate my choices. Only once did he openly challenge my choice. I was ready to strike a person when I could just have easily chosen not to – and he suggested the latter. That saved my future, and made possible what I do today.  We became partners on patrol, and went to the detective bureau together. Today, after all these years, we remain close friends, and he was the first call when I launched Serve & Protect asking him to join my board.

Now, do not be confused. When it was necessary, Drew got just as physical as the next officer. We got in our share of fights. He was every bit the officer as anyone else, but expressed it rooted in his faith.

Faith is not something you do, rather, it is who you are. It is all about a relationship with God through His son Jesus, and a choice to surrender my will to His will.  Moreover, it is a commitment to live life in accordance with biblical principals.  For me, it was a return to what I knew in my heart was right. Yet, it was not a sacrifice of doing great police work. We made as many arrests on the street, and closed as many cases in the detective bureau as anyone. In fact, we had a great closure rate with confessions. The guys with whom we worked saw us live the faith through who we were and our commitment to them and our work.

So what difference does it make? It gave us greater courage in dangerous situations knowing God had our backs, He had our best interest in mind.  It meant that no matter what happened, we were secure in knowing the ultimate end. It was freeing, liberating, and gave courage based not in our own strength but in the One who watches over us.

Case in point.  It was 1978, just months before I resigned to enroll at Columbia Bible College. Another officer called us and provided information through an informant about a break-in at a bar. He knew the suspects, and said they would be armed. After a records check, it was clear they were violent. We made a plan with our Sergeant, Bobby Wash. Drew and I met with the owner and he agreed to lock us in his bar. We had units close in the area, and all units were directed to stay clear.

We entered the bar ready to rock. I had a sawed off shotgun. Once inside, Drew and I developed a strategy. The suspects were going to go down a hall to the office and hit the safe.  Once they entered the office, Drew would throw a glass into the bar area, and I would go to the hallway with the shotgun.

To wait for the suspects, we went behind a piano on the dance floor.  There we knelt and prayed that God would protect us, and allow the night to go according to His plan.

Soon, we heard a noise at the entrance, a double wooden door, locked with only a padlock in a latch. We could clearly hear them prying, hammering, and cursing the lock that would not give. Professional burglars could not open the lock. For several minutes they tried. Soon, and every department has one, another officer drove past the bar shining his spotlight on buildings – despite our explicit instructions to stay clear. Needless to say, the guys fled.

Who can say what might have been? Could we have affected the arrest?  We certainly wanted to. Would our weapons out gun them?  We will never know. God did not give that answer – yet. Had they entered, there would have been a shootout. We knew it was very likely from the onset, and were prepared to do what was necessary – FYI – we did not have vests then. Though we did not have all the answers, we were confident in the outcome.

Sometimes, however, God does let us know how our actions affect others, as well as our own well-being.

A friend in the FOP served as an LEO for years. In effecting an arrest, he engaged in a shootout, during which the suspect was killed. As the suspect lay on the street dying, the officer knelt by his side and prayed for him.

The suspect was a member of a mean family of brothers. My friend was in a diner one night when a person entered, walked to his side and said – “that man you killed, well he was the good one of the family. His brothers are going to kill you.” Sometime later, the officer was assigned a prisoner transport. On arrival at the jail, the guard advised that a prisoner wanted to speak with him – it was one of the brothers of the man he killed. He agreed.

In a holding room, the officer sat across the table from the dead man’s brother.  “You killed my brother, and I have one question.  We were told that after shooting him, you knelt beside him to pray. Is that true?”  The officer acknowledged it was true.  “One of our brothers flew home from the military, a sniper, and we were going to kill you until we heard what you did. We decided to let you live.”

Cause and effect was clear. The officer’s faith, his decision to kneel and pray, saved his own life later.

So the “so what” is simple. Who has your back? Who can see what the result of your actions will be and can move in your heart to respond a best way? You know. Only God.

We are a people of evidence. It will do me no good to try and convince you if faith has never been part of your life experience.  All I can do is tell you what I have found to be true, and this is it – God is real. The Bible is His Word to man, revealing His plan for the world, and the only means of knowing Him.

But before you can accept the Bible thing, there is the God issue. In recent years, top scientists, leading atheists, hardened philosophers have had to reevaluate their belief system. All because of DNA. For years, we have pointed to the symmetry in nature, the uniqueness of man from all other animals, and so many evidences that this world is not the result of a random act, rather the result of an intelligent design. If there is a design, there is a designer. God. Now the Bible seems more plausible.

Please do not take my word.  Chase the evidence. First, listen to former atheist Lee Strobel, a lawyer and leading writer at the Chicago Tribune – http://bit.ly/iDO70 . Hugh Ross is an excellent resource http://www.reasons.org/ , as is William Lee Craig http://bit.ly/aG8cvV .

Now for those who have drifted from your roots, come home. Sure, you can still be a tough guy, but you can learn to relate to others – your family in particular – better with a renewed heart. Follow the evidence.

This article was first published in large part in Law Enforcement Today http://bit.ly/K8ziej this week.

