nobility of policing by michael nila
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Police Leadership Conference:Staying Connected in a Changing WorldApril 10-13, 2011TRANSCRIPT
Cmdr. Michael J. Nila (RET)
The Nobility of Policing:
Connecting to Purpose!
1944: The Battle of the Bulge
“Hey buddy, are you looking for a safe place?”
“Yeah” the tank commander replied.
“Then park your tank behind me, because I am the 82nd Airborne, and this is as far as the bastards
are going!”
Policing and Leadership are both about “holding the
line!”
“Stand behind me and it will be OK!”
The Guardians
“If the Guardiansfail -- the democracy will
crumble!”
“Of every one hundred men that they send me, ten should not be
here. Eighty are nothing but targets. Nine are the real fighters, they the battle make. Ah, but the one, he is a warrior, and he will
bring the others back.”Where do we get such men and women?
An Ancient Greek Warrior General writing from the front lines to the city fathers...
Your Challenge …
✓Learn It!✓Live It!✓Give It!
The Nobility of Policing
“Policing is one of our most noble professions. The actions of any police officer, in an instant, can impact an
individual for life, and even a community for generations. Given this realization, every police officer
must be centered on what is important.
Service, justice, fundamental fairness—these are the foundational principles in which every police action must
be grounded. The nobility of policing demands the noblest of character.”
— Stephen R. Covey
What Is Nobility?
Nobility: Greatness of character and high ethical qualities or ideals that serve a cause greater than self; faithfulness to a higher calling or purpose.
What Causes the Nobility to Fade?
• Be it Rampart, Miami River Cops, Corruption in NYPD or a small town in Tulia Texas -- how often has the badge been tarnished?
• Why do we betray the badge and the public trust?
• Policing is a job about Heart and Spirit and when that is wounded the Noble calling can no longer heard
• “Nobody ever talks to us like that!”
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Photo by Jaime A. Lopez, LASD
Responsibilities of Policing
Our Critical Responsibilities
1. Preserve freedom and uphold democracy.
2. Uphold the law.
3. Ensure justice.
What Is Justice?The use of authority and power to uphold what is right, just, or lawful.
“Doing the right thing, in the right way, in a particular circumstance, with a particular person,
that serves the right cause.” (“Practical Wisdom”)
Virtues of “Practical Wisdom”...
Courage
Loyalty
Self-Control
Fairness
Gentleness
Friendliness
Integrity
Open-Mindedness
Thoroughness
Kindness
Generosity
Truthfulness
1. Protect life.
2. Keep the peace.
Our Critical Responsibilities
1. Preserve freedom and uphold democracy.
2. Uphold the law.
3. Ensure justice.
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Power of Control vs.Power of Influence
Power of control: Using coercion, threats, force, or the perception of power to gain compliance or obedience; the power to do something to someone.
Two Types of Power
Power of influence: Using one’s honor and principles to earn people’s respect and make a positive difference in their lives; the power to work effectively with others to get a better result.
The Tools of Policing
• The law
• The use of force
• Incarceration
• Influence
Tools“When the only tool you know how to use is a
hammer, every situation looks like a nail.”
— Unknown
What tools are we leading, teaching, educating, orienting our police
officers to use?
When people of action cease When people of action cease to believe in a cause, they to believe in a cause, they
begin to believe only in the begin to believe only in the action!action!
Leadership - Purpose - Character - Excellence are inseparable
“It is in our nature to seek purpose!”
AutonomyMasteryPurpose
Leadership - Purpose - Character - Excellence are inseparable
Leadership is the capacity to influence others through
inspiration, motivated by a passion, generated by a vision, produced by conviction, ignited
by a purpose.
Myles MunroeThe Spirit of Leadership
Rumi -- 13th Century Mystic
“Those who are here unfaithfully do incredible damage!”
“One is apt to think of moral failure as due to weakness of
character: more often it is due to an
inadequate ideal.”
Richard LivingstoneBritish Scholar
1880-1960
Convincingly Good People
“Our profession must hire convincingly good people. The communities we serve deserve no
less.”
— Sheriff Lee Baca
Los Angeles County, California
Leadership is Always About Readiness!!!
“To every man there comes in his lifetime that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on
the shoulder and offered a choice to do a very special thing, unique to him and fitted to his
talents; What a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified for the work which
would be his finest hour.”
-- Sir Winston Churchill
LAPD Officer Kristina Ripatti
Are You Prepared?When people would ask her what she was training for she would
answer – “life!”
Obviously there is some reason this
happened and I can’t change it so…”
Illinois State Police Academy
The Obligation of Policing
“No one is compelled to choose the profession of police officer, but having chosen it, everyone is
obligated to perform its duties and live up to the high standards
of its requirements.”
— President Calvin Coolidge
“The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts ...The content of your character is your choice. Day by day, what you choose, what you think and
what you do is who you become. Your integrity is your destiny ...
it is the light that guides your way.
- HeraclitusGreek Poet and Philospher
2500 Years Ago
Legacy
My Goals are simple.
I will always be painfully honest,
Work as hard as a I can,
Learn as much as I can,
And hopefully make a difference in many people’s lives!
Deputy David W. March
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
Virtues of “Practical Wisdom”... Courage
Loyalty
Self-Control
Fairness
Gentleness
Friendliness
Integrity
Open-Mindedness
Thoroughness
Kindness
Generosity
Truthfulness
“The best way to be virtuous is to practice virtues!”
Aristotle
“When you begin to doubt the nobility of your mission or the sanctity of your profession because your heart is heavy, or you feel anger, disillusionment,
disenfranchisement, betrayed or confused -- stop and listen to the voices... the voices that rise up from ... a field in Pennsylvania, from a wall at the Pentagon and from the spot of earth the world has come to know as Ground Zero. Because if you listen, you will hear those souls tell you “thank you” for what you do ... hear them cheering you on. Let them carry you through this difficult moment, allow them to nourish you and encourage you and doubt no more, for you are warriors and champions for those who have gone before and to those most vulnerable now. You are admired and respected,
for you are the best at what you do. God bless you ...”
John R. ThomasFirst Deputy Superintendent
Chicago Police Dept.
The Nobility of Your Mission
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Michael Nila
630-878-4796
Ward [email protected]
604-808-2211 cell
To purchase a book which contains the Nobility video:Please contact Michael at above information or go to:www.guardianquest.com