So what does it take?

I am often asked what it takes to be an officer. In my case, I was lucky Nicole knew someone who could tell her what we needed to do to get me into POST (Peace Officer Standard and Training). I learned early getting hired at a police department often isn't about what you know but who you know.  After starting POST, I networked with the instructors, many of which were current officers, so I could use those relationships to assist me with openings and interviews. I talked to as many current officers as I could and learned all it took to get hired.

The Utah Highway Patrol (UHP), for instance, wants to find  individuals with integrity and a clean background. Their philosophy, hire outstanding people and train them to be great officers. The Highway Patrol believes they can take the right person and turn them into a police officer.

A deeper question to ask is, how does one become a great officer? First, develop common sense. Police work is all about common sense. Movies and TV shows portray solving a crime takes finding a secret piece of evidence or processing hair samples for DNA. But solving crimes often results from following the evidence along the path the makes sense. Next, one needs good communication skills. I often tell my wife, Nicole,  when I respond to calls often it’s about resolving a dispute not enforcing the law. Being able and willing to talk to people and assist them coming to a sensible resolution takes patience and the ability to persuade people to see the solution. Often you start by having to calm them down before being able to resolve the situation. Finally, it also takes courage. Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “Courage is not the absence of fear but a willingness to face the fear.” Officers walk into situations not knowing what may await them. Officers get into the profession because they have the desire to help those who otherwise can't help (or protect) themselves.  There is an element of our society that have no problem doing whatever it takes to get what they want. Being willing to stand up to that element takes courage!

But, the most important quality of a great police officer? Integrity! Nothing will prevent someone from getting hired or ruin a career faster than a lack of integrity.

To summarize, greatness takes a willingness to put yourself in harms way, having integrity and earning the public’s trust, using common sense, and the ability to communicate with people.

Confucius said, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” This has been true for me. There may have stress along with difficulties, but I have never had to “drag myself” into work. I have never worked a day being a police officer.