The Transformation from Citizen to Law Enforcement Officer
/The Transformation from Citizen to Law Enforcement Officer
By Marty Katz
Recently, I wrote a commencement speech for the graduating class at a local police academy. Here, I would like to share excerpts of that speech. Just before I spoke to the class, I told the audience that I would be talking directly to the class, a private conversation, but if they wanted to, they could listen in. This piqued their interest.
Congratulations, you have completed the transformation from citizen to law enforcement officer. You have passed all the hiring segments, survived the physical and mental training of academy life, sacrificed a lot over the last 20-plus weeks, and successfully arrived at this moment in your life. You have worked hard through personal and family hardships and are now at the launching of a new career. Please don’t throw it all away by forgetting the rules and your sworn oath. From this point forward, until you retire, you will be in the public eye, subject to constant Monday morning quarterbacking; every action you take or don’t take will be subject to intense scrutiny. It is just a fact of life from now on.
Remember, this is a service profession. It is your responsibility to protect and serve. Never take action based on emotion. What you do will have lifelong consequences for the citizens you deal with. Never allow a victim to be victimized a second time due to poor police practices.
Do not get complacent. I have seen officers who had one year of experience 20 times over. This is an exciting career with many pitfalls and stumbling blocks: learn what to avoid. Seek out motivated co-workers as mentors; remember this: Even teachers have teachers. Law enforcement is a perishable skill that must be cultivated frequently. Stay sharp by doing crisis rehearsal in your downtime and on your own time.
You are the next generation of urban warriors. I have retired, and the torch has been passed to you. Like all retired officers, I must depend on you to respond appropriately when we call. Please don’t let us down.
You must always be inquisitive, suspicious, and thorough; otherwise, you are unfit for duty. The first line of defense for your community lies with you. It is a fine line you walk. It is not us against them. While the public might take it personally, we should not. Police officers follow the path of truth. We investigate and follow the trail of evidence to the truth. It is about helping those who need help and arresting those who prey on society. And always, always remember this: right is right, even if no one else is doing it. Wrong is wrong, even if everyone else is doing it.
Paul Whitesel, a leading authority in officer survival, often asks this question of new officers. Have you ever been to a circus? Why, you might ask? At a circus, the lion tamer is in the ring before the lions enter. The reason is to establish dominance; otherwise, you would see a different show. As law enforcement officers, we must enter the home, the safe haven of others. We are the only animal that must do that. Because of this, we must hone our survival skills and always be aware, or as we call it, situation awareness. From the moment you leave the safety of your homes until you arrive back after your shift, you are in uniform, you are on the streets, you must never let your guard down, and you must forever be totally focused.
Take time to remember your family. They were here before you attended the academy; they were by your side as you trained here, and they will be with you long after you hang up your guns. Law enforcement is a fantastic profession, but remember, while you are out there on the streets, your family is home worrying and concerned about you. Relax their worries and assure them of your professionalism by your proper actions. To do this, never let the job consume you and find time for them.
Also, leave your family concerns at home and for another time. A distracted officer is one who is needlessly put in harm’s way and, as a result, places others in harm’s way.
Every shift is new. Prepare for each shift by ensuring all your equipment is working correctly and you are thinking properly. Go home safe after each shift. That is rule number one.
I could talk about officer survival for several hours — and from this day forward, you will hear about this subject daily — but congratulations on an outstanding performance for now. Welcome to the greatest profession in the world. You have a unique opportunity because you can dramatically change someone’s life for the better by taking the time to care, truly protect, and serve. Welcome to the family of law enforcement. Stay safe. If you don’t mind, I would like to address the audience that has patiently waited for me to get back to them.
At this point, I turned and readdressed the audience.
I saw out of the corner of my eye that most of you were actively listening. I hope you bring some of my advice back to your individual departments. Law enforcement must return to the basics: ownership of one’s patrol area, partnerships with the citizen and business communities, equality for all under the law, and taking responsibility for one’s actions. Times have changed and continue to change. What has not changed is our role in society. Protect and serve. We are the 24/7 helpline and defense for our streets and neighborhoods.
With that in mind, let’s welcome our new officers to our family, congratulate them on a job well done, and assist them in becoming officers we would want as our backups and future leaders.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak here tonight. Let’s be careful out there.
Marty Katz is a retired sergeant with the Broward Sheriff’s Office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. During his 34-year career, his assignments included field training officer, SWAT team member, undercover narcotics detective, academy instructor, street crime suppression unit, and supervisor of Recruitment, Criminal investigations, and Patrol. Marty is a Florida Department of Law Enforcement certified instructor (Firearms, Defensive Tactics, Driving, First Responder, Ethics, and Human Diversity), Expert Witness for Use of Force issues, a member of ILEETA, and past Florida Chapter Director for the International Association of Ethics Trainers In addition, Marty has trained in Japan with the Tokyo Metropolitan Riot Police and is a martial arts instructor. Marty is the owner and chief instructor of Crimewave Solutions, a training company for officer survival and common sense self-defense. Past the Uniform, Hot Potato, and From Another Dimension are three books authored by Marty and available on Amazon.
