I see a lot of stuff that would lead me to question the support for cops. As the Public Information Officer for my agency, I am on social media both for the department and personally. They have always “had our six” and always will. I am talking about the truth and reality that lets us know our communities have never turned against us. However, we can change our perception by seeking out the truth that is reality. In the hearts and minds of many cops, the answer is “No” to both. We keep asking ourselves and our peers if anything we do will make a difference in public opinion.
We now find ourselves questioning whether our efforts are appreciated. We feel alone in our efforts to prevent crime, reduce victimization, and improve quality of life in our communities. The amount of negative coverage by media outlets and social media posts critical of law enforcement has left us with a perception that we are alone. That belief is being tested in agencies all around the country. We always believed that as long as we were arresting criminals and doing community outreach, the public would support us. I have never known them to question the amount of support and respect the residents have for us. In my 18 years of service to the residents of Evansville, Indiana, I have never seen our officers question their place in our community the way they are doing right now. “Why put myself in harm’s way if nobody appreciates it?” “Why risk my career and my financial future for people who don’t even want me in their neighborhood?” “What’s the easiest way to avoid media scrutiny?” “If I slow down my work effort and do the minimum, will anyone even care?” In police stations, sector offices, squad cars, and hometown dinner spots across the country, many law enforcement officers are having similar conversations. But we must ask ourselves, “Is that reality or a skewed perception”? And right now, our perception is that the people we serve do not have our backs. How many times have we heard the phrase “perception is reality” when people talk about policing in this country? Well, perception is OUR reality, too.
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