Page 5 - November December 2020 TPA Journal

Earning Community Trust is a Perpetual
Commitment...
By Mike Davis, TPA Executive Board 3rd Vice President
Mike Davis is a SGT. Investigator at the
Bexar County D.A.’s Office assigned to
the Mental Health Unit. He is a retired
Patrol Commander and the 3rd Vice
President on the TPA Executive Board.
He is the founder of Archangel
Professional Leadership
www.aplguardian.com
Earning TRUST overall is a perpetual commitment.
I have trained thousands of police officers across
two countries and I have met thousands of amaz-
ing professionals whom I am proud to know. Not
all of them wear the same uniforms as I do and
some of them are from other parts of the world. I
am honored to know them and I trust that they’re
on and off duty professionalism reflects our per-
sonal and professional associations with each
other.
There are some I don't know nor have ever met
that also reflect the broken trust that tarnishes the create community partnerships, and do what is
badge of my chosen vocation. I can tell you that I
am ashamed of the representation of what these
few people have done to a noble profession. They
should be held equally accountable for their
actions. The actions of a few have a direct impact
on tens of thousands of amazing men and women
who collectively work to safeguard the communi-
ties where they serve. Broken trust sends rippling
waves that impact even the relationships we have
with our own friends, many of whom defend us
on social media. These incidents affect communi-
ties across the world, some good people even join
together to attack us as a call to action. This can al commitment to earn, maintain, and mend trust
Nov.-Dec. 2020 www.texaspoliceassociation.com • (512) 458-3140
leave so many to feel let down. We must first lis-
ten then respond, educate, and rebuild trust. Our
response must be reflective of our oath. The rip-
ples impact our own families and many ask us
why it all happens or they question why we stay
in this profession. We must first listen then
respond and our response must be reflective of
our oath.
The words we swore to uphold are clearly out-
lined in the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics. This
document spells out the expectations of our cho-
sen vocation, our challenges, and most important-
ly our response to the community and our fami-
lies.
Many of you who have known me since I was a
child know that I myself have been a victim of
crime and racism. The reflections I make on my
own life lessons and what I have lived through are
constant reminders of my personal commitment to
perpetually reflect behaviors that earn trust in my
actions as a police officer, a mentor, and as a dad.
I have the moral courage to speak up, take action,
right and I am proud to say that I know thousands
of great men and women who do the same day in
and out. I am not ashamed of sharing the words I
swore to when I became a police officer and the
words that I hold myself and the others around me
accountable for in our chosen vocation. Let us
stand together, constantly earn trust, have moral
courage, and listen to, educate, mentor, and take
action with our community to hold ourselves and
each other accountable in serving our ethical
oath. The word “SERVIAM” is not just a word to
me. It means “I will serve!” and that is my person-
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