Respect in Public Safety

Brian Podany, Police Chief / Safety Services Manager at the City of Blaine, Minnesota

Brian Podany, Police Chief / Safety Services Manager at the City of Blaine, Minnesota

The song Respect, made famous by Aretha Franklin and originally coined by Otis Redding, was an anthem of empowerment (Benitas-Eves 2022). Although the song dates back over half a century, the principle of the importance of respect rings true now more than ever.  In public safety, trust and respect are at the core of many of the problems we are experiencing.  When we look at the historical challenges law enforcement has faced regarding interactions with other citizens, the prevailing problem pertains to a lack of trust and treating others disrespectfully. Fortunately, trust and respect are also key to the solution.  

There have been many high-profile police-related incidents that have caused controversy over the last eight years.  These incidents have had a significant societal impact across our country and around the world. Ferguson, Baltimore, Cleveland, New York, Minneapolis, and other US cities have garnered international attention for incidents that have occurred involving police-citizen interactions. The impacts on police relationships with others in their communities are far-reaching. Changes in methodology and statutory changes are impacting the way law enforcement not only interacts with but engages with other members of the public.  These changes are often reactionary to the handling of police incidents.

Law enforcement has additionally seen a significant exodus of those leaving the profession. This includes not only the baby boomer generation leaving the workforce, but large numbers of officers leaving early due to duty disabilities and feelings of lack of support. The Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) notes that 2020-2021 there was an 18% increase in resignations and a 45% increase in retirements in 2019-2020 (PERF 2021). The findings additionally note the impact of the negative national narrative on police and a lack of new qualified new applicants entering the field.  Staffing challenges are exacerbated by the dwindling number of applicants entering the profession, rendering personnel issues at the forefront of challenges faced by many law enforcement agencies.

Historically, public safety is no stranger to ebbs and flows. This ebb is no different and the question remains as to where we go from here.

Sound policies, outreach, and ‘innovative’ programming will fall short if there is not a clear foundation upon which to build.  It is imperative to change our mindset of thinking of traditional police and community relations.  When we picture the community as a separate entity, it becomes easier to disassociate others in our community from ourselves. This holds true in both successes and failures. 

“When we look at the historical challenges law enforcement has faced regarding interactions with other citizens, the prevailing problem pertains to a lack of trust and treating others disrespectfully.”

Law enforcement needs to adapt and accept the mindset that we are part of the community.  We are a very sacred part of the community that has the role of protecting and potentially taking the freedom and even the lives of others in the community.  This should never be taken lightly.  When we accept that we are part of our community, we take ownership of the others we serve.  The importance of being honest and treating others with respect, no matter the situation, then builds upon that principle. 

It doesn’t matter whether it is a suspect, a witness, a victim, or just a casual interaction.  The failure to treat others with respect inevitably leads to declining situations for all involved.  This does not mean that law enforcement’s role is to be treated poorly by those they come into contact with.  It is just the opposite.  By treating others with respect and dignity, law enforcement will garner back respect and build trust in themselves and public safety as a whole.  

Police need to additionally conduct themselves with integrity, even when they make a mistake.  We are human beings and part of being a human being is making mistakes.  Ownership of those mistakes is important in building trust with others who rely on public safety to inherently do the right thing. Acknowledgment of a lack of perfection must also be followed by a commitment to improvement to ensure the same mistakes are not repeated. This is a crucial piece of transparency that should be expected of public safety as the norm and not the exception. 

Respect and integrity are two crucial elements in public safety for the advancement of the profession.  As we reflect on where we have been and the mistakes that have been made, find hope in the nobility of the profession. It is an honor to be entrusted with this role by our fellow citizens.  We owe it to them and to ourselves to ensure we have a firm foundation to continue this privilege.