![]() We have our communities 24–7.Discernment, discrimination, perception, penetration, insight, acumen mean a power to see what is not evident to the average mind. When we continue to train and keep our mind in the right place, it will have a positive impact on our officer safety. When we know we are wanted and needed, we will continue to train and ensure we can answer the call when we are asked to put ourselves in harm’s way. Knowing that we are supported and appreciated is important to our well-being. And we will get those answers again and again. This is where we will find the answers to our troubling questions. Whether you spend a few minutes chatting with families in a park, doing a walkthrough at a school, attending a neighborhood meeting or block party, or getting out of the car while patrolling your beat just to talk to people about life in their neighborhood-any of these things will show us that we are not alone. While well-known events like Coffee with a Cop and National Night Out help bring cops and community members together, we must make sure we continue to do the smaller things that foster good will and open the door for the positive feedback. While these impromptu meetings are great, we need to continue to create positive interactions. They know that the vast majority of us serve with pride, integrity, compassion, and a desire to make our communities safe for everyone. But they also realize that we are not the enemy. They, like us, realize we are not immune from bad decisions, bad outcomes, and misconduct. They are the ones who have our back and have not wavered. Our supporters have always been willing to approach us with a handshake and words of gratitude. POLICE PERCEPTION DEFINITION TVThere are many voices that relay their support far from the criticism that TV cameras and chaos often bring. The ones who believe that yelling anything loudly and repeatedly will somehow make it the truth are underestimating the rest of the voices in our country. It is easy for people to yell profanities at cops when they are surrounded by a large group of people who are acting the same way. It is easy to lob insults, hate, and misinformation from the comfort of home. But here is what I have learned along the way: Our biggest supporters are not the folks who constantly take to the computer to communicate their thoughts and ideas about policing. I see a lot of stuff that would lead me to question the support for cops. As the Public Information Officer for my agency, I am on social media both for the department and personally. They have always “had our six” and always will. I am talking about the truth and reality that lets us know our communities have never turned against us. ![]() However, we can change our perception by seeking out the truth that is reality. In the hearts and minds of many cops, the answer is “No” to both. We keep asking ourselves and our peers if anything we do will make a difference in public opinion. ![]() We now find ourselves questioning whether our efforts are appreciated. We feel alone in our efforts to prevent crime, reduce victimization, and improve quality of life in our communities. The amount of negative coverage by media outlets and social media posts critical of law enforcement has left us with a perception that we are alone. That belief is being tested in agencies all around the country. We always believed that as long as we were arresting criminals and doing community outreach, the public would support us. I have never known them to question the amount of support and respect the residents have for us. In my 18 years of service to the residents of Evansville, Indiana, I have never seen our officers question their place in our community the way they are doing right now. “Why put myself in harm’s way if nobody appreciates it?” “Why risk my career and my financial future for people who don’t even want me in their neighborhood?” “What’s the easiest way to avoid media scrutiny?” “If I slow down my work effort and do the minimum, will anyone even care?” In police stations, sector offices, squad cars, and hometown dinner spots across the country, many law enforcement officers are having similar conversations. But we must ask ourselves, “Is that reality or a skewed perception”? And right now, our perception is that the people we serve do not have our backs. How many times have we heard the phrase “perception is reality” when people talk about policing in this country? Well, perception is OUR reality, too. ![]()
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