Page 43 - November 2018

If we don’t change, we don’t grow
Increasingly when I run into veteran P.O.s, greetings are followed by mentioning their num- ber of years, months and days to retirement. I’ve been with the CPD since 1968, and until about five years ago this attitude was foreign. Nobody wanted to leave, and most were saddened when forced to retire at 63. It seems that viewing the job as a vocation or calling is
over, and love for the job is gone. Today,
it’s just another job, and this bodes ill both for cops
and for those they serve. We are no longer who we
want to be; purpose is lost, and it’s not a healthy place
to be. It means no life, no satisfaction, only a paycheck. I’m convinced this is a factor in suicides, especially among retirees.
In 1997, working in the 014th District, I entered an inter- rogation room where a vet P.O. was deep in thought, writing furiously. After watching him for about 30 seconds, I cleared my throat; he looked up and said, “Hi.” I asked what he was doing and he replied, “recording the demise and fall of West- ern Civilization as we know it.” I laughed at his cynical and sarcastic humor, but the exchange stuck with me. Fast for- ward to today, and I wonder if there was more truth than cynicism to his remark.
Cops feel naked, exposed and vulnerable to unjust sys- temic harm. What sustained them is gone, and with it their reason for getting up and doing good. The system and lead- ers that brought us to this will not change, so somehow we must change to bring back meaning to our lives. And yes, I know that for many of us our families give us purpose and meaning, but I’m not sure that is enough. The frustration and anger from doing something that we hate for a third of our day bleeds into our personal lives.
Journalist Gail Sheehy said, “If we don’t change, we don’t grow. If we don’t grow, we aren’t really living.”
Thanksgiving and Christmas are on the horizon, and Jan- uary 1 is the time for renewal, assessment and inventory. It is time to grade ourselves and promise to progress in the next year. In order to learn from our past, it is necessary to have a proper perspective, so here are a few things to keep in mind.
Since you are reading this, you are on the side of the sod where change is possible. Change starts with how one sees things — perception precedes action, and action decides the outcome of a situation. Changing an outcome starts with changing how the situation is viewed. Until we view something differently, it is near impossible to make lasting change. Be reminded of the Covey SEE–DO–GET model that was introduced in your academy classes.
To start the change process, the thing to be changed must be identified specifically, and the reason for the change must be stated. Then, contemplating how the situation is current- ly viewed and why that view was formed is helpful for chang- ing perception. Looking at something from a different point
of view often reveals new information that automatical- ly changes perception. For many cops, their focus at work is arresting people, and that may be satisfying for a few years because of praise and accolades from peers and bosses. Yet, when asked about their most satisfying day on the job, few mention an arrest — more than 95 percent cite a time when they helped a
citizen.
The great obstacle to be faced is that humans don’t like to
change their point of view. We hate being wrong. My experi- ences in law enforcement lead me to believe that it is more difficult for law enforcers to look at things differently. We have a need to be right in reporting and testifying, and the only model that has been taught and reinforced makes ar- rests the primary goal. This creates problems in our organi- zations as well as our personal lives, because when humans realize they are wrong they are loathe to admit it. Wars are fought because of this.
“When you are through changing, you are through,” said Bruce Barton, an American author, advertising executive and politician.
This time of the year is supposed to bring joy and peace to men of good will. Schedule some time soon before the year is out to be alone — no music, technology, pets or peo- ple. Mark this date on your calendar. Write a list of the good things in your life; then focus on what needs improvement, why and how you view these. The hour or two invested will bring a different perspective. I promise, the insights from this effort will bring the joy that the song lyrics proclaim. Gaining a new perspective will make it easier to implement your 2018 resolutions.
I thank you for reading this, and I wish you a Merry Christ- mas and a peaceful and joyous holiday season as well as a great 2018! Continue your good works. d
Thomas Cline, MBA, MAP, with 50 years in law enforcement, is past president of the International Association of Ethics Trainers and a writer/trainer at the Chicago Police Academy. He is the author of Cop Tales! (Never Spit in a Man’s Face... Unless His Mustache is on Fire) and Psyche Firefight: Law Enforcement Job Satisfaction in a Hostile Environment. For information on training and workshops, email him at cop- tales@gmail.com.
TOM CLINE
GUEST ESSAY
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ NOVEMBER 2017 43