April 2021 End of Watch Monthly Update
March 2021 - 21 Officers Down
Last month we discussed how teamwork is essential in the completion of the End of Watch Memorial Ruck annual event. In this second installment of “Teamwork is Key,” we are going to touch on the importance of teamwork within a unit.
TEAMWORK IS KEY
Nowhere is the value of teamwork more evident than in that of law enforcement. Patrol units need each other to answer the overwhelming calls for service. S.W.A.T. teams need each other when breaching the door on a high liability call-out. Even a position that is seemingly solo like an investigation unit needs the help of those on patrol and other adjacent units to accomplish their mission. The principle of “Teamwork Is Key” is absolutely vital to all aspects of law enforcement and the benefits of a well-organized team flow within and across all units as they all work together.
From the moment your unit musters up, they have to be able to trust that you are dedicated to the greater good of the team and the mission. Mutual trust within a team starts within yourself first. Squashing your ego will do more for team unity than any amount of training, knowledge, or attempts at team building. Egos have historically been the single most destructive and divisive thing to a team. Putting others before self, recognizing and admitting your wrongs, letting others get the credit, and even letting your subordinates lead from time to time are all ways to break down egos and build up your team.
Once you’ve handled the issues within, start looking at your immediate physical surroundings. Before you leave the house look at yourself in the mirror. Is your gear squared away? Are you ready for the day? When the time comes to respond to a rapidly evolving situation, you should be ready to go and not scrambling. Take a look at your physical training. Maintaining your physical training so that you have the strength, stamina, and skill to stay in the fight and win quickly and effectively is vital to being an asset and not a liability on a team. One of the last things an officer wants to hear when asking for backup in a fight is that “I’m en route” call from someone who is just going to make it worse. Lastly, staying up to date on case law and law changes so when a decision needs to be made on scene, you’ll have the right information to make the best call. Looking down and in to ensure you’re squared away mentally, physically, and emotionally will make you a valuable team player.
Now that you’ve looked down and in, it’s time to look up and out. This means transitioning from what you can do about yourself to what you can do to help the team. You’ve probably heard the term “running like a well-oiled machine” right? Well in order for a machine to work well, all the parts must work in unison with each other. Maintaining a smooth operating and cohesive unit means that when your shift meets challenges, as they undoubtedly will, you dominate and win. Parts of a well-harmonized machine aren’t stopping to make sure the other parts are doing their job correctly. If one gear stops to check what another gear was doing, the whole machine shuts down. Instead, each part stays focused knowing and trusting all other parts are doing their job and that everything is going to fall into place. Doing this requires some initial investment into your relationships with your teammates. Take time to get to know your teammates in all directions. This means those shoulder to shoulder, and those both up and down the chain. Building positive relationships builds trust. Any high-performing team will tell you that a trustworthy teammate is far more desirable than that of a skilled yet not trustworthy individual. Your team is likely to execute some pretty dangerous missions while on the street. If there is a question of trust amongst anyone on the team, the mission will fail. Or at best not be efficient. I have worked with some people that simply annoy me. I have even worked with some where we disagree vehemently on many topics. But we trust each other and know that when the chips are down, we have each other's back. Trust does not always mean you are in agreement, but knowing where each other stands and that you have the other’s best interests in mind.
When tensions begin to creep into a team you must aggressively attack the root of the issue. Tension creates doubt. Doubt damages trust. And when trust is your most valuable asset, you have to protect it at all costs. Now, a tactical pause to let something develop may be appropriate at times; as this may reveal that a perceived mountain is merely a molehill. And someone who is always making mountains out of molehills won’t be taken seriously for very long. However, the balance is in knowing when to attack a small misunderstanding before it develops into a bigger issue. Leaders and teammates who allow minor issues to creep in and build into problems that divide the team are most often labeled as indecisive. Indecisive teammates are hard to trust when under the pressure of difficult times or the stress of combat.
