Is Your Agency Proactive or Reactive?
Police executives walk a fine line every day, that’s a bit of a balancing act. They work to keep their community safe from violent criminals, while making sure that every one of their officers handle calls in a professional, and timely manor.
Public service success is often measured by whether police executives are being proactive or reactive, and if their officers are trained and ready for any interaction.
Do your officers connect with the community every day, and do they leave each call making that person feel ‘Valued’?
A new balancing act is understanding how the phrase Plain View has changed for policing.
Plain View Definition:
- Policing: To seize evidence and contraband that are found in plain view during a lawful observation. (Plain View Doctrine)
- Civilian: In a place the can be easily seen, like a street sign (Dictionary)
- Social: Open to the public viewing, i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram (Plain View Project)
It’s a true juggling act for police executives, and often better to be on the proactive end, than reactive when it’s too late. Recently, Plain View Project opened the eyes to many police executives that social media continues to effect police oversight and the need to be proactive.
Often times we only hear about a police agency when something went wrong, and it has become a heightened media event alleging possible police misconduct.
What can make matters worse is when this event is spread instantly across all channels of social media. Now the whole police department will be judged by the actions of only one or two officers.
“Less than 2% of police officers, are responsible for the lion’s share of the police misconduct. 98% of officers serve their community with value and integrity.” ~ Linda Webb
When the USA Today Article regarding Plain View – Police Officers Posting on Social Media, a few police departments were singled out, sending departments in reactive mode.
One particular police department, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, had already been proactive when the Orlando Sentinel article posted referenced Plain View Project.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office had already rolled out the RITE’s Racial Intelligence Program, emphasis that all community members are treated fairly, along with covering professional workplace conduct for all its personnel. There proactive steps continue to put forth stronger footing with community relations, while reinforcing within the agency stronger accountability standards.
One year after the RITE training, their police complaints, and use-of-force incidents had reduced by 50% or more. Sgt. Fred Jones, the PIO of Lake County Sheriff’s Office gave a TEDx Talk on the success their department experienced after RITE Training.
“Being transparent as a police executive and agency, means being proactive… in PlainView!” ~ Randy Friedman.
Taking proactive steps today will ensure you will be able to defend your department and personnel even during times of police misconduct events or when things like Plain View Project from social media turn up.
Proactively training all your personnel and reinforcing your Professional Workplace Culture Standards will give you the accountability that is needed when having to defend qualified immunity, Plain View, or Use-of-Force Situations because your agency took proactive training steps.
Taking proactive measures, like training in Professional Workplace Culture helps your personnel, your department, and the community,
RITE’s Professional Workplace Culture Training Program Addresses:
- Racial Intelligence – Includes Emotional/Social intelligence
- Workplace Harassment
- The Entitlement Complex
- Rumors and Gossip
- Mental Looping & Negative Banter
- Implicit Bias, & ‘What’s Your Hot Button?’
- Improper Social Media Posting
- Use of Profanity
- De-escalation Communication
- Block-out Syndrome
- Servant Policing – Building Community Value.
Are you ready to be in Plain View?
Your proactive actions will give your public safety the foundation it needs when you need it the most.
Police Executives who take a proactive step to reinforce their Professional Workplace Culture will be ready for any scrutiny they may face in the future. The RITE Way is properly training your personnel, improving your department with accountability standards and creating VALUE by building community trust.
About RITE Officer Training – It starts with helping officers communicate with themselves, and the community more effectively, with Value. The RITE Ladder Tool teaches EI & SI that builds Career resiliency, improves Department morale, helps Professional workplace culture and reduces police misconduct while mitigating risk.
Check our EVENTS page for current trainings. Looking for private classes, where we come to you… Contact us HERE
