Some things that I have offered unsoliticited advice on in the last few weeks. Take a read, tell me what you think:
I was at the hospital today and the Doctor prescribed a medicine to a patient that I disagreed with. I made an alternative suggestion to her. Note: I do not have a medical degree (M.D.)
While at the same hospital I questioned the nurse’s monitoring of the patient and told him how he might do a better job. Note: I do not have a registered nurse or any other nursing degree.
While at the vineyard, I had a chance to speak to the winemaker about her fermentation techniques and her choice of blending varietals and suggested where she went wrong. Note: I do not know anything about wine making.
The last time I watched an NFL football game (3 years running) I had the inclination to reach out to Bill Belichek and offer up some tips on how Tom Brady maybe able to pick up the blitz better. Note: I never played organized football nor ever coached the game.
While speaking to a software engineer, I asked to review his code. I had some suggestions with C++, Javascript and Python. Note: I have never written a line of code in my life, nor do I know what I am reading when I see code.
While speaking to an accountant I accused him of not planning out a proper tax strategy for someone noting flaws in deferring compensation, capital gains and 529 plans. Note: I am not a CPA, nor have I ever read one line of the tax code.
While discussing another child’s middle school education with an assistant principal I challenged him and his staff to pivot on some approaches to stimulate retention of some learning methods. Note: I have never written a lesson plan, taught a child nor do I have a degree in education.
My friend ended up with an unfavorable ruling in her divorce proceedings. I suggested she may be the victim of legal malpractice: Note: I do not possess a Juris Doctorate, nor have I ever worked for a law firm.
While the neighbor’s home was being built, I questioned the builder on his using sloping flat roof framing. Note: I can barely hammer a nail.
So, if you think all of the above is absurd, if it actually happened it would be. So then may I ask, why does everyone think they are an expert in policing? Whether it is in congress, a town hall or the dinner table, you would be shocked at the ignorance. If you have never been through a police academy, if you have never been on patrol, if you have never been told to f*ck yourself for no reason, if you have never been spat at, if you have never had to dodge airmail from rooftops, if you have never ran toward shots fired while everyone else is running away, if you have never had to do a car stop-alone-at 2am and can’t see the driver, if you have never fought for your life over the retention of a firearm, if you have never made a family death notification, if you have never rushed an abused infant to the hospital, if you have never donned a Tyvek suit inside of a horrific crime scene, and so much more things expected to be done by the police, than what exactly is it that makes you a qualified critic? If you think unqualified people are not driving the direction of policing read this article from Vermont Public Research Insitute that is laden with ignornace and hypocracy. In an earlier Linkedin article I wrote in Aug 2016 I suggested every politician should go through a “citizens academy” before taking office. Want to be really tough, make it pass/fail before they take office. Trust me, their seat will remain empty.
How has the Law Enforcement community allowed non-practitioners judge their work? MDs dont allow it, neither do attorneys. There are non-practitioners that have made academic criminal justice their life’s work and they have earned a seat at the table. There are empathetic politicians and community leaders who have listened to all sides and are intelligent enough and caring enough to have input. But that does not seem to be the people we are listening to when it comes to “re-imaging police”. How can you fix something that is not broken? Room for improvement? Yes. Flawed? Sometimes. Shouldn’t we all aim for perfection and land inside of excellence? That is where policing was on May 24, 2020; excellent but still striving for perfection, setbacks for sure because there are “humans in the loop”.