About the author –  Robert Michaels is a veteran of law enforcement, serving both as an MP with the 229^th Military Police Battalion for 6 years, and Norfolk Police Department for 5 years, both on patrol and as a detective. He earned a B.A. in Biblical Education from Columbia International University and a M.A. from Wheaton College in Communications, and is an ordained minister. Rob is the CEO/Senior Chaplain of Serve & Protect, dedicated to the emotional and spiritual well being of Law Enforcement, FireRescue, Dispatch, and Corrections through a 24/7 Coast2Coast Crisis Line, Chaplain Services, Life Skills Coaching, and the Guns’n’Hoses Bible Fellowship. www.serveprotect.org. They also have a news feed at www.facebook.com/serveprotect. Rob also serves as a Chaplain and Sergeant at Arms for FOP Lodge 41 in Williamson County TN, where he is an active member. He can be reached at rob@serveprotect.org, or 615-373-8000. He is available to speak at events, churches, mens groups, criminal justice classes, and groups.

COMMUNICATION IN A LEO MARRIAGE

Serve & Protect welcomes Allison Uribe back for a second article on marriage within our community of professions. Allison is a LEO wife, and serves as a Chaplain, both with Serve & Protect and San Antonio PD. She is author of  Because I’m Suitable, and is a contributor to Law Enforcement Today, where this article published yesterday - http://bit.ly/KJ6UyF. 

Communication, it comes in many forms. We communicate with the words we speak or those we write, but we also speak through our actions. I am sure we have all heard this phrase, “our actions speak louder than our words.” So, what is it about our actions that leave an everlasting impression?

The word communication is derived from the Latin word “communis” which means to share. Therefore when we communicate with words or actions to our LEO, we are sharing. Too often we are told to practice random acts of kindness to others – most of the time to strangers. There are many forms of communication we see and hear about, but when it comes to marriage, communication can be one of the most difficult aspects to truly master. How awesome would it be if we practice those random acts with our very own spouse? How awesome to put our love into action!

When we communicate through our actions, we can achieve much more because we have reached the heart. We all have a love language. It’s important to find out what our partner needs from us. It’s expressing what they already know, how much we love them. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres”

(1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

After reading that verse, I immediately knew the love I was communicating to my spouse was not even close to such a description. We must decide to seek God’s wisdom on how the love we communicate to our LEO reflects God’s definition of love. Of course, our love may never line up to such a degree, but with God, we can strive to come as close as possible. Learning to love as Christ did is one of the most amazing feelings one can experience. Who better to love in such a way than our spouse?

Love brings about expression and the desire to fulfill an unselfish task. After all, love is an action word! The most beautiful expression of love recorded in history is that of the cross. It is the image of our Savior stretching out his arms and dying for each and every one of us. The beauty of his unselfish love and his dying for our sins so that we may have life- such beauty cannot be compared. No one can understand or comprehend its power.

God’s word says in Genesis 2:24, “This is why a man shall leave his mother and father and be united with his wife and they shall become one flesh.” If we are one flesh, hurting my spouse would be hurting me. It’s so true because when one of us hurts, the other hurts. If we argue, both of us are upset. If we are happy, we both rejoice. Shakespeare said it best, “my heart is at your service.”

Here are a few ways to put your love into action:

ACTS OF KINDNESS:

Notes- A piece of paper can go a long way. You can write a simple thank you, I love you, or I’m proud of you. These ways of communication can make anyone smile. It would be even better found left by keys, in a uniform pocket, or inside a wallet. Blaise Pascal said, “Kind words do not cost much. Yet they accomplish much.”

Cook their favorite dish from time to time followed with candlelight. Have children? Do it anyway. Not only will you be able to have a candle light dinner with your spouse but your children will think it is so much fun to sit in the dark and eat. This could become a weekly event! You could also pack your LEO’s favorite snacks before they go on duty or prepare their protein shakes.

I am sure many of our officers have inspections from time to time but why not surprise them by shining their boots or preparing their uniform for the next day?

Who doesn’t like massages? Perhaps even a foot rub! We all know the duty boots can be uncomfortable when worn for long periods of time so why not cap it with a foot rub?

Allow a nap! Many of our law enforcement officers face so much stress on the job, how nice would it be to allow them to come home and rest.

QUALITY TIME:

Do your best to spend time alone with your spouse. Schedule a date night or put the kids down early and watch a movie. Invest time with your partner. We all have hobbies, learn your spouse’s hobby and find a way to enjoy it too!  Take time to simply listen or even sit in silence. Remember, we make time for what is important to us.

AFFECTION:

As your spouse is around you, pick random moments where you can reach out and touch their arm, kiss their cheek, hug them in passing. While out in public, reach over to hold their hand.

Intimacy is of high importance in a marriage. Be sure to not neglect this area in your marriage.

GIFTS:

Either buy a gift or make a gift! It’s the thought that counts. Who said gifts have to be given on holidays or birthdays? These can include a favorite candy bar, soda, gift card, basket filled with goodies for a big game, or some cool gadget.

