Pubdate: Wed, 27 Aug 2014
Source: Seattle Times (WA)
Copyright: 2014 The Seattle Times Company
Contact:  http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/409
Author: Sue Rahr
Note: Sue Rahr is director of the Washington State Criminal Justice 
Training Commission, overseeing the state-wide police academy. She is 
the former King County sheriff.
Page: A9

AMERICA'S POLICE CULTURE, FROM WARRIORS TO GUARDIANS

In a republic that honors the core of democracy - the greatest amount 
of power is given to those called Guardians. Only those with the most 
impeccable character are chosen to bear the responsibility of 
protecting the democracy.

- - Plato

BEGINNING in the 1960s with the so called "War on Drugs" and later 
fueled by post-9/ 11 fear, American policing has slowly drifted away 
from Plato's vision of law enforcement by guardians toward a culture 
and mindset of warriors at war with the people we serve.

As a nation, we have tended to acquiesce and relinquish some of our 
sacred constitutional rights in favor of the perception of improved 
safety and security. Constitutional rights are now viewed by many, 
including police, as an impediment to the public-safety mission.

Sadly, we seem to have forgotten that protecting constitutional 
rights - the foundation of our democracy - is the mission of our 
police. The images being broadcast from Ferguson, Mo., of peace 
officers clad in military-style uniforms using equipment designed for 
modern warfare, serve as an impetus for public-safety leaders and 
political leaders to pause and assess the state of American police culture.

It is easy to rush to judgment about the equipment - armored 
personnel carriers and high-powered rifles - and condemn its use by 
civilian police. In fact, this equipment can be essential for modern 
police forces to protect themselves and their communities from very 
real threats of the 21st century.

The fundamental issue is not the equipment - it's the philosophy, 
policies and protocols directing its use. The equipment has been 
relatively easy to acquire, but carefully considered protocols have 
not. It's time for law-enforcement and political leaders to step up 
and develop policies and protocols for the wise use of this valuable 
and sometimes necessary equipment, and more important, to address the 
culture that will determine acceptance of new model policies. 
Developing those policies will be relatively simple. Addressing the 
culture is tougher.

So where do we start? At the beginning, in the academy. Most police 
academies are run like military "boot camp" despite the absence of 
logical, evidence-based reasons to train police officers as we do 
soldiers. Although police officers wear uniforms and carry weapons, 
the similarity ends there.

The missions and rules of engagement are completely different. The 
soldier's mission is that of a warrior: to conquer. The rules of 
engagement are decided before the battle. The police officer's 
mission is that of a guardian: to protect.

The rules of engagement evolve as the incident unfolds. Soldiers must 
follow orders. Police officers must make independent decisions. 
Soldiers come into communities as an outside, occupying force. 
Guardians are members of the community, protecting from within.

This is not a simple distinction because the role of a police officer 
is not one-dimensional. There are times when the guardian officer 
must fight fierce battles, as a warrior, without hesitation or 
apology. So our guardians must also possess the skills of a warrior. 
The challenge of training new police recruits is to equip them with 
the judgment and confidence to properly balance both roles, rather 
than simply follow orders.

We need police officers with the skills and tenacity of a warrior, 
but the mindset of a guardian.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom