and, I guess, to  kind of answer myself... I guess that would take a lot of courage and discipline to  give  flesh wound knowing that the  perps could still do  some  major damage ..the craziness and uber-liberalism that is invading our country is scaring me.. when do we get to take back our country and our way of life? being nice to the bad guys won't do it..sorry, I guess I have a lot of perseverance...

valentine says ...

I will try and answer those - not being a LEO but I have a question  that seems to indicate a lack of respect for LEO's (and , frankly, the protection of the tax payers.) I don;t know if this is  a new  trend in NY or in the USA but, why are LEO's told to just shoot a perp in the leg or give the perps a little booboo fleshwound ? I don;t understand that at all- the perps aren't going to be doing the same and I think it's important to STOP them , in any way, can some one enlighten me?

++++++++++++++++++++

Disrespect is the norm for being a law enforcement professional. It is a yawn. Nothing big. You learn to just filter it out and do your job.

As far as 'shooting to wound' versus 'shooting to stop': Shooting to wound is an urban legend. There isn't an agency in the land that teaches 'shooting to wound'. Using a firearms is ALWAYS considered 'use of lethal or deadly force'. If someone is wounded in the process, then they live. If they die, they die. Ultimately in both scenarios the threat is stopped.

But those discussions are more or less for another forum. Hope that helps.

TheSarge says ...

valentine says ...

I will try and answer those - not being a LEO but I have a question  that seems to indicate a lack of respect for LEO's (and , frankly, the protection of the tax payers.) I don;t know if this is  a new  trend in NY or in the USA but, why are LEO's told to just shoot a perp in the leg or give the perps a little booboo fleshwound ? I don;t understand that at all- the perps aren't going to be doing the same and I think it's important to STOP them , in any way, can some one enlighten me?

++++++++++++++++++++

Disrespect is the norm for being a law enforcement professional. It is a yawn. Nothing big. You learn to just filter it out and do your job.

As far as 'shooting to wound' versus 'shooting to stop': Shooting to wound is an urban legend. There isn't an agency in the land that teaches 'shooting to wound'. Using a firearms is ALWAYS considered 'use of lethal or deadly force'. If someone is wounded in the process, then they live. If they die, they die. Ultimately in both scenarios the threat is stopped.

But those discussions are more or less for another forum. Hope that helps.

thank you

I enjoy coming back to this and it has kept riveted like a good book to the responses.

TheSarge was right: Good comments all the way around. I just finished reading REKKED's comments and he's right! I don't wanna take away from anyone or turn this conversation around off the subject, but no one knows what they will do until faced with the moment to do it.

Vigilance: We walk the streets so that the citizens can be safe in their lives and enjoy the homes and family time. I'm CSI, but when I work the campus, I'm walking the streets and beat if you will, so others don't have too. Stay alert and stay alive that is vigilence. Anyone remember Presidio? The LTC is telling the story of the dog, the military, that is allowed to run the grounds and property and expected to protect the home and occupants. When the military is out on the wall doing those unsavory deeds that no one wants to know or hear about. Then when company comes over the dog is taken from the house and put into the dog house outside where it will not be seen or interfere with the family guests or gathering. It was geared for those of us in the military, but it fits for LEO like a glove. Hell, I've come to like the freedom of the dog house anyway!

Not mentioned in the original list, but close to my heart... well, this photo sums it up.

Honor - faithfully executing the duties granted to one by a higher authority in order to ensure justice, liberty, and security for one's community and country; not for glory or self-gratification, but because it is a privledge to do so.  Honor is a peacemaker's real badge of office.  Never let it tarnish.

BSL1123 says ...

I, for one, would like to hear TheSarge's take on the words in question?

I'm sure he'll chime in when he feels it's appropriate... you know B, his usual!  LOL  Yes, I'm waiting to read it too!

I agree SGT405. That one word, "INTEGRITY" says it all.

GEA212 says ...

 

I don’t want to hijack this important thread, but I would like to add a word to the list that I feel is very important to LEO’s.
 
RESPECT:
 
I think many new officers lack respect (my opinion from what I see locally). They lack respect in regard to authority and for senior officers. Respect the men who have been there and done it. Take what they have to say and gain knowledge from it. It may save your life one day.
 
Also respect the citizen we have sworn to protect. We have all had bad days, but don’t take it out on the public. They deserve the same respect we expect from them. We are not above them just because we wear a badge. 

I too would like to chime in on RESPECT;

Respect the uniform wear it with pride, self respect is as important as respecting others. Repect those that wear a different uniform, we are all brothers and sisters. Respect senior officers, even dinosaurs can teach you a few things. Respect the public, they are who you serve. Respect the law, we are not above it. Respect civilians that work side by side with you, they bring thier own special assests . Respect those that have fallen in service, they have made the ultimate sacrifice and truly exemplify COURAGE.

Thank you all for your comments.

Let's not let this flame diminish.

And, this link below will take you to an article that speaks to many honorable traits.

policelink.monster.com/news/articles/142279-detective-volunteers-for-layoff-to-save-co-workers-job

Now this is what we are talking about !

DonnaLynn says ...

BSL1123 says ...

I, for one, would like to hear TheSarge's take on the words in question?

I'm sure he'll chime in when he feels it's appropriate... you know B, his usual!  LOL  Yes, I'm waiting to read it too!

++++++++++++++++++++++++

Roger that.

Courage: It is a quality that LEO's should possess but maybe in different qualities and quantities. The courage to stand up to a wrong is different with respect to the courage required to be first through the door on a hot call. Courage is not a respecter of persons and does not perfect a person. Audie Murphy did not outright 'look' like a courageous man. Check to see otherwise. It embodies bravery and thoughtulness. Courage is not whimsy or lacking lucidity. A recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor is an expression courage as well as the officer/deputy who stands firms on matters that are immoral, illegal or unethical. Note: Noboby ever 'wins' the CMH. They are always the 'recipient' of this medal. It is never, never, never won.

Vigilance: Personal sticktoitiveness. The ability to look pain in the face and keep going. Cognitive decision-making to keep it at an even keel when no one is looking. And it comprises alertness over the long haul. An antonym might be the word 'shortcut'. Not being vigilant as a cop/deputy could compromise the safety of another LEO.

Adaptability: Nothing is permanent in law enforcement: laws, buildings, people, policies, equipment, health, and assignments. All things change. A victim one day may be a suspect the next. A full out donnybrook may need to be de-escalated in a heartbeat. A prior pursuit policy might be clamped down overnight to restrict future pursuits. Learning to sleep during the day may be something to which you need to adapt. A new Captain or Chief with querky ways might mean you have to adapt to different styles of leadership. Adaptability means not whining about every freaking change in LEO-Land. It means being bright, clever, legal and resourceful to get the 'mission' done. Remember hearing for the first time the phrase "doing more with less"? Even in my career I had the rare anomaly of adapting to abundance.

Knowledge: It's more than knowing the minutia of the law and General Orders. It is the opening of your mind to all things around you and learning to connect the dots in life. It has nothing to do with googling or keeping your head buried in a iPhone, iPad or other electronic device. It means opening your eyes and seeing life around you. We have to remember that in law enforcement we deal with the 'human commodity', not wigdets. When you learn about how people think, what they do and how they live in your world, then all the academic and cognitive informational data will have a place to 'stick'. We cannot throw around the term 'common knowledge' carelessly anymore.  Common knowledge is now contained within a group with common interest, experience and exposure. Society has become scattered, disconnected and diversified. If I had to provide a humorous analogy it might be this. In our yesteryears everyone might have known that June 26th, 2010 was a full moon. Today, some people might say, "What moon?"

And common knowledge again? How many stars on the U.S. flag? An interviewer recently asked a young adult how many stars were on the flag that was on the pole next to them, fluttering in the breeze. The person said, "It's hard to tell with it moving around so much." Common knowledge? Maybe not so much anymore. [Same thing with common sense.}

(I will post up more in a bit. Need some lunch.)

WOW !!! Thats really all I can say. I agree with each and everyone's post regarding these words. To boil it all down into a simple statement. My Daddy once told me " All you ever have in this world is your good name. Don't ever do anything to soil it." My daddy was one of the best men I've ever known in my life. He lived by those words, and raised us to live by them as well. Courage to speak the truth, whether or not people want to hear it. Integrity, Honor. all of these words can be boiled down to that small sentence. Respect, again a quote from dad " Always remember, no matter what a persons station in life is, no matter how much or how little money or education they have, you cross paths with folk to learn something from them; even if all it is , is how NOT  to behave.

I need to be clear about being "on-duty" even after you retire. I do not mean that you should try to enforce the law or act with the authority of a LEO. I meant that you should conduct yourself at all times in a manner that brings credit on your former profession. Hope we are clear on that.

PIG

pride

integrity

guts.

I think after a whole lot of maturing,thinkin,rationalizing, to me, it became HONOR.

I have lived my life on MY terms, no one elses. I have not succumbed to peer pressure. I have always taken responsibility for my actions. I have never blamed anyone else for them. My name is sacred to me. My words and actions are what make my name honorable. They follow my name for eternity. My name is how I am recalled and how I will be remembered. They are forever intertwined.  I will do nothing to dishonor my name. I never have, I never will. I believe in Honor, Duty, Loyalty, Integrity, Honesty and the Courage to fight for all of them throughout my life.  I will do nothing to tarnish my name, my family, my community, my country, MY BADGE!

SGT405 says ...

I have lived my life on MY terms, no one elses. I have not succumbed to peer pressure. I have always taken responsibility for my actions. I have never blamed anyone else for them. My name is sacred to me. My words and actions are what make my name honorable. They follow my name for eternity. My name is how I am recalled and how I will be remembered. They are forever intertwined.  I will do nothing to dishonor my name. I never have, I never will. I believe in Honor, Duty, Loyalty, Integrity, Honesty and the Courage to fight for all of them throughout my life.  I will do nothing to tarnish my name, my family, my community, my country, MY BADGE!

And this is why we love and respect you !!!!! SALUTE !!!