As you go about your days communicating with your spouse, remember that what you do is sharing your love, care, and ultimately leaving an everlasting impression. You will notice that as you perform these acts of kindness and service your spouse will soon follow your lead. Albert Schweitzer said, “Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.” Let’s lead the example, put our love into action, and leave an everlasting impression each day to the one our heart loves.

Allison P. Uribe is an auxiliary chaplain with the San Antonio Police Department.  Allison’s husband has been a San Antonio police officer for 10 years.  She is also a chaplain with Serve and Protect, whose mission is to serve the spiritual and emotional needs of law enforcement, fire/ rescue, dispatch, and corrections.  To learn more about Serve and Protect, contact them at www.serveprotect.org or 625-373-8000.  Allison is the founder of Wives on Duty Ministries, designed to support and encourage wives of law enforcement and other emergency services through the word of God. For more information contact www.wivesonduty.com or email Allison at wivesonduty@att.net. Allison attended Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas. Currently, Allison is a lead community chaplain and student with Global University Berean School of the Bible. She is the author of, “Because I’m Suitable-The Journey of A Wife on Duty”, geared toward wives of law enforcement. To get your copy today go tohttp://www.amazon.com/Because-Im-Suitable-Journey-Wife/dp/1449740839

BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE WITH A LEO

We are happy our new Serve & Protect affiliate Chaplain Allison Uribe is part of our team. She is the founder of Wives on Duty, a Chaplain with San Antonio PD, and author of a new book – “Because I’m Suitable, The Journey Of A Wife On Duty.” Links to her site and book are at the conclusion. This article also appeared in Law Enforcement Today. http://bit.ly/Ij2eVV.

“Almost no one is foolish enough to imagine that he automatically deserves great success in any field of activity; yet almost everyone believes that he automatically deserves success in marriage.” –Sydney J. Harris

Looking back at the many challenges I have faced and continue to face as the spouse of a law enforcement officer, I wonder how society’s concept of success in marriage affects our thinking about a truly successful marriage.  LEO spouses face unique marital circumstances.  Sometimes it seems as though everyone but us knows the true way to seek that joy in marriage.

I recall a time when I listened to a few women discussing how they keep their marriages stable. Each of them had their own solution, customs, and way to maintain a successful marriage.  Many of these solutions involved a weekly date night, spending an hour talking each day, putting the kids down early for time alone, and other ideas.  Finally, one of the women said, “I think the key to a great marriage is prayer.”  I thought the idea of prayer to be brilliant as a person of faith, but also as a wife.

Each marriage is different and each individual person is different.  We have to find ways and keys to the success of our particular marriage.  A successful marriage is not something you have from the start.  A successful marriage is one that has learning, forgiveness, hope, support, and, most of all, encouragement.  The woman mentioned prayer, prayed with hope and sought a heart of grace, support, and encouragement, all the while asking to learn to obtain these great attributes.

We have to remember that we are all imperfect, as are our marriages.  By relying on God and seeking him each day in prayer, we can seek to obtain our personal level of success.  In leaving our trust issues with God we express hope.  Hope is defined as “to expect with confidence.”  Hope is something we express when we pray.  When we pray we are saying we trust God to handle our troubles, and we have a hope that all is well.  Hope in a marriage is important, because love hopes!

The battle is on for our marriages today.  The fight can be so exhausting at times that divorce seems like the answer, but love perseveres through all!  When we act in love we grow stronger.  Law enforcement spouses face unique battles, such as the high stress of our spouse’s work, constantly changing shifts, long work days, and the toll the job takes upon our loved ones.  We must decide if we are going to allow these battles to defeat us or if we are going to take them head on, emerging victorious and successful.  We must look at divorce head on and the difficulties of marriage and choosing to stand against it.  We must choose success!

From the moment we said “I do,” we made a vow to our spouse.  We must understand that each vow cannot be sharpened and fulfilled without failure.  It’s not about having a picture perfect marriage or home but it’s about growing together and learning from each other.  We have to learn to grow into our successful marriage.  Not only will you benefit from falling and learning, but your children will also see that failure can be a good thing because they tried.  It’s not how hard you fall, but how you rise afterwards.  How amazing a victory to know you persevered and never gave up.  This is what ultimately creates success.

The Hebrew scriptures say, “In all your ways, acknowledge God and He will direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:6)  One way we acknowledge God is by seeking him in prayer for the protection of our spouse as they serve our cities, counties, and country.

What is your definition of success and what do you think will bring success to your marriage? Many people will give you ideas and ways to seek success in it, but ultimately your victory lies in your hands.  Having said that, we can only do so much, but God can do the impossible.

A law enforcement wife once told me that she invited God to her wedding by getting married in the church, but she didn’t invite him into her marriage.”  How often do we fail to leave our circumstances and problems in the hands of God?  As spouses, we must be ready to assist in advancing our officers and homes in the kingdom of God and into their blessings and victory.  We must not see this as work, but as a divine appointment.  We must care for whatever God has placed in our path.  So, I ask you this, what is success to you?

