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.
It pisses me off every time I see a cop get hurt or killed because they were driving too fast, lost control of their vehicle and crashed their patrol car.
It pisses me off every time I see a cop get hurt or killed because they were involved in a traffic collision and not wearing their seatbelt.
It pisses me off every time I see a cop not wearing their body armor.
It pisses me off when I see cops get complacent and violate fundamental rules of officer safety.
It pisses me off every time I see overweight and out-of-shape cop and it really pisses me off when they die of a heart attack.
It pisses me off because most, if not all, of these deaths are preventable.
It pisses me off because, as a cop I was guilty of all of these issues. I drove too fast, I never wore my seatbelt, at times I never wore my body armor and at times in my career I was overweight and out of shape.
It pisses me off because some of the behaviors such as speed and not wearing a seatbelt were encouraged and others (not wearing armor and being fat) were ignored. Ignored behavior is condoned behavior so all these behaviors were condoned.
It pisses me off and it should piss you off too. The question is: Does it piss you off enough to do something about it?
What are you doing to change a culture that still encourages cops to drive too fast and ignores officers not wearing seatbelts and body armor and not maintaining an appropriate level of fitness?
Are you modeling the desired behaviors by wearing your seatbelt, slowing down, wearing your armor (regardless of your assignment in the agency) and by staying in shape?
There are enough other things in the world to piss me off—so please help address these critical issues!
If you need help or resources go to www.below100.com. I would strongly encourage you to attend a Below 100 Intensive or better yet a Below 100 Trainer class. Make a choice to change the culture. The life you save may be your own.