The Ferguson Forum: Practice, Practice, Practice

Considering the lack of injury to Officer Wilson in the Ferguson incident, it makes me wonder just how afraid of Michael Brown he really needed to be. I am not sure how new officers are being trained these days, but perhaps there is too much emphasis being placed on using the equipment, particularly the firearm. Oftentimes, officers fail to augment their skills with additional training in the techniques of unarmed combatives. It is naive to think the retraining, some of which is only annual, a department offers is enough to ingrain those skills into one's self so they are readily available when needed. Such training takes personal initiative and a high level of professional commitment to becoming proficient in the crafts of our trade. Knowing that all an officer does is scrutinized, analyzed and magnified it would behoove every officer to ensure they are up to speed on the most recent and prudent methods beforehand.

Officers must realize that the engagement starts in the mind. It begins with the mental preparation of running scenarios in your head to work out the reactions to the 'what ifs' before they happen. It unfolds with the approach and leads to a fluid encounter. The officer must not lose sight that the objective is control gained through a graduated application of force. The officer must remain mindful that this application is itself fluid and must be adjusted as the flow of the encounter changes. This control starts inside the officer's mind. 

It is imperative to control one's justified fears and emotions in order to think clearly and make good decisions. Irrational fear and runaway emotions do not allow for such clear thinking and often leads to mistakes being made. In this case, fear and fury ruled the day. Michael Brown brought a fist fight to a gun fight. And the results are tragic! I believe these misplaced fears and emotions are the reasons that in the encounters between citizens and police officers that resulted in the death of the citizen, between 2012 and 2014, the citizen was unarmed.

Police work is a noble and honorable profession. The sworn officer is a trained professional and not some brute with a badge. We are not like the criminals we chase neither in heart or in mind. 

Officers swear an oath to protect and defend the constitution and enforce the law. The rules, policies, procedures and practices of each department should support that end and neither supplant or circumvent it. The sworn officer carries huge responsibility and power on their shoulders: the power over freedom, life and death. This responsibility and power is given by the citizens and should not be taken lightly or exercised without due diligence and caution. This responsibility and power is accompanied and balanced by the weight of the accountability police have to the citizens. In this public office, the officer serves the citizens. 

Rest assured, hard questions will be asked of Officer Wilson at his civil trial. I suspect his municipality, himself and his family will pay dearly as a result of Officer Wilson's critical decision making and the death of Michael Brown. 

This incident and others should be the catalyst for specific and focused police training in every jurisdiction. But I am afraid it will not be and we will be doing this once again before the end of next year.

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The Ferguson Forum: Questions

Whether you consider the Michael Brown shooting as two engagements or one prolonged engagement, some questions must be asked of the officer, from an officer's perspective. We must endeavor to look at this through a clear, reasonable and objective lens and not just through the lens of a 'blue bias' because it is the reasonable standard we will be judged by. Neither should we allow our 'blue code' to cause a 'blue haze' in our thinking that will keep us from having a frank and open dialogue, even among ourselves:

1. Officer Wilson, have you received training from your police department in making tactical approaches to suspicious subjects?

2. Officer Wilson, as you positioned your police car to block the street, did you use it to create a barrier between yourself and Michael Brown?

3. Officer Wilson, how did Michael Brown get to the driver's side door of your police car before you were able to get out of your police car?

4. Officer Wilson, was Michael Brown armed while he was at the driver's side of your vehicle?

5. Officer Wilson, as you fought Michael Brown at your police car, were you ever in fear for your life? Why?

6. Officer Wilson, did Michael Brown go for your weapon while it was holstered or after it was drawn?

7. Officer Wilson, did Michael Brown disengage from having a fist fight with you and run away? Why?

8. Officer Wilson, have you received training from your police department on the force continuum?

9. Officer Wilson, have you received training from your police department in the application of open hand and closed hand control techniques?

10. Officer Wilson, have you received training from your police department in effecting take-downs on combative subjects?

11. Officer Wilson, have you received training from your police department in non-lethal force options and applications?

12. Officer Wilson, when Michael Brown was running away from you, was he armed?

13. Officer Wilson, when Michael Brown turned toward you, was he armed?

14. Officer Wilson, after Michael Brown turned toward you, did you issue any verbal commands for him to stop?

15. Officer Wilson, at the point when Michael Brown turned and advanced toward you, what was the threat to your life at that moment?