Allison P. Uribe is an auxiliary chaplain with the San Antonio Police Department.  Allison’s husband has been a San Antonio police officer for 10 years.  She is also a chaplain with Serve and Protect, serving the spiritual and emotional needs of law enforcement, fire/ rescue, and corrections.  Allison is the founder of Wives on Duty Ministries, designed to support and encourage wives of law enforcement and other emergency services through the word of God. For more information contact www.wivesonduty.com or email Allison at wivesonduty@att.net. Allison attended Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas. Currently, Allison is a lead community chaplain and student with Global University Berean School of the Bible. She is the author of, “Because I’m Suitable-The Journey of A Wife on Duty”, geared toward wives of law enforcement. To get your copy today go tohttp://www.amazon.com/Because-Im-Suitable-Journey-Wife/dp/1449740839

DEBT RELIEF STRATEGIES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIRE/RESCUE, and CORRECTIONS

This post was written by our friends at Law Enforcement Life (www,lawenforcementlifeinsurance.com). Though originally written for Law Enforcement, it is great information for FireRescue and Corrections as well. Financial strain is a significant factor in depression, addiction, and marital failure. It is good to have a roadmap, a champion, and hope.

Debt Relief Strategies

As Police and Law Enforcement officers, you work hard for your money and deserve every dollar you make. The challenge is keeping more of what you make while not running out of money at the end of the month.

The challenge is that life is so unpredictable and filled with unforeseen situations that can create a tremendous amount of financial stress unless you take the right precautions.

Here are 10-Basic Debt Relief Strategies for Police and Law Enforcement Officers that can help you avoid the financial pitfalls common with many LEO’s today:

1.Avoid impulse spending: This is a big one. Avoid eBay or trips to Home Depot when you’re bored. Look straight ahead while standing in the checkout line. In other words, don’t buy something you were not all ready shopping for. If you didn’t need it before, you don’t need now.

2.Don’t use a credit card unless you have the cash to pay it off by the end of the month: Avoid thinking you can pay-off that Flat-Screen with the next over-time check. “OT” is just too unpredictable. Use credit cards for emergencies. Consider an AMEX card, one that requires you to pay it off each month. When making payments on revolving credit cards avoid just making the minimum payment, if at possible, double your payments or at the very least, make a payment and half each month. This way you will pay down the balance faster and pay less interest in the long run.

3.Tear up credit card offers you receive in the mail: Do you know why credit card companies are always offering those 0% interest credit cards? Because most folks forget to pay off their balance within the given timeframe and end paying huge amounts of retro-active interest to the credit card company. This is true with other “Buy-Now-Pay-Later” offers through department stores. Walk away when you’re tempted at BestBuy!

4.Set up a budget and stick to it: Believe it or not, everyone has a budget whether they know or not. Each month, money comes in and money goes out. The problem is, more times than not, is more money goes out then comes each month. Create a realistic budget and stick to it. Don’t bet on the “come”, all too often the “come”doesn’t come and we get on the credit roller-coaster.

5.Live within your means: Put simply, don’t buy what you can’t afford, don’t abuse credit and avoid the traps mentioned above.

6.Don’t buy more house than you can comfortably afford: I guess we’ve all learned our lesson with this one.

7.Don’t make speculative or high-risk investments: If you don’t understand it, don’t invest in it. If the investment does not have a history of success, walk away. If it sounds too good to be true it’s probably not true.

8.Don’t incur joint debt with others who have questionable financial habits: If you sign on any “bottom-line” with another person, you’re on the hook if the other person defaults. We all have folks in our lives that we want to help out from time to time but the truth is, no one knows the future. Another risk we incur is when we co-sign for auto loans. Usually this means your name appears on the vehicle registration as well, placing you co-liable for any accidents where the driver of the vehicle is found at fault…this could be a big disaster in many ways.

9.Don’t build your budget around overtime income: With many departments cutting back on “OT” many officers are finding themselves trying to jockey their finances to make ends meet. This is a common yet avoidable situation. Do not use OT to pay for revolving debt or make such purchases based on OT income. As we all have learned OT comes and goes so don’t rely on it.

10.Make sure you are adequately covered by Life Insurance: If you have loved ones at home who rely on your income make certain you have adequate Life Insurance protection. Most departments offer only basic survivor benefits for an Off-Duty End-of-Watch. Make certain you know the details of the plan being offered by your department. Your goal should be to have enough Life Insurance to where your survivor can live off the earnings of the invested death benefit. In other words, a $1,000,000 death benefit invested at 7% would produce $70,000 of investment income to your loved ones.

The key to success is maintaining a high degree of discipline and persistence. These steps must become a part of your everyday lifestyle. It’s very easy to fall back into the “credit/debt trap”, it sneaks up on you slowly. Avoid compromise at all costs. It will hurt for the first few months but once you get used to it, you will begin enjoying the benefits of a debt free life.

INDIANA LEGISLATURE: A REMINDER WHY WE NEED THE BLUE WALL

IN TIMES LIKE THESE WE NEED THE BLUE WALL 

People wonder about the infamous Blue Wall. Some call it the Blue Shield, the Code of Silence and other things. In years past, it was associated with corruption, misconduct, and misguided protection. I personally knew those times in the 70′s. Thankfully, those days are gone for the most part. And thank God I had a partner who cared enough to help me understand more clearly the error of that mindset.

