Some of you may think I do not like cops or cop unions. Not true. I think unionization of workers is a most noble cause and I love good cops and think bad cops can do much better. I wrote this to Chief Franz today. Dear Chief Franz: Officer Lu represents a stellar officer who listens with intention and without prejudice. He was the first officer NOT to interrupt me and who allowed me to tell my story as I saw fit. Officers would be best NOT to assume details, put words into victims or suspects mouths, or finish their sentences for them. Officers who cut off conversations or thwart communication in anyway not only do a disservice to the citizen but in fact, open themselves up to all sorts of problems down the line. So many times officers seem content to put their needs first in front of the citizens, and this will never serve the needs of any community. Officers who are more interested in appearing intimidating might think they are protecting themselves or the citizen but in fact such posturing does nothing to elicit communication, which is the first thing needed in preventing or solving any crime in progress or which has already happened. As the events in Ferguson illustrate, cops must act in earnest to become much more disarming in their approach if they expect to avoid being criminals themselves. Every single officer that I have ever dealt with in Palm Springs, and I do not embellish in the least, seems to be under so much pressure and stress that they cannot or chose not to listen with the appropriate skills that should be afforded to any citizen. The art of good and respectful conversation should be the first priority of any law enforcement officer. Officer Lu lets people finish their sentences and paragraphs before he offers his own. That is a highly desired skill and one that is increasingly rare in our phone app society. And, I can guarantee it, such patience and due diligence would result in far less exacerbation of crimes, complaints, and miscarriages of justice so prevalent today. My experience of every other officer is that they seem to have better things to do, would rather be doing other things, or are so prejudicial that they sit in judgment rather than listen with the sincere and concerted effort of remaining impartial which is really the first duty of any law enforcement official- to remain impartial in their listening and thereby act impartially in their execution of duties. As a front line servant of jurisprudence in the community, this would seem rudimentary, but I can give you every assurance, the duty of impartial and unconditional listening is in fact the most sorely missing skill of the Palm Springs Police Department. I would strongly advise every officer to follow Officer Lus example- not as one who acts first and listens as an after thought, but one who listens and acts impartially because he was discerning enough to listen intently in the first place. It would amaze officers if both the victim and suspect would be given an ample and respectful amount of time to articulate events, and especially the intensity of feelings that criminality so often rightfully manifests, such that a truer depiction of crime scenes would become more evident. Because Officer Lu is the most highly skilled listener on the force, I give him my highest accolades and every officer of the PSPD should emulate his example. And importantly, and I realize it may seem insignificant, but his name was clearly embroidered and visible from a distance. It is only natural that citizens conversing with officers would want to know an officers name and most name badges are so small that it necessitates getting quite close to an officer to actually read it. On more than one occasion, my attempt to know the officers name which is not routinely given to citizens verbally upon first meeting them, I tried to get close to read it and officers have taken such an innocent advance as somehow threatening or inappropriate. I should think that such misinterpretations of intention by officers might result in evasive or confrontational action by an officer and problems could easily escalate from there. Officer Carr and Officer Crocker are also fine officers too, but their name tags, like so many officers are way too small to serve much purpose at all. And, if they recall, even they were a bit put off as I took innocent actions to just know their names. Kudos to Officer Lu then for what would should be a given of any public safety official: A name tag that is easily read from afar and a skill set that puts unconditional and respectful listening as the top priority of any professional who works for this City. And I guarantee it, listening intently and without prejudice not only elicits the truth from those you would communicate with, but it also makes your life and job infinitely more enjoyable and rewarding. That is what I learned from Officer Lu: Be mindful of your work. Be present to what is happening. The less you bring forward past traumas and altercations, the more powerful and fearless you can be to handle anything. And, if you listen, really listen, you might be surprised that people arent just victims and suspects, they are just as human as you are. Thank you, kind sir. That Officer Lu smiled and was able to chuckle in mutual jest a couple times at my sometimes meandering account speaks to his comfort level and perceptiveness in enforcing the peace. That goes a long way compared to the frowns and snarls of so many officers of late. Sincerely, Santiago D. Rosa
Posted on: Wed, 20 Aug 2014 06:33:23 +0000
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