National Police Week: Reflecting on our vulnerabilities

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Weinblatt's Tips with Dr. Richard Weinblatt

It’s National Police Week. Thousands of officers in our nation’s Capitol are joined, at least in spirit, by countless law enforcers around the country as respects are paid to those who have served and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Those who know the honorable men and women who live the oath that the badge represents take a moment to pay our respects to those who have fallen.

As someone who manages a police academy, I remind our folks that this is also a time to cement our resolve to improve our knowledge to maximize our chance of keeping our names off of the wall by tackling our vulnerabilities head on. We must reflect and make an honest assessment of our individual strengths and weaknesses as law enforcement professionals. Everything from our diet and exercise to shooting and legal knowledge should be fair game for scrutiny.

While varying degrees and luck of destiny can claim even the most proficient of officers and deputy sheriffs, the quest for performance excellence does help to tip the scales in our favor. During this somber time frame, ponder the enhancements that you can make to keep you and your colleagues safe. The bad guys are lifting weights, comparing legal notes, and studying law enforcement’s methods and tactics. We all need to cement our resolve to do the same if we are to keep new names from being added to that wall.

Richard B. Weinblatt, Ed.D., M.P.A., is an instructor in multiple disciplines. He is Florida Criminal Justice Standards certified in general law enforcement topics, firearms, defensive tactics, and vehicle operations, as well as holding instructor certifications for Taser, pepper spray, and expandable baton. He holds the Certified Law Enforcement Trainer (CLET) designation from the American Society for Law Enforcement Training (ASLET).

Weinblatt is a professor and program manager for the Criminal Justice Institute at Seminole Community College in Sanford, FL. Weinblatt has worked in several regions of the country in reserve and full-time sworn positions ranging from auxiliary police lieutenant in New Jersey to patrol division deputy sheriff in New Mexico to police chief in North Carolina.

Weinblatt may be reached through www.policearticles.com.

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