However, the Brotherhood of Law Enforcement, the Family of Blue, exists in the heart and soul of the fraternity of officers. If one bleeds, we all bleed. If one hurts, we all hurt. When one is threatened, we are all threatened. Emotionally and fraternally, the Blue Wall is seen in the massive motorcade of an officer funeral, in roadblocks getting a wounded brother to the hospital. It is a safe haven of support, encouragement, and family.

When the Indiana legislature passed to committee SB 1 (see bill below), which endangers the lives of officers in that state, the internet lit up with posts on social media, emails, and phone calls – brothers and sisters who never met, but who are part of the grand family of noble law enforcement officers, ralied around our family in danger. By whatever name, this Blue Wall, built with the heart and soul of officers across the country, came together to help brothers in need.

My friends, this blatant attack  on law enforcement by the legislature in Indiana has been characterized as open season on law enforcement. Perhaps out of misguided reasons, maybe for some out of a personal distain for law enforcement, this legislative body opened the door for officers to be shot if a citizen “reasonably believes” the officer is acting illegally.

They allow the average citizen  to make a very subjective determination that may end an officer’s life – as long as that citizen “believes” he has the right to defend himself. This allows for the potential death of an officer. And if the citizen who made that decision to shoot the officer believed wrong – well, they will be arrested for shooting an officer (this argument was given to me by a legislative aide). That is little consolation for a family losing a husband, Dad, and provider. THE OFFICER IS STILL DEAD!! A trial will not bring him back. There are no mulligans.

Yet if the officer was in fact acting unlawfully or in bad faith, rather than receiving the same benefit of charges and a trial the legislative aide mentioned for the citizen, the punishment may be death. You read the law. The fine print of restrictions is lost to Mr. Citizen, only hearing legislators saying they can shoot if they “believe” the officer is wrong.

The Indiana State Legislature has in committee the following:

DIGEST OF SB 1 (Updated March 1, 2012 11:52 am – DI 84)

Self defense. Specifies that a person may use reasonable force against any other person in certain circumstances. Provides that a person is justified in using reasonable force against a law enforcement officer if the person reasonably believes the force is necessary to: (1) protect the person or a third person from unlawful force; (2) prevent or terminate the law enforcement officer’s unlawful entry into the person’s dwelling; or (3) prevent or terminate the law enforcement officer’s criminal interference with property lawfully in the person’s possession. Specifies that a person is not justified in using force against a law enforcement officer if: (1) the person is committing or is escaping after the commission of a crime; (2) the person provokes action by the law enforcement officer with intent to injure the law enforcement officer; (3) the person has entered into combat with the law enforcement officer or is the initial aggressor; or (4) the person reasonably believes the law enforcement officer acting lawfully or is engaged in the lawful execution of the law enforcement officer’s official duties. Provides that a person is not justified in using deadly force against a law enforcement officer who the person knows or reasonably should know is a law enforcement officer unless: (1) the person reasonably believes that the law enforcement officer is acting unlawfully or is not engaged in the execution of the officer’s official duties; and (2) the force is reasonably necessary to prevent serious bodily injury to the person or a third person.

The issue actually came up after a lawsuit over a domestic dispute http://bit.ly/ABjBr1. It supposedly “corrects” a IN Supreme Court decision disallowing citizens to respond in such a manner. Legislators say this will protect officers and balance the law. REALLY?

Think about what this law says to abused wives or children. Should a wife call 911 reporting being beaten by her husband, Police are dispatched. However, suppose the abusive husband “believes” his wife deserved the beat down. When Police arrive, the husband “believes” they have no right to enter. They come in, and he shoots.

But let’s play this scenario out. The abusive husband shoots the officer who is simply responding to a call for help from a battered wife. We now have an “Officer down” call.

There is no referee to call time out to access what the husband believed, or understand his state of mind. The Officer down call results in other responding officers, perhaps SWAT. Then, a shootout is likely. This husband might have believed he was right to shoot, because this absurd bill in Indiana said so, but after shooting an officer, he will likely be bagged and tagged.

If the bill actually becomes law, Police might require a wife to leave the house and take out a warrant before responding. Work for you? Did not think so. Domestic violence is far too important, and far too many wives and children are abused at the hand of a husband/father who “believes” he is right. This law protects the abuser behind a shield of what he “believes.” It directly risks life and limb of abuse victims, leaving them in grave danger.

What about drug dealers, child molesters, and rapists – I’ll bet they do not “believe” officers have the right to come in to affect an arrest or search warrant. Absurd you say? Think about the way laws are going.

For years, media have used the term Blue Wall as a derogatory term, implying its existence is solely to protect officers from wrongdoing. In decades past, the impression of a bad cop hiding behind the Blue Wall had some validity – as I said, I lived it in the -70′s. Yet it is just as true that in decades past, media have painted the cop wrong, convicted him/her in the pages of their paper or on their air, destroying a reputation, only to bury a retraction with the obits.

Today, departments are considerably more sophisticated and professional.  Psychological screenings, professional training, oversight by field training officers, and no nonsense leadership keep most officers serving with integrity. Are there bad apples – yes, like bad legislators, doctors, lawyers, reporters, etc.

