Our English word “integrity” comes from the Latin root “integritas” – meaning wholeness and completeness. We also get our English words integrated and integer from this same root. When I visited the ancient Roman city of Jerash near Amman, Jordan, I had the chance to tell another centurion story relating to integrity.

In the Roman military tradition, the soldiers would line up for inspection and as the centurion approached each man, the soldier would bang his breastplate with his fist and shout, “Integritas!” which meant, “I am whole. I am complete. And I am prepared for battle…!”

I was first exposed to this history in a speech by General Charles Krulak, then commandant of the US Marine Corps.

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I was recently discussing with a viewer of the Police Dynamics website about incorporating character-based principles into tactical debriefings. Here is a series of short videos that demonstrate how to make the “character connection” in tactical debriefings, roll call training, and in-service training sessions. The first is a re-enactment of a canine-tracking exercise, followed by a roll call session featuring Lt. “Poncho” Villa, and then a couple of character recognitions with Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office personnel.

(Sadly, Michael Deese, the deputy on the front row/right side, was killed, along with his canine partner, in a tragic car crash some time after this video was filmed …)

There are essentially three keys to building a Culture of Character within any organization:

Develop a new Character Vocabulary
Make the Character Connection
Prepare for the Character Test 

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In these two videos, one from the city of Beth Shaen in Israel and the other from Jerash in Jordan, I use the setting of these ancient cities to emphasize the importance of character in determining a man or a woman of integrity.

The first video from our visit to Beth Shean explains the importance of individual character qualities in defining a man or woman of integrity.

The second video was filmed at the ancient city of Jerash in Amman, Jordan. At the foot of the Temple of Zeus I found a great setting to explain the Twin Towers of Integrity. 

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No, Beth Shaen is not a female colleague who has defined policing. Beth Shaen is an ancient city in Israel where King Saul’s body was hung on the wall after his death at nearby Mount Gilboa. The account of this incident can be found in I Samuel 31. The city was later controlled and developed by the Romans when they extended their rule into the land of Israel. 

Years ago, I was challenged by a colleague if I had ever looked up the definition of policing. I told him of course not. I know what it means. It means law enforcement. In my view, policing and law enforcement were synonymous. He told me I should go look it up because I might be surprised. So I did. And I found this definition in the American Heritage Dictionary.

Regulation and control of the affairs of a community, especially with respect to maintenance of order, law, health, morals, safety, and other matters affecting the public welfare. 

This is an expanded definition of what we might traditionally think of as the police mandate. But policing is SO much more than just enforcing the law. The Coactive approach to policing understands that just locking people up, merely enforcing the law, doesn’t solve the problem of crime. It might solve A crime, or it might solve a series of crimes. But it will not solve the PROBLEM of crime because it is not affecting the core issues that allow crime to flourish: Fear, Apathy, and Tolerance.

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The elevation at the Dead Sea is 1300 feet BELOW sea level making it the lowest spot on the face of the planet. Consequently, it’s average atmospheric pressure is the highest anywhere on Earth. I took advantage of our visit to the Dead Sea to not only clean some of the desert grime off of me, but also to talk about the unique pressures that face police professionals and their families.

What is it that makes law enforcement one of the most stressful of all professions? The average citizen might say it is the long and crazy work hours. Or maybe the long periods of boredom punctuated by moments of extreme terror! Or maybe it has to do with seeing people at their worst and dealing with the underbelly of society. Or it could be the trauma that they witness on a regular basis.

All of these factors contribute to the stress load. But as stressful as law enforcement is, it is interesting that most police professionals will say that the most stressful part of their job is not what you would expect. Typically, they will say it is internal relationships! In other words, this job is stressful enough. But what’s REALLY stressing me out is all these crazy people I have to work with…!

The character-based principles of Police Dynamics are all about building trust-based relationships both internally and externally. So strengthening internal relationships not only makes a law enforcement agency incredibly more effective in accomplishing the police mission. It has the added benefit of reducing the stress load that each officer bears on a daily basis.

Here’s some footage taken by our driver of my videographer, Gary Curry, and me floating in the Dead Sea. If you have never done it, it is an incredible experience…

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I battled a sandstorm and some ornery camels to film this video about Sir Robert Peel while camping in the desert of Wadi Rum. After you watch the video, scroll down for some out-takes…

Sir Robert Peel was a Prime Minister of England and served as the Home Secretary during the 1820s. In England, the Home Secretary is somewhat like our Attorney General in the US. And while he was Home Secretary, Sir Robert Peel founded the London Metropolitan Police, perhaps the first professionally trained, non-military police force in history. He founded them on nine basic principles, often called Peel’s Principles or Peelian principles. To this day we still call policemen in England “Bobbies” in honor of Sir Bobby Peel. His principles are still amazingly relevant to our practice of policing today. One of them says this:

Police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent upon every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.

He didn’t use the term, but Peel is describing Coactive Policing.

If you want to see some out-takes including my attempt to film this segment in the middle of a sandstorm and me getting thrown off of my camel as soon as we finished filming, watch below…

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A jeep tour in Wadi Rum was a great opportunity to illustrate the principle of Coactive Policing.

Coactivity can be compared to driving a four-wheel drive vehicle. Think of your community as the vehicle. If all the components (wheels) are pulling together in the same direction, your community can overcome obstacles and go a long way toward accomplishing its goals.

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I hope you are enjoying this series of Police Dynamics teachings from the Holy Land. I am working on some new training resources behind the scenes so I haven’t been producing any new videos for a while. Hopefully, these resources will be available to you soon.

The first video, “The Path of MOST Resistance” was recorded at the Siq (narrow passage) leading down to the ancient city of Petra in the nation of Jordan. As rushing water followed the “path of least resistance,” it carved the Siq from the limestone substrate. Barney Barnes, my Chief of Staff when I was Sheriff  (every sheriff needs a Barney, and I NEVER get tired of that joke…) often said, “Following the path of least resistance makes rivers, and men, crooked…”

BTW: Barney has written an excellent book called Born to Be a Warrior that you might want to check out…

“The Mark of Character” was filmed in front of the Treasury at Petra, made famous in “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” which was filmed there. In it, I talk about the meaning of character and living your life “within the dash” which will be engraved on your tombstone.

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Shobak Castle was the first fortress built by the Crusaders in the nation of Jordan. My friend, Gary Curry, and I visited this site and used it as an opportunity to talk about how to “CRASH” criminal strongholds.

In the  early 12th century, the Crusaders used Shobak as their base of operations to exercise influence over the surrounding area. In the same way, criminals will establish strongholds and use them as base for “invading” surrounding communities, effectively expanding their influence (not to suggest Crusaders were criminals, but you get the point). It’s akin to playing chess on a giant chessboard. As the criminals gain ground, they expand their influence. (more…)

Qumran caves on the Israel side of the Dead Sea provided an interesting backdrop for this video about reclaiming criminal strongholds.

Known as our CRASH program (Community Response Against StrongHolds), this 6-step Battle Plan was the strategy we used to successfully CRASH criminal stongholds in Dorchester County. Utilizing a potent combination of community policing and coactive policing principles, the program allowed us to build the trust-based relationships needed to restore order in the communities. (more…)