McDonalds Crisis Planning

When I went to work with the Oklahoma County Sheriff I was married, whereas in the past I had been single.  Back then, I never had to think of others in my life or an immediate family at home.  But now, things are vastly different for me as my wife and son are among my most important supporters for when the job can get me down.  They mean the world to me.

I am pretty sure all police officers feel the same way I do, when I say I would do everything possible to keep my family safe.  But, I bet right now, in your mind, you are thinking "at home".  That of course, is the easiest place to defend.  Ask any Secret Service agent where they would most like to protect the President.  "At the White House, because it is the safest place he can be."

But what about those many moments when we go out to eat, or to the fair, or to some other social outing with our family when we are nowhere near home?  How do we protect them from harm then?  Don't rely on the piece you carry off-duty, nor expect that all the training you have given to your loved one about firearms handling (if they even like firearms) will get them out of whatever crisis may arise in public.  What of your children?  How have they been prepared for the unexpected that we see all over the news today?

Here's my thinking...create a Crisis Plan.  Your plan should consider as many scenarios as possible that fit what your family is capable of.  It can be elaborate and detailed too, but I prefer simple.  I also prefer a plan that will not ask my family to engage with danger, but to escape from or avoid it all together.  I'm not talking about binders filled with drawings and bullet points.  I'm talking about talking with your family about the reality of your job and the scenarios you could find yourself in when with your family.  I spoke plainly to my wife and let her know that cops are targets.  Sometimes we don't even have to go looking for trouble, it just finds us - on or off duty.  I also stated that we arrest people and sometimes those people may walk up on us in public because they recognize us and may have it in for us.  I also expressed that active shootings and unfortunate events can happen wherever we may be and at any given time.

When we go into public, she already knows that I have a habit of scanning our environment for threats.  It is how I was trained and how I have become after 20 years.  She knows I am not scoping out other women.  She also knows that I will be the most likely person to see something is about to go down first. So, we developed somme Crisis Planning around this aspect of my training.

One example is kinda like when our son started walking home from school.  We had a special word that an adult would use with him if we authorized them to pick him up from school or along the way, especially in the event of an emergency where we couldn't get to him.  So, in this case, the plan is if I see that something is about to go down, whatever it may be, I have a "Crisis Phrase" like, "Now would be a good time for you to go to the bathroom." Translated, it means I need you to get our son and yourself out of the building or safely tucked in the restroom or in hiding.  Then call 911 on your cell phone and advise them that your husband/wife is a police officer who needs assistance at our location.

This does three things for me, right away.  One, I know my family is out of harms way.  Two, I won't be distracted from the threat worrying about my family.  Three, help is on the way.  Just make sure you use the plan wisely and make sure you remind each other every now and then of what to do in case this or that happens.

There are a whole lot of other things to think about as a cop with a family, to keep them safe.  Like having adequate life insurance if you get killed on or off the job.  Remember, they have to continue their lives without you, which may include education needs for your children.  Rent.  Groceries.  So have a plan.  As the Boy Scouts say, "Be prepared" and hope you never have to use it.

Mayberry Mentality

I have a Mayberry mentality, meaning that I believe in a proactive and community oriented response to law enforcement.  I see that being prepared, knowledgeable, and observant of my assigned environment are keys to a successful proactive approach.  I further believe that being an active part of my community, including an open dialogue with its citizens about concerns they have, often brings about positive community participation and improved communication.  I believe this approach and attitude further allows more successful implementation of training and wellness programs the department may initiate.

Below is an iconic image turned painting by American artist, Norman Rockwell.  This particular painting is well known across the country and in my humble opinion, should be evident in every Police agency line-up room and front lobby.  Because it represents something very special.

There was a time in US law-enforcement when both, police and community respected one another.  Relationships were sown and communication was key.  But time, demographics, and social change began to change the world law-enforcement patrolled.  The mid to late 1960s saw a lot of social changes in society as drug use became more common and standing up to "the man" was more a rite of passage.  Protests about the Vietnam war and a distrust of those in charge of public trust became common place and when local agencies were called in to keep the peace, a terrible clash between police and community resulted in a distrust that still echoes into today.  The 70s saw corruption on a massive scale with many enforcement agencies, which furthered the divide.  The 80s brought about the "War on Drugs" which brought with it the term "tactical" in everything cop.  Army helmets, vests, batons, SWAT, and armored personel carriers were the "in thing" with agencies and the trust between community and law-enforcement became even less.  The 90s saw a huge rise in gang violence and illegal street weapons, alongside narcotics.  With it America began its incursion in the Middle East, with Desert Storm which brought the household term "Terrorists" into our lexicon after the 9/11 attacks.  With each progression the divide between community and police grew and grew.  Today, it is much more common to have officers scorned and looked upon as brutes, while the opposite is cops looking at everyone as a suspect and remaining distant emotionally and for the catch phrase, "officer safety".  While there are many reasons for it all, some for the right and some for the wrong, the one thing law enforcement desperately needs, is for both sides to see the other as something other than a threat, so that together, through community spirit and communication, the true threats might be singled out and dealt with much more efficiently and with less collateral damage.

