Editor's note: Through the end of the year, we will be posting a series of articles that focus on common-sense officer safety. Use them for briefing and squad meetings, and send them to everyone you know who wears a badge.
“Below 100 is the greatest thing that has ever happened in law enforcement.”
—Dick Clark, Director, Nevada POST
When Mr. Clark, a 50-year law enforcement veteran, said those words, everyone in the room, including me, believed him. At the same time, the statement concerned me because there is a lot that still needs to be done and this is not a time to rest on our laurels. In fact, I found myself thinking that his comment should drive all of us to become even more committed, especially to the first Below 100 tenet: Wear your seatbelt.
The Below 100 Campaign consists of five core tenets that, if adhered to, will reduce line- of-duty deaths (LODDs) to well below 100 per year. Last year was a big first step with the LODD toll coming in at 120—the lowest in more than 50 years! But consider this: We could have done much better and saved even more lives if only the first tenet—Wear Your Seatbelt—had been followed.
2013 is tracking to be even lower than 2012 but, once again, we have seen many deaths where the simple act of wearing a seatbelt would have saved lives. These deaths are absolutely preventable.
Keep in mind, I’m only talking about seatbelt use! Imagine the gains if we could get officers to regularly follow all five Below 100 tenets!
The Excuses
There is no shortage of excuses when it comes to cops not wearing seatbelts. Whether it’s not being able to get out of the car quickly, inconvenience or the fear of an ambush, they are just excuses. Perhaps the most illogical is the fear of ambush. This mythological Ninja Assassin has been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of officers and this has got to change. Any soldier will tell you the best response to an ambush is to “get off the X.” In other words, get out of the kill zone as fast as you can. This is when you most need your seatbelt because you are engaging in sudden acceleration and evasion.
A Selfish Act
Ultimately, any crime fighter who chooses to not wear a seatbelt is committing a very selfish act. Not only will your friends, agency and community mourn greatly, you will also force one of your co-workers to tell your family how you died. Imagine the challenge of making that notification. Now try to imagine how you would explain that the seatbelt wasn’t used and their loved one might well have lived if only that simple piece of safety equipment had been worn.
I’m not speaking out of turn here. Many years ago I was the guy who didn’t wear a seatbelt. The only positive thing I can think of back then was that I didn’t lie to myself. I knew there was no plausible excuse to not wear a seatbelt. However, I grew up and started thinking about someone other than myself. I realized the devastation that my death or serious injury would have on my family. Without exception, I started wearing my seatbelt.
The Time Is Now
It is time for our profession to grow up. If you aren’t wearing your seatbelt, then start wearing it. You’re trusted with a badge and a gun. That’s a lot of responsibility that requires special skills. Surely you can figure out how to remove your seatbelt quickly and prior to stopping that car or pulling up to that dangerous situation.
If you know an officer who doesn’t wear their seatbelt, it’s time to have a serious talk with them. We call it a “courageous conversation”—be bold and get it done. Maybe you’re a supervisor or manager and you’re aware of a culture in your agency that violates this basic Below 100 tent. Don’t wait another day to take action, because it may be that day that tragedy falls on your agency. The only thing that makes a tragedy worse is one that could have been easily prevented.
If we truly seek greatness and if Below 100 is ever to live up to those words by Mr. Clark, then we must correct one of the most deadliest errors in our profession. Wear Your Seatbelt.
Below 100—the time really is now!