In law enforcement, you don’t always have ample time to build relationships with each individual on your team. With side jobs and family life, off-duty team building may not always be possible. So in turn, while on shift, try doing some training together. Practice clearing the office with built-in scenarios. Practice searching cars together and develop a strategy or pattern that is repeatable. These exercises require communication between team members which builds trust and proficiency. This will provide an environment in which they can learn and discuss how each other work through and handle complex situations. So when it’s time to perform, they will already know and understand how each other will react. You will see how applying the principle of “Teamwork is Key'' will have your squad moving together as one unit. Even to the point they won’t even have to speak to each other. They will just “do”.
Stick around with me for next month's newsletter as we dive into teamwork between separate units and up and down the chain of command.
If you would like to join us in our mission to honor the fallen and support those still on watch by starting a satellite monthly End of Watch Memorial Ruck in your area, please reach out through this link. Alternatively, you can join us by simply throwing some weight in your ruck and getting some miles in around your neighborhood. We’ve been seeing your posts and are proud of what you are doing out there.
The goal is to do a mile for each officer down in the line of duty while carrying 20 pounds to match the average weight in duty gear an officer carries on a daily basis. While this is the goal, please adjust the weight and miles to your capabilities.
Thank you for your continued support, look forward to seeing everyone soon!
Take Care,
Caleb Cook
March’s Honor Wall
Captain Justin Williams Bedwell
End of Watch:
Monday, March 1, 2021
Decatur County Sheriff's Office, Georgia
Police Officer II Jose Anzora
End of Watch:
Wednesday, March 3, 2021
Los Angeles Police Department, California
Corrections Officer III Tracey Adams
End of Watch:
Saturday, March 6, 2021
Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division, Texas
Officer Crispin San Juan San Jose
End of Watch:
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - Office of Field Operations, U.S. Government
Officer Jesse Madsen
End of Watch:
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
Tampa Police Department, Florida
Sergeant Barry Edwin Henderson
End of Watch:
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
Polk County Sheriff's Office, Georgia
Deputy Sheriff Stanley "Allen" Burdic
End of Watch:
Thursday, March 11, 2021
Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Oregon
Police Officer Gary Hibbs
End of Watch:
Thursday, Sunday, Friday, March 12, 2021
Chicago Heights Police Department, Illinois
Border Patrol Agent Alejandro Flores-Bañuelos
End of Watch:
Monday, March 15, 2021
United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - United States Border Patrol, U.S. Government
Police Officer Kevin Valencia
End of Watch:
Monday, March 15, 2021
Orlando Police Department, Florida
Sergeant LaShonda Owens
End of Watch:
Thursday, March 18, 2021
Northampton County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina
Police Officer Eric Talley
End of Watch:
Monday, March 22, 2021
Boulder Police Department, Colorado
Chief of Police Fred Alan Posavetz
End of Watch:
Monday, March 22, 2021
Clinton Township Police Department, Michigan
Correctional Officer Robert McFarland
End of Watch:
Tuesday, March 23, 2021
Iowa Department of Corrections, Iowa
Senior Master Trooper Todd A. Hanneken
End of Watch:
Thursday, March 25, 2021
Illinois State Police, Illinois
Corporal Kyle Jeffrey Davis
End of Watch:
Thursday, March 25, 2021
Washington County Sheriff's Office, Oklahoma
Trooper Joseph Gallagher
End of Watch:
Friday, March 26, 2021
New York State Police, New York
Sergeant Shane Owens
End of Watch:
Saturday, March 27, 2021
Broward County Sheriff's Office, Florida
Reserve Deputy Sheriff James Driver
End of Watch:
Monday, March 29, 2021
Monroe County Sheriff's Office, Indiana
Trooper Chad Walker
End of Watch:
Wednesday, March 31, 2021
Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol, Texas
Corrections Officer Luis Arturo Hernandez, Sr.
End of Watch:
Wednesday, March 31, 2021
Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division, Texas