Andy Griffith got it right, when representing the face of te local constabulary decades ago.  Keep it simple.  Treat each other as human, even when someone doesn't deserve it.  Positive attitude.  Look and be clean (no cursing, etc) and friendly.  Know and be a contributing part of your community, both on AND off the job.

Washing dishes with your badge

 You would be surprised at how little time is spent by officers from every agency in the world on the "brightwork" adorning their uniforms.  Officers have a tendency of noticing the tools on their waist or in their patrol/battle bags more and will forget or overlook cleaning their badges, collar brass, nameplate, and buttons.  When they do, a quick reach for Brasso is the solution - WAIT!  NEVER, EVER USE BRASSO or other harsh chemicals (including gun cleaning products) on your brightwork!  Not only will it ruin the finish and luster on the piece, but it will irritate your supervisors greatly, as the cost of a badge alone can exceed $100 per piece.  If you work for a large agency, that cost can be very high and if you are from a smaller one, such an expense can really tap a limited budget.

Soooo....

Next time you are washing dishes, wrangle up your badge(s) and dunk them in the dishwater too.  Place a few drops of dish soap (I prefer Palmolive) on your badge and then work it into all of the crevices and lettering with either a nail brush or toothbrush, including the back of the badge.  Work up a good lather.  Then dunk the badge back in the dishwater, rubbing all the soap off with your fingers.  Be mindful of the rear side pin and clasp to avoid stabbing your hand.   Rinse all the soap off under clean water and Voila!  Your badge will shine like brand new.  In most cases this will remove all tarnish.  If it doesn't, keep repeating the steps until it does.  DRY THOROUGHLY - especially the rear clasp, to prevent corrosion.

A final thought:  If you have any Campmor waterproofing spray, as I mentioned in my earlier post, once your badge is completely dry, spray it down with the spray.  It will allow your badge to repel water and keep most of the lint, dust, and dirts away.

Don't wear a raincoat in the rain.

What?  Yep, i said it.  Why wear a raincoat in the rain?  After all, aren't they more of a pain than a plus?  Its like trying to direct traffic wrapped in a toga.  Toga!  Toga!  Toga!  Okay, that's a whole other blog...

Truth be told, in most cases we, as officers, try to avoid getting out in torrential downpours.  Sometimes it just can't be avoided.  But the following is an idea and something that I have done to make working in the rain, a little easier.

I don't like raincoats, as they are long and constricting for those "habeus grabus" moments.  But I do like our department issued jackets.  Many of the officers I have encountered over the years, from many jurisdictions, prefer their jacket over a rain coat any day.  One catch - most standard law enforcement jackets aren't rainproof.  But could they be?

Here's a trick:  Wash your jacket on the Delicates cycle (if the instructions allow you to put it in the washer, as there are some pretty sophisticated outerwear out there) and be sure to either hang dry (see instruction on the label) or run through a cycle in the dryer after washing.  Brush off ANY excess debris and place it on a large hanger.  Now take it OUTSIDE and hang it up (preferably on a clothesline or one you have made from a rope between two points).  Next, douse it with a spray on waterproofing agent.  I prefer Campmor.  Be sure to get it everywhere, especially around the collar, the arms, etc.  I also spray the interior.  After you are finished, let your jacket, as weather permits, air dry outdoors, for at least 2-3 days.  TRUST ME on this one, as you do NOT want your jacket in the car or the house until it does.  The fumes will get ya.

When you are done - Voila!  A rain proof duty jacket!

Pros:  The jacket will also repel body fluids (including vomit)
Cons:  The time it takes to air dry out.

I have never come across any reports or experience where the Campmor had a negative effect on the jacket's material, either by the way.

Welcome to Badge & Brass

Welcome!  My name is Bradley Wynn, and I am a full-time deputy with the Oklahoma County Sheriff Department, here in my hometown of Oklahoma City.  Throughout my over twenty years of law enforcement experience, I have come across, learned about, or created ways to help make life as a Police Officer or Private Security professional a little easier and more professional.  I have shared my two cents worth with fellow officers over time and they have encouraged me to write it all down.  So, finally, after not too little fore-thought, I created this blog entitled Badge & Brass.

The concept is simple:  Badge means my blog and humble opinion are geared toward law enforcement pros and Brass simply refers to how it takes a lot of brass to do the job!  My blogs will consist of the little, and sometimes big, things that you can do on the job to help you be the best version of yourself, which ultimately will also allow you to go home safe everyday.  I can't promise a blog everyday, but I will do my utmost to post often enough to make your journey here worth the trouble.  Just keep in mind, that the posts you are about to read, are based from my own experience and not yours and each further offers my own opinion.  That said, I would welcome your own thoughts and opinions too, as I think it would surprise folks to know that we are far from being automatons and nazis, and that our life experiences with the many lives we encounter every day, may just offer an insight into why we do what we do, for those who would not know us.  Welcome to Badge & Brass!