16. Officer Wilson, can you fight?

17. Officer Wilson, did you have non-lethal instruments on your person at the time of your engagement/s with Michael Brown

18. Officer Wilson, did you employ any non-lethal techniques in order to subdue and control Michael Brown?

19. Officer Wilson, how many times did you shoot Michael Brown?

20. Officer Wilson, how many volleys of fire did you discharge against Michael Brown?

21. Officer Wilson, in between those two volleys of fire, had Michael Brown armed himself?

22. Officer Wilson, seeing that Michael Brown was never armed, why did you continue to employ and then utilize lethal force against someone who was never armed?

23. Officer Wilson, why did you shoot Michael Brown the first time at your police car?

24. Officer Wilson, how close to you was Michael Brown the first time you shot him at your police car?

25. Officer Wilson, why did you shoot Michael Brown the second time after chasing him more than 100 feet from your police car.

26. Officer Wilson, how close to you was Michael Brown the second time you shot him after chasing him more than 100 feet from your police car.

27. Officer Wilson, why did you shoot Michael Brown the third time after chasing him more than 100 feet from your police car.

28. Officer Wilson, how close to you was Michael Brown the third time you shot him after chasing him more than 100 feet from your police car.

29. Officer Wilson, were you simply too unskilled in unarmed combatives, and too afraid of Michael Brown to have a fist fight with him?

If I, not being a lawyer, can come up with 29 questions to ask the officer I am certain the prosecutor at his civil trial will have a field day with him.

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Overtime

On November 3, 2013, at about 1 PM I was on my way to watch the Saints game. I would never make it. Instead, I ended up in the ER and then emergency quadruple heart bypass surgery. What should have been the end of the game for me had become overtime.

From that moment, each moment since then has become borrowed time in the game of life. The value of time is something I have become acutely aware of. But then, we all already know that. 

The challenge becomes guiding ourselves or allowing ourselves to be guided to situations in our lives that give us true meaning. True meaning is a measure of value and that value is the measure of our contribution to others. 

So as I reflect on winning this game in OT, I am going to rally my team to gain a victory by making the score beneficial to the service of another.

Here's the snap.......

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Violations

Three inches would be considered thick for a Bible, that contains instructions for every aspect in life. God sees and knows all that we do, at any given moment. When we violate the laws policies and procedures of the Bible one is accountable to one person, who happens to be perfect. This fact affords one some consolation that the penalty being rendered for any violation is in fact just.

The regulations which govern a New Orleans Police Officer, when bound, are nearly five inches thick and pertain only to a small segment of that officer's life. The activities of today's officer are watched, monitored and recorded live nearly every moment they are at work. When he or she violates the laws policies and procedures of the police department the officer is at the mercy of the subjective interpretation of a group of imperfect people who, more than likely, are out of touch with the realities faced by that officer on a daily basis.

These imperfect people replay, review and question the violation of these officers and shall render judgements that affect a person's livelihood and that of their family. Oftentimes, these judgments come without the benefit of truly understanding the officer's perspective. Nor do these judgements always appreciate and avail themselves to the value of retraining to focus the officer's attention to their error. An error which, more than likely, was done due to the myriad of things one has to remember and be accountable for from that five inch thick publication they are governed by.

Regulations, policies and procedures are a necessary safeguard to proper operation and also serve to standardize the services provided to the public. But those who are charged to administer those services should see them as a guide that will assist them in doing their jobs and not just as a punitive tool whose main purpose is to chastise them, punish them and beat them down.

Violations are opportunities to do things over and get it right. When taken full advantage of, the violation becomes that 'teachable moment' that benefits everyone. No mature person minds correction that benefits them. It takes good leadership to seize these opportunities and treat them in a way that makes a better officer and ultimately a better organization.

I am reminded of what my FTO told me about traffic enforcement: "The goal of the traffic encounter is to make a better driver."

Enough said.


