Your post on National Police Week reminded me of the thoughts on the Denver Police Department memorial, so I’ll quote it here.

When Duty Called

When duty called there was no thought but answer.
No question, but the task that must be done.
Though Death their final payment for the vict’ry
For Honor was the battle fought and won.

No monument stands higher than their valor,
No words replace the loss of heroes, slain.
But, if their names, remembered, give us courage,
Their sacrifice shall not have been in vain.

by Julian R. Lewis
Lt. Col. (ret.) United States Air Force

Julian is my brother, so I was very happy when the poem he wrote specifically for the DPD memorial was used.

Best wishes to you! Tina Rowe

I talk to LEOs all the time who go to a great training and come home all fired up, only to have the enthusiasm squashed by their department culture. Keeping your own standards high and complacency at bay can be a challenge in all jobs.

Stay motivated by keeping in touch with folks you meet in training, subscribing to newsletters and professional discussion groups and reinforcing good habits. This will encourage colleagues, and help you stay out of that “why bother” funk. Officer safety – and good morale – is a group effort.

Thanks for your commitment, Brian, and be safe.

Julie

My son is a Marine and I work with them almost daily in my assignment here in Afghanistan. So I can appreciate the leadership and “can do” attitude that they bring to the mission.

GEN Krulak, former commandant of the Marine Corps, gave some powerful lessons on character and integrity that I have incorporated into my own Police Dynamics training. I particularly like his analysis of the word “integrity.” He traces its roots to the Latin word “integritas” and talks about how it was used by the Roman Legion to designate a soldier who was totally prepared — physically, mentally, and spiritually — to accomplish the mission at hand.

But my favorite quote on leadership comes from GEN Norman Schwarzkopf. He said, “Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy.” Well said, General!

Sheriff Ray Nash
http://www.PoliceDynamicsMedia.com