By Thomas Lemmer. Published in the Fall 2024 issue of Command Magazine by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police.
Excerpt: In truth, within the policing profession, the ongoing challenges of officer wellness are a reality. Many police officers believe that their leaders and communities do not fully understand them or acknowledge the full extent of the challenges they face. The strains of their work are made more difficult, when those holding formal leadership positions are perceived by officers as downplaying or ignoring the full scope of what is being asked of them. This reality may explain, in part, why there is far too often a divide between police officers and those in command positions within police agencies. When the truth is known, trust and confidence is always undermined in those who advance what is not true.
Helping our officers see the essential nature of their role and acknowledging the importance of their work is vital. This is true in the effort to build safer communities and in fostering officer wellness.
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For every officer there is always the fundamental responsibility to seek, embrace, and foster the truth. Every officer has a duty to do what is right and true, even if no one hears or sees their actions. The truth is more than a simple fact. The truth has direct application in the real world and has the power of goodness.
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This article is directly related to several of our officer wellness, engagement, and leadership training courses. Comprehensive training courses, as well as direct client consulting services in the areas of officer wellness and the mission of policing, are available from Secure 1776.
Other topic areas include: community policing, juvenile crime, gangs, violence, patrol operations, internal investigations, supervisory engagement, and management accountability. Learn more by visiting our Training and Consulting Services section.
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