Now What?

Yes. The above picture is shocking. It needs to be. This is a warning about what could happen in America if local police fail to act and the rule of law is subverted.

One thing growing old does is give you the opportunity to be perspective. We have completed a national presidential election that has fractured our country in ways we have never seen before.

The gap between professed members of our two political parties has never been greater. For me, entering the year 2025 under President Trump is going to test our democracy even more than it did in 2016.

During Trump’s first administration (2016-2020), I was worried, but my historical take on the American presidency was that while we’ve had some presidents with questionable ability, our democratic system would prevail. Our president would understand his/her limitations and appoint good and capable people to key cabinet positions and make that president look good and our country true to its ideals.

That didn’t happen in 2016 — and it most likely will not happen in 2025.

My response during the first Trump administration was to write a number of challenging op-eds in “USA Today.” For example, that it’s not okay to “rough up” suspects and a number of them are posted on this site).

So what am I going to do now? Because how Donald Trump sees the police function in a democratic, free society is not in any way how I see it. My dream for America is our police being college-educated, highly-trained, emotionally-stable, trusted and respected, controlled in their use of force, and committed to upholding the values of our Constitution. Today, I fear this dream would never become a reality. For I’m this dream, police officers would be led by a competent leaders defined by their integrity, high moral character, and love of people and public service.

This dream will most likely not be realized during the coming years — and most likely not in this century. And I am sad.

I worked as a street cop, trainer, and detective. It’s been over 60 years since that badge was placed over my heart. I served over thirty years, led two police departments, was committed to community-based policing, supported our constitutional right to protest, and brought women and other excluded people into my ranks.

In those departments, I found allies within the ranks and among community members who strongly bought into collaborative, ethical neighborhood policing.

Officers and support personal within those agencies were seen as trusted and respected guardians of our national ideals and way of life.

Together, we fought the vestiges of racism, classism. and sexism in our society.

We showed a new way. I wrote about it first in “How to Rate Your Local Police” (1983) and then in “Arrested Development” (2012 and 2018) which was a combination of police history, biography, and how to change the negative culture prevalent in most police agencies.

I began to write this blog in 2011. It has over 1,500 posts, readers from over 100 countries, and more than 750,000 views. It is how the dream can be realized.

We must now hold the line. Our battles will be in the courts and actively restraining those who want to improperly use our nation’s police. I grew up during World War II. I vividly remember what happened in Germany. I don’t want that to happen in America. We have a Constitution, a Rule of Law, and Code of Ethics that must prevail over the whims of politicians.

It will be up police today and those of us who support them, to resist pressure do be something different than that to which they must aspire!

And as a reminder…

Policing Code of Ethics

[Adopted by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) in 1957 and revised in 2024.]

Ed. Note: My highlights

As a sworn officer, my fundamental duty is to serve the community by safeguarding lives and property against threats that could take advantage of or harm members of my community or otherwise impact peace and order. I will uphold the Constitution and honor the rights of all to life, liberty, equality, and justice. I will never employ unnecessary force. I will respect the privacy of people and communities that I serve, and I will fully obey the laws that I am sworn to enforce.

I will live by example, remembering that my character and conduct, on-duty and off, directly influence the legitimacy of the policing profession. I will exercise self-restraint and maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn, and ridicule and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others as well as my own well-being.

I will never act officiously or permit bias or personal gain to influence my decisions. I will strive to protect the vulnerable from harm. If this fails, I will seek to identify and apprehend offenders, professionally and appropriately holding them to account. I will not solicit or accept any gifts, bribes, or anything of value from any person or entity that may create a perception of benefit or influence my performance as a public servant.

I recognize my shield of office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of police service. I will not engage in or condone acts of corruption, take advantage of circumstances for personal gain, or accept gratuities, and I promise to intervene when met with any unjustifiable acts by members of my profession. I will cooperate with all legally authorized agencies and their representatives in the pursuit of justice.

I know that I alone am responsible for my own professional performance and conduct and will take every reasonable opportunity to enhance and improve my level of knowledge and competence.

I will constantly strive to achieve these principles, dedicating myself to my chosen profession… policing.

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IT IS NOW TIME FOR THOSE WHO GUARD AND PROTECT OUR NATION BE TRUE TO THEIR OATH OF OFFICE TO DEFEND OUR NATION’S CONSTITUTION AND IT’S BILL OF RIGHTS AGAINST ALL ASSAULTS.