Calibre Press

“Stand up, hook up, shuffle to the door/Jump right out and count to four!” It’s really just as easy as the words in this cadence make it seem. Although I must say, before each one of my jumps, my heart was sprinting and my body was hurting. I just wanted to get out of the plane so I could get that parachute off my back, and my dangling rucksack off and out from the front of my legs. Jumping all those years ago in the dark skies over h... Full Article »

A couple of years ago, I spoke to an assembly of grade school children at a local elementary school. The principal asked that I talk to the kids about what it means to be a good citizen. I had 10 minutes to make an impact on 250 little citizens, who probably mostly had going home on their collective mind. Nothing fancy or flashy. No props. No dazzling slide show. Straight, simple, easy-to-remember talk: That’s what I went for. My Talk Focusin... Full Article »

How well an organization performs greatly depends on the collective effort. With us cops individualism is not as important as plural talents. If I’m going to crush the ball out of the park, then I’d prefer to have a teammate or two already on base. Very often, the success of an agency hinges on the collective and unified effort. Sometimes we forget, but so much of what we do—and how we do it—is the same as those who work around us.  A... Full Article »

When Americans leave their homes for business or for leisure, there’s an expectation that they remain fairly safe while interacting with the rest of society. If not for the role of government, particularly as it relates to the function and availability of law enforcement, persons would be at greater risk of harm while venturing out into public, as well as at home. Cops make law-abiding people safer. That’s the idea. Beyond the basic service... Full Article »

From affluent neighborhoods and upscale retail areas, to dilapidated apartment complexes and forgotten dead-ends, a city’s police department is obligated to serve the needs of all. How communities perceive their police departments can vary significantly. At its simplest level, some may only look to their police for emergencies, to be there if needed. For others, a police department may be seen as invested fellow neighbors, who are called to tak... Full Article »

As police agencies work to preserve civility, the all-too-near crescendos of sirens (many times our own) on a nearby street remind us that crime’s engineers are always at work. With the knowledge of ethical behavior and moral understanding in tow, police officers have two important responsibilities: 1) bringing criminals to justice, and, 2) doing so while remaining truthful to ourselves. A fundamental question that each police officer must rem... Full Article »