Today, the Blue Wall exists for protection when false accusations or wrongful media attacks happen, solidarity, a symbol of brotherhood, encouragement, accountability, and confidence brothers have your back. No longer is it a safe haven to hide one’s wrongdoing.  Rather, it exists to serve and protect those who serve and protect.

The Blue Wall functions much like circling the wagons in the west, or in the same way as warriors formed a circle with shields facing out for protection.  Those who serve together protect together, and that includes our own. It is necessary.

The Blue Wall extends north and south, east and west, and is built stone on stone, officer on officer, held together by courage, honor, integrity, and loyalty. Yes, it is a safe haven, like a family. It is a sight to behold. You see it today because of Indiana’s absurd legislative decisions.

Why is this idea of a Blue Wall of officers united in solidarity important? Law enforcement is under attack across the country. Consider the following numbers:

• Department of Justice reports more than 59,000 officers were feloniously injured in the line of duty 2011, an increase of almost 15%! This includes shootings, stabbings, and other serious injuries.
• 177 officers died in the line of duty 2011, third most deadly year since 2000.
• Of those who died, Gunfire was the leading cause of those deaths (71), exceeding deaths by traffic accident (64) – a first
• Forensic Examiner Magazine published a FBI report stating every 17 hours a law enforcement officer commits suicide. Suicide in law enforcement claims the lives of somewhere between 4 & 10 times the number of line of duty deaths when retired or disabled officers are included. Lack of consistent research means detailed  stats are unavailable.

One of the core reasons Serve & Protect was founded was to address issues that do harm to the Homeland Heroes who serve in Law Enforcement, FireRescue, or Corrections. Our mission in this respect is to challenge, object, and refute those putting our Homeland Heroes in danger. The very legislators who rely on Law Enforcement for their own safety are willing to marginalize the lives of those who would stand in harms way to protect them by passage of this horribly conceived, misguided, irresponsible bill.

We support the call by our friends at Advocates for Public Safety:

Here is the contact info for Gov. Mitch Daniels of Indiana:
Phone: 317-232-4567
Email: visit his website at www.in.gov/gov/2631.htm, click on Email the Gov.
Lets do it like this: Start calling the phone number to ask the Gov to veto Senate Bill 1. You can also go to http://www.in.gov/legislative/index.htm and start calling all Republican and Democrat representatives and ask them to withdraw support from the bill.

This really is a matter of life and death. Indiana must put the lid back on Pandora’s box!

Follow our newsfeed – www.facebook.com/serveprotect for updates, or on Twitter @serveprotect. While there, “Like” us.

THE DAY I ENTERED HELL’S GATES

Our hope is to address needs of all in our focus, including Law Enforcement, FireRescue, and Corrections. Serve & Protect Advisory Board member Paul Spears II, author of this post, is a veteran corrections officer. He is also serving with us as a Chaplain to those in Corrections today, and is CEO of Harpeth Protective Services based in spring Hill.

It was Monday, January 2, 2002 and I arrived at one of Tennessee’s most notorious prisons – Turney Center Industrial Prison and Farm. It had been a staple of our community for years. It was a place where one could draw a better than average wage for the area and benefits. It was also a place that only the strong willed could work. Stories of riots and stabbings filled the air prior to the start of my career there.

In fact the prison ranked among the top of the state’s other prisons in terms of staff killed in the line of duty. For anyone who lived nearby you for some time, you knew someone who worked there and more than likely knew someone who was hurt on the job behind the fence.

I was determined to be the best in my field. I was so excited that I finally had a great paying job, benefits, and a government retirement at such a young age. I was to be married in a few weeks and had become a successful Church of Christ minister. Many warned me of the dangers that the job would influence on my personal life – I shrugged them off and said I am better than that.

Reality was that I had just walked into the devil’s snare and had no lifeline. I graduated from the academy in March and was so proud to wear the uniform and was more than ready to get to work. Before I could even settle in, I found out quickly that being the police in a prison is a whole other ballgame.

Correctional officers must face two battles – 1. The public’s perception & 2. The job itself.

I quickly found that my job was thankless and I was often seen as just a guard in a jail. I will never forget being told by a cop that I had known for years that I was not a part of law enforcement and should not identify myself as much. Obviously he had never read the law nor had he worked in prison.

Every day that I walked behind the fence I walked into a city of almost 2,000 citizens. During my shift I would respond to burglaries, fights, fires, suicides, drug related crimes, and homicides. The only difference in my city and the outside world was that it was made up of convicted felons.

For many of my fellow officers it was disheartening to come to work because the public viewed us as not really doing a lot, fellow law enforcement disowned us, and it seemed as though no matter how many crimes we foiled or solved it would never make a real difference.

In reality our world was filled with violence, negativity, and corruption. We could not trust anyone. We could never leave our guard down. But for many of us this became overwhelming.

Within six months of graduating the academy I had resigned from the church where I was serving as a youth minister. I was working Sunday’s and found that I was often missing other church services when I was not working. Slowly my choice of language transformed to rival that of a sailor. I used the excuse that sometimes I must use that language to convey my point to thugs who don’t understand anything but cursing.

