I am among those executives who have always worked hard to develop and enhance police Explorer programs. I know the exhilaration of great programs and great achievements, as well as the pain and heartaches of the serious problems that can develop. What follows is a list of comments that I typically use during my introductory conversation with newly selected youngsters. Certainly, there are other dimensions that can be used, but these have worked for me. I appreciate the opportunity to offer them to my colleagues as they develop their own remarks.

The actions and behaviors you now exhibit will be reviewed in your background investigation. You are now at an age where today’s actions will be factors in the hiring process. 

The honor of public service as a law enforcement officer: The honor of serving is a bedrock of your performance and excellence. Hopefully, that is why you are part of our organization. Should that passion not be present, another line of work may be more rewarding.

Adult impressions are essential for credibility. You never get a second chance to make a first impression, and oftentimes first impressions can be lasting impressions. Also, there are many instances in which a person does not come across very well at first, but later that same individual is able to make a good second impression. Greet and depart (as appropriate) with a firm handshake, look directly in the eye and give an appropriate greeting/departing salutation.

Commit yourself to maturity. There is a common and typically accurate assumption that teenagers and young adults are somewhat immature. Be the exception to that impression and show all with whom you come into contact just what a mature young person looks like. Maturity is a requirement for an Explorer scout, and you would not be here if your maturity was in doubt. 

Do not permit others to act foolishly. In all walks of life, but especially in sensitive arenas such as law enforcement, friends and partners must be the safeguards for one another. Do not permit another person to act inappropriately. As an example, if another employee becomes agitated and is on the verge of using excessive force, stop it from occurring!

Exhibit a professional demeanor. What you say is important, but what you do is even more significant. If you think that all eyes may be watching you, you are correct. Foolish horseplay, crude jokes and pushing personal boundaries must no longer be part of your persona.

The only type of goodwill and popularity that counts is the byproduct of respect. You can continuously smile, say nice things and buy presents, but none of those things contribute to the essential dimension of respect. The only types of goodwill and popularity that count are those that are the derivative of respect. Your primary goal should always be to be respected, which is the cumulative byproduct of your statements, demeanor and actions.

Develop and maintain solid relationships. The development and maintenance of good relationships is the cornerstone of our effectiveness. An absolute key ingredient of leadership is finding the most appropriate methods of communicating with others and using those skills as a path to achieving goals and objectives. Just about everyone sees issues a bit differently, and that is typically a very good thing in exploring and arriving at most appropriate courses of action.

Avoid unnecessary actions that will be handicaps as an adult. Bizarre appearances, provocative clothing, body piercing and tattoos are typically seen as impulsive and immature. On the issue of tattoos, be honest with yourself in realizing that some people whom you hope to impress are not keen on conspicuous tattoos, but there are no persons who are offended by the lack of tattoos. With conspicuous tattoos, you will never know the positions and relationships that did not materialize because of someone who was not a fan of body art.

Never forget: Every other person in the world is the most important person in this world to someone else. Look beyond the external appearance and realize that inside that human shell is another person just like each of us. To the extent humanly possible, try to keep that reality in mind in your dealings with persons from all walks of life. As a side note, picture a small child with a despicable-appearing adult; to that small child, that despicable person is the most important person in the world, and if an officer treats that unique person in a harsh manner, that image will remain with that child for the rest of their life.

Embrace and become a cheerleader for your community of assignment. Regardless of social or economic status, people are people and communities are communities, and it is every employee’s responsibility to embrace any communities where they are honored to serve.

Avoid political labels and partisan positions. Effectiveness is measured in significant part by the percentage of the population to which an employee has credibility. Whether fair or unfair, the partisan nature of politics is such that preference for one perspective is often seen as adversarial to persons with opposite opinions. A wise public employee is one who keeps political preferences under wraps and concentrates on the many commonalities that bring people together.

Do not lie to anyone. Be mature, responsible and honest in everything you say and do. A reputation for honesty is as good as it gets, and a reputation for dishonesty is about as bad as it gets. There are only three instances where lying is acceptable: when a person is dying in your arms, it is acceptable to indicate that everything will be fine; when interviewing a suspect and adhering to the law, it is acceptable to be less than honest with them; and when looking at an ugly baby, it is acceptable to tell the parent that the child is adorable. 

Moral courage is even greater than physical courage! Most will agree that it is very difficult to look a partner in the eye and tell them that their actions are inappropriate, and such candor represents the epitome of courage and loyalty.

Silence is not an option. When misconduct occurs, employees have a responsibility to be honest and candid. Silence is the same as misconduct for any employee who withholds information.

Do not hesitate to apologize. The inclination and courage to apologize is a strength and not a weakness. Own up to your mistakes and learn from them.

Your demeanor when dealing with difficult situations will be long remembered. If you are the type of person who “flames out” when difficulties occur, law enforcement is not the occupation for you. 

Do not overreact to troubling information. Unless seen in real time with your own eyes, situations are almost always somewhat different than described. Be that person whose demeanor is that of being calm in the fog of chaos. Such behavior is a strong leadership attribute. Realize that much that you hear through the “gossip mill” is not accurate. Leave that dramatic foolishness in the dorms and chat rooms, and remember that once information hits the internet, it is forever out of your control and subject to any distortion that someone may choose to employ.

Deep understanding of a person’s character: Are they someone who routinely does thoughtful things for other people even when there is no likelihood of gain or advantage? More so than just about any other factor, this dimension is the key factor in my assessment of the character of others.

Be your own person and do not inherit the bias of others. We are all influenced by other people, especially those whom we like and respect. Within this process, listen carefully and closely to the thoughts of others and be influenced primarily by your own emerging perspectives. Part of adulthood is emerging as your own person and not being a clone of others around you.

Do not be influenced by the strength of someone’s personality. The fact that a person has great verbal skills and demeanor is not necessarily an indication of their skills or character. Without denigrating the great occupation of a newscaster, a large portion of what they say comes from a teleprompter based on information from another person.

Do not try to be a cop or act like a cop until and unless you become one. This is frequently a key factor in the dismissal of an Explorer, and in that person’s inability to later enter the law enforcement profession.

Seek to impress others by virtue of what you do and not by what you say. Let your hard work, excellence (as it develops) and strong personal and professional characteristics speak for you.

You know right from wrong. My belief is that your strong knowledge of right from wrong was a key factor in your selection. You may be new to the department, but you are not new to the world. I expect you to play a key role in keeping yourself and your fellow department members on an appropriate path. Should you ever become aware of a situation where another member of the department violates our sacred expectations, the law or the personal boundaries of another person, I expect you to immediately report the matter to a supervisor outside of your chain of command — to me if necessary.

Master the art of oral and written communications. The world is full of great and talented people whose influence is limited because of their weak communication skills. Put the continuous strengthening of your oral and written communication skills at the top of your professional goals.

Have fun, learn and enjoy our department and profession!