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

michael@guardianquest.com

630-878-4796

Ward Claphamward@proactiveinsights.comwww.ProactiveInsights.com

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