Slowly I found myself withdrawing and unable to communicate my thoughts and feelings with my wife and family. Within three years I had engaged in an extramarital affair and was divorced. My world was slowly tumbling around me and I could do nothing to fix it.

A year later while working at another prison in Nashville I found that I still could not communicate my feelings. People would just not understand. Then my world truly came crumbling down. I was hurt during a training exercise and was out of work for a year and half. I was bankrupt and lost everything I had ever worked for. I moved from my hometown leaving my family and friends trying to escape my past.

I have since remarried and until recently could not figure out that the past will not escape you and you cannot escape the past. I have over the years fought depression and anger. I have even fought the urge to commit suicide.

Why? I had it all some would say.

You were a minister – you should know better.

The truth is that I knew all of this. I just did not know how to ask for help. Perhaps I did not want to accept responsibility. I could not talk with my wife about how I watched a man stab another man, how I watched a man being raped by another man, or how I watched a man try to kill himself. Some would say that these individuals deserved to die.

As a child of God I still had a heart, I still cared, as a public servant I had a duty to protect regardless of who it was. I could not let my emotions overtake me and so I bottled them up and tried to forget about them.

Bottling your emotions, trying to hide your feelings will not help you in the long term. Compare it to hoarding – eventually you run out of space and unless you find more space to store your emotions it will create nothing more than a mess and chaos.

As an officer I was trained to utilize various tools to defend and to execute my duties. One of the greatest tools not emphasized is emotional communication. You will not be able to effectively serve if you cannot take care of yourself. While there is no “one size fits all program” to guide you I would suggest the following:

• Talk – No matter who it is find someone who will listen. If you are married be sure to talk to your spouse. If your spouse is opinionated ask them just listen and let you empty your feelings. By doing this you are releasing your verbal feelings and allowing someone who cares about you to know what is bothering you. Just as exhaling a breath you will find great relief.
• Cry – A ballistic vest is meant to protect you from bullets but it will not protect you from being stabbed. That being said, there is no amount of armor in the world that can protect you 100% and you need to be prepared to suffer pain at some point. There is no shame in crying, there is no shame in exhibiting pain, there is no pain in releasing emotions. Prepare for the knife wounds as they will come, don’t hide them but rather expose them so that they may be treated and heal.
• Love – Remember that your family members are not criminals. The old adage leave work at work does not fit your profession. It is easier said than done. Instead find a way to realize how blessed you are to have what you have and show your love more often. You will reap much from this.
• Solitude – Make time for yourself. This could be a peaceful ride in the country, reading a book, exercise, whatever. Studies have shown that one who takes time for him to rest and relax has a healthier lifestyle.
• Pray – Put your trust in God. Prayer is deep rooted, spiritual, and allows you to place your trust in a higher power. While we tend to question God in our profession, we can rest assured that he has placed us there for a reason and that whatever he leads us into he will certainly lead us out of.

At the end of the day as a correctional officer you are among the best of the best. The world is safer because of you. You are ridiculed because others cannot, will not, or could never do your job. Understand that you are not alone in this fight and never think that you must fight by yourself.