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Heart Trouble

It has been said of some people that they died from a 'broken heart'. I don't think it is either a stretch of science or the imagination to see there is a link between the mind, soul and body. Spiritual and emotional issues, unresolved, do manifest themselves in the physical body. The scriptures even attest to this fact: 1 Corinthians 11:28-30.

As for me, I have had a physical heart problem for a number of years. It has bewildered me as to why, because I maintained a reasonably healthy lifestyle. But as I think of the spiritual and emotional aspects, I can see why my heart has become so afflicted.

No one has wanted the love I have to offer, no one wants to give me the love I truly need. I don't ask for much and I don't think that's too much to ask for. But it has turned out to be way too much and way too scary for anyone to give. It is very much disheartening. I am disappointed. I am disenchanted. I am tired. I quit.

My heart aches from the damage of being stepped on and abused. This emotional condition has now manifested itself physically, once again.

How can a body survive when its soul is starving? Is there life in a body with a dying spirit? Can one truly exist without love?

Just once in this life I would like to be truly loved. I would like for someone to love me as much as I love them.

Is that really too much to ask for?

True love is the most positive healing force in the universe! Does anyone have that kind of love for me?


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Hold On

Sometimes the love you need walks right into your life at a time when you don't recognize it, or worse, don't even want it.

But if you are blessed enough to have found true love, just hold on to it. Even if you don't know what to do with it right now, don't let true love go. Do whatever it takes to understand true love and figure it out.

So if you know it's right, hold on! If you know it's real, hold on! If they treat you the way you're supposed to be treated, hold on! If they make you feel happy, hold on! If, when you are with them, everything seems just alright, then hold on! If they give you the drive and desire to be a better person, then hold on! If they bring positive motivation and influence into your life, hold on! Just hold on, with all your might and strength.

Because if you let go of true love, love may not come back into your life ever again.


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Thanking You

Hi,

I had no idea it would take so long, but my rehab is done and I have returned to work, albeit in a limited capacity to start. Today was my first day back at work. I am totally exhausted even though I did absolutely nothing!

It is difficult to express in words the amount of gratitude I have for the prayers, positive thoughts, emotional and material support I have received during my recuperation from surgery. The support was tangible in every respect as even the prayers could literally be felt.

Of course, praise and thanks be to our Lord Jesus. In His wisdom all things are ordained and have meaning, according to His purpose. I know God has a grander purpose in all of this beyond just a physical ailment and I intend to grow and walk in it!

Out of fear of leaving someone out, I won't go through the long list of those I am grateful to and blessed to have had in my life at this time. The contributions you all made, whether 'large' or 'small' were all monumental in meaning to me. From the gifts of the things I needed to the timely touch on the hand when I was in the hospital, it all came when I needed it most. I am forever grateful to my friends, family, extended family, Blue family, hospital staff and others.

But there are two I would like to publicly call out and acknowledge:

First, my mother, Annie B. Crawford. What can be said of a mother's love? Certainly it is the second most powerful force in the universe! Its depth can not be measured and its end has never been seen. It is a high office and those women in it, who dutifully perform its calling are deserving of much praise and honor!

My mother is such a woman. I had absolutely no worries for myself under her care. My only concern was being careful not to let her do 'too much' and tire herself out. I am forever grateful to be the recipient of so great of love and am blessed to have been given to her as a son.

Secondly, my sister, Rosalind Jones-Francis. Y'all she really stepped up for me! She reached down into areas of compassion, I did not know she had, and pulled out a whole truck load of love for her little brother. She brought me what I needed, inconvenience herself to take me to my appointments and rehab. And she made sure to kiss me and tell me she loved me everyday. She is a real champion to me. I appreciate her more now than I ever have.

I am not fully recovered, but have come a very long way and will continue to progress. The physically hard part of official rehabbing has passed. Now the wherewithal to continue it on my own, in order to maintain my recovery, has begun.

Oh, I appreciate your patience and understanding with enduring my incessant texting and posting during these past eight months, but writing is therapy for me. I hope, at least, the poetry was enjoyable because I plan to kick that off again.

But please, when you pray, ask God to keep me mindful of His purpose. You know how we forget about Him when things get back to 'normal'.

Thanks!

Sincerely,
Edward W. Johnson, Jr.

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