The Authority Maxim


While I was on vacation at Hacienda Tres Rios, I was reading the book 1776 by David McCollough.

It reminded me of the Authority Maxim which states that “all human authority is delegated authority” — it always flows from a higher source. So I climbed up a mangrove tree just to tell you about it…

Our Founders understood this Authority Maxim and wrote it into our founding documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. Understanding this principle gives a professional police officer power to be more effective. By relying on positional authority instead of ego power, an officer can more effectively deal with difficult individuals who decide to challenge his authority. And “Because I said so, that’s why!” is NOT the professional response…

And just to prove that I did, in fact, climb a mangrove tree to film that last clip…

More video from Tres Rios: Dangerous Encounter with the Ferocious Mexican Coati

Merry CHRISTmas, everyone!


About the Author


9 Responses to The Authority Maxim

  1. Gerard E. Ziegler says:
    December 28, 2010 at 6:17 am

    Sheriff Ray Nash is without a doubt well educated in the Constitution of the United States and the Bible. He also has the tremendous ability to teach both subjects because he Believes in them with all his heart.

    Reply
  2. Christina says:
    January 3, 2011 at 9:30 pm

    Nice presentation! I especially adore your encounter with the ‘wild’ coatimundi at Hacienda Tres Rios Resort. = )

    Reply
  3. Authority and Jurisdictions – the Constitution and the Bill of Rights « Police Dynamics Media says:
    March 11, 2011 at 6:52 pm

    […] Authority Maxim states that all human authority is delegated authority – it always flows from a higher […]

    Reply
  4. Government, Like Fire, Is a Dangerous Servant and a Fearful Master… « Police Dynamics Media says:
    March 25, 2011 at 4:02 pm

    […] the confines of its limitations, but we answer a very important question to our understanding of constitutional authority: “Is it possible for one citizen to violate the constitutional rights of another?” The […]

    Reply
  5. The Essence of Integrity – Lesson from the Centurion « Police Dynamics Media says:
    May 20, 2011 at 3:25 pm

    […] to illustrate the power of being a man (or woman) of integrity who is not only in authority, but is under authority. Police officers are the centurions of today. Those who enforce the law must also obey the law. […]

    Reply
  6. The Ten Virtues of a Law Officer – Virtue #1 « Police Dynamics Media says:
    October 7, 2011 at 8:02 pm

    […] with the Dynamic of Authority. A professional, ethical law officer must faithfully represent those authorities placed over him. Here is the text of the first Virtue: Always remain submissive to those in authority over me, in […]

    Reply
  7. The Ten Virtues of a Law Officer – Virtue #2 « Police Dynamics Media says:
    October 14, 2011 at 11:30 am

    […] Operating under authority, keeping you ego in check, and remaining respectful even in the face of disrespect is the essence of professionalism and distinguishes the true professional from the amateur… […]

    Reply
  8. The Definition of SuperVision | Police Dynamics – Character Based Policing says:
    February 8, 2012 at 10:46 pm

    […] why I always tried to make the Police Dynamics series, at least the Dynamics of Character and Authority, a pre-requisite for Dynamic […]

    Reply
  9. The Centurion from Capernaum | Police Dynamics – Character Based Policing says:
    June 29, 2012 at 3:42 pm

    […] not come to my house. I am not even worthy to have You come under my roof. Secondly, I too am a man under authority. And I have soldiers who work under me. If I tell this one to come, he comes. If I tell that one to […]

    Reply

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Sheriff Ray Nash

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