SURVIVING YOUR RELATIONSHIPS

Serve & Protect has been discussing interpersonal family relationships the last two posts. This post  by Sgt. Betsy Smith is a good way to end our series for now – with ways to improve your relationships, and it applies to all first responders and corrections officers. You can learn more about Sgt. Smith at the end of the article. By Sgt. Betsy Branter Smith, posted 8/14/11 on www.PoliceOne.com Cops have a notoriously high divorce rate, but divorce statistics are only part of the story. Think about all the engagements, live-in boyfriend/girlfriend situations, or same-sex partnerships that don’t work out either.  Let’s face it, we tend to be lousy at intimate relationships. In the Street Survival seminar, we talk about surviving this job not only physically and tactically, but emotionally, and a large part of our survival is dependant upon the success of our personal relationships. I can’t tell you how many officers have come up to me after a seminar and said “All this time, I thought it was all my wife’s fault that we don’t get along, but now I’m beginning to understand that it might just be me.” The majority of the research and writings on this topic tend to focus on what our spouses can do to make our marriages better. If only our partners would change their attitudes, be more understanding, learn to communicate better, and deal more successfully with the day-to-day stressors that “we,” the cops, face we’d all be happier. I’m suggesting that those of us with the badge look in the mirror, look into our hearts, and try to figure out what we can do to improve our relationships; here are a few suggestions Watch how you talk to and treat those you love. Do you give orders or make requests when you get home? Do you work your tail off to help out a citizen while you’re on duty but when you get home it’s just too much trouble to help fold the laundry or take out the garbage?  Sometimes we treat strangers, our co-workers, or the citizens better than we do our own families.  I had a revelation a few years ago during a heated argument with my husband, a former police lieutenant. He said to me “Don’t talk to me like one of your officers!” And I spontaneously shot back with “I would never talk to my officers the way I talk to you!”  Holy cow!  I really like the guys who work for me, but I adore my husband, and yet here I was, talking to him like some incompetent rookie that was about to get terminated. Take a good, hard look at how you communicate with your loved ones. Pay attention not only to your words, but your gestures, your tone of voice, your general demeanor.  Do you talk to them like the precious people they are, or do you need to do some work on your communication skills at home? Have a “going home” ritual.  It can be hard to transition from crimefighter to spouse, partner, or parent. I used to come home immediately after a twelve hour shift to my family who was waiting to have dinner with me.  My husband would cook a great meal, hand me a glass of wine as I walked in the door, and ask me about my day. Sounds perfect, right?  In reality, it drove me nuts. I’d arrive home still in “cop mode,” either wired or exhausted, and more than a little surly. All I wanted was to go through the mail, wolf down something to eat, and enjoy my glass of wine in total silence and solitude…not exactly the happy homecoming that my family kept anticipating night after night. I had to develop a new “going home ritual” before I no longer was welcome in my own home!  Now, a couple of nights a week after work I go to the gym and on the other nights I at least take a shower at the police department and change into my favorite sweats before I drive home. I get a home a little later, but my family agrees that I’m a whole lot more pleasant to be around, and I’m much more engaged from the time I walk in the door. Don’t get too caught up in your own self-importance.  On average, less than two out of every one hundred police applicants actually get hired, so by the time we get “on the job” we already feel like we’re pretty darn special. Add to that the public’s fascination with our profession, the danger factor, and the power and authority, and it’s easy for us to lose perspective. After all, how can anyone’s day compare to yours? So what if your spouse had to deal with 25 second graders on a field trip today, or your partner had an argument with her boss, or your teenage son got turned down for the freshman dance by his not-so-secret crush? That stuff is petty compared to the traffic crashes, the suicides, the child molesters, and domestic violence calls you went to today! Obviously, the family needs to get a little perspective! Or maybe you do?  It’s easy for your family members’ trials and triumphs to get overshadowed by the serious nature of your profession. In fact, they may begin to trivialize their own issues because they don’t want to “bother”  you with them.  Take the time to find out about their day, truly listen to what they have to say, ask questions, show empathy, make them feel valued. They’ll be much more ready to listen when you’re ready to talk about your day, which brings me to my next point. Bring your family in to “your” world. Very often cops hide what we really do from our families. We don’twant to worry them or frighten them or make them cynical or paranoid, plus sometimes we just don’t feel like talking. But it’s a mistake to keep your family at arm’s length. Tell your spouse about your frustration with that battered wife who just won’t let her husband be arrested; bend your partner’s ear about why your sergeant was such a jerk today, but try to find something positive to talk about too. Tell them how great it felt to find that lost little girl or finally solve those string of residential burglaries. And don’t forget your kids. Sharing your day with them in an age-appropriate manner can result in some great parent/child bonding. I use my work “stories” as teachable moments for my kids. In fact, my youngest daughter and I have developed a routine as we’re getting ready for bed when I tell her “Tales of Stupid Decisions by Teenage Girls.” I get to vent, she learns how to stay out of trouble, and we both understand each other’s world a little better.  When you make a commitment to spend time with your family, honor it. Treat it like a court subpoena, a call-in for overtime, in-service training; or whatever mental game you have to play with yourself to make family time “mandatory.” Yeah, you might be tired; sure, you’ve got a lot going on; but if it was the department telling you that you have to come in and do something, you’d do it. Consistently make your family a priority. Cops tend to put off family time until “tomorrow” or “my days off” or “when I’m on vacation” or even “when I retire,” and sometimes by then, it’s too late. Given the precarious nature of our job,  time with your loved ones shouldrarely be put off until some other time! Keep in touch. A “thanks for packing me a lunch” note left on the kitchen table, a brief text message to say “I miss you” or a quick phone call to say “We’re really busy out here tonight but I can’t wait to see you and the kids in the morning” are short, simple ways to stay in touch with your family even while you’re out fighting crime. Our families worry about us and miss us when we’re on duty, and it only takes a few seconds to let them know that you’re okay and that you miss them, appreciate them, love them, and can’t wait to get back home to see them! Don’t be afraid to get help. Years of poor communication, job stress, resentment toward the agency or maybe even each other can leave a relationship badly damaged. The writings and teachings of both Dr. Ellen Kirschman and Dr. Kevin Gillmartin are excellent resources for police officers and their families looking to improve their relationships. And before you join the ranks of the 75% of us who gave up on a marriage, give counseling a try. You spend your time at work helping others, so let a professional therapist or your minister or your department’s employee assistance personnel give you a hand. Just like officer survival training has been instrumental in reducing police officer injuries and deaths,relationship survival can help our profession reduce that high divorce rate.  Train for your relationships like you train for your survival, because both are worth fighting for!

About the author Sergeant Betsy Smith has nearly 30 years of law enforcement experience and recently retired as a patrol supervisor in a Chicago suburb. A graduate of the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety’s School of Staff and Command, Betsy is a police trainer, author and instructor for the Calibre Press Street Survival Seminar. Visit Betsy’s website atwww.femaleforces.com.