The events of last week that occurred in
Baton Rouge, Minnesota, Dallas and Michigan weigh heavy on my mind and heart. Each
incident is troublesome enough on their individual merit. Having them happen in
a succinct time frame magnifies the contempt of each issue.
Before I go on let me say that my thoughts
and prayers go out to the families of our fallen Peace Officers in Dallas and
Michigan, and for the two men from Louisiana and Minnesota. The wave of affect
when a life is stolen is damaging to more than just that one individuals life.
How do the events of the last week affect us
as Correctional Officers from a different state than where the incidents occurred?
I’ve thought about this alot. As C/O’s we are told and warned to wear “covers”
coming to and from work. Limit stops while in uniform to a minimum. Use
alternative routes so not to have the same commute pattern where someone can
learn our driving habits. Reading these examples, ask yourselves how many of
these do you actually practice.
We should already be aware of the public
perception of us by the general public because of how we are portrayed in the
news and movies. With that said, there have already been incidents of
Correctional staff being assaulted or murdered at their homes or in their cars
away from work.
We deal with the worst of what the courts
have decided should be punished by being removed from society for a limited
time or permanently, due to whatever their social choices in behavior they have
made. Many of them feel they have nothing else to lose and can easily make a
name for themselves by taking their aggression out on us. Many inmates are
being released from the SHU and are walking our main line yards. Never forget
why they ended up in the SHU to begin with. Odds are they have not changed
their outlook on life.
Complacency is our worst enemy just as much
at home as it is while at work. We can never turn off our correctional
awareness because we are not at work. For our personal safety and the safety of
our loved ones we can turn it down to a more relaxed level, but the awareness
of your surroundings and who is in close proximity should never be ignored.
Due to the freshness of each situation, the
investigations are at the beginning stages and minimal information has been
released. What we do know about each event (Louisiana and Minnesota) is that
the officers involved had less than 5 years in the department each. CNN
reported that both officers had 4 to 4 ½ years in their department and already
had complaints filed against them. The Minnesota officer was also with the
department for approximately 4 years. At
this point the entire bases of facts are still unknown so I do not pass
judgement… I question information.
As Correctional Officers, we are trained to
read a situation at a glance. Experience, monitoring behavior, common sense,
and our ability to communicate play an intricate role in our decision making.
It is obvious that training behind a desk is not enough for any officer to have
the understanding and know how to not only defuse a situation, but not create
one where it does not exist.
Communication is our greatest tool. Some need
to cultivate those skills more than others. Just don’t believe because you wear
a badge your authority will be automatically followed. Our star is not a badge
of courage. It is a symbol of honor, never admired by the public we serve or
valued by the Administration we work under. A symbol of honor for doing a job
that many cannot or will not do.
I do not believe Administration is doing
enough to reaffirm our safety while on duty. Changes for heightened awareness
that lasts for a weekend is not good enough, especially when the information is
not disseminated until the end of 3rd watch on
the first day.
I appreciate the police in their action to
run towards danger, with deadly force in hand, in the effort to protect the
innocent. WE run towards danger, with non-lethal equipment in hand, to stop and
contain the threat and protect both the innocent AND the guilty. I ADMIRE YOU
MORE.
As part of my family, my DVI family, I ask in
these trying days’ to pay attention a little more. Stay in your alert level ’Orange’
and watch your 6. It’s no longer just
about doing your shift and going home. If you remain ready for any threat, no
threat will be ready for you.
I’m Just Sayin…
1 comment:
Side note for newer officers: We have many inmates now walking the corridors that are part of the step down program. They are a different type of inmate than what DVI typically houses. These guy's can fly off the handle on a different level. Watch your backs and be safe.
I suggest you get with your program LT. and get a roster of which inmates are step down program. I've had a couple dealings with them and they are somethin' else.
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