Publisher's Synopsis
While LEB Psychology 101 represents blue lives, when we take the uniform off, we were born a brown life, black life, biracial life, and government-defined White life. We are all that lies in-between. When we take the uniform off, our children, grandchildren are brown children that we too worry about in society. Know that we love what we do. We love the people that we touch and take pride in while wearing the uniform. But when the uniform comes off, we are no different than you. We pray for social change, and for LEOs to be embraced or people to believe once more in community service. We want to thank the Athens, GA community for continually giving us support, love, and respect. We do what we do for you. Know that we have not forgotten where we came. Also, know that many others wearing the color blue also believe like us. Do not give up hope - a change is going to come. Although we represent blue lives, when the uniform is off, we do not use our positions to benefit us when stopped by the police. We do not expect favors because we wear blue, which is why we stand proactively towards dismantling paramilitary-style policing or asserting an authoritative disposition. We would like to take a short pause and address a serious social problem we feel is prevalent and worthy of in-depth discussion. Let's get real. The world is in a social conflict. The community has little faith and trust in law enforcement, yet also recognizing law enforcement confront perilous situations day in and day out. Media and electronic technology have brought forth unethical policing, causing dishonor to a profession. Are there bad apples in every barrel? The answer is yes, this analogy is the same for all occupations, including law enforcement. But as law enforcement professionals, our perspective is there are more good officers than the media publishes than the bad ones. When the press releases the bad officer / civilian encounters, the footage reaches the electronic world in just a matter of moments. But in all fairness, the bad ones have caused the society to question all officers holding a position of power. Unfortunately, the unethical officer's conduct muddies the excellent image of the other upstanding officers. The dedicated LEOs hardly ever are published acknowledging the incredible heroic acts they perform. They go unnoticed. None the less, the conversation ongoing involving the unethical behavior of LEOs must be addressed. The authors take pride and honor when wearing their badge as they protect and serve and believe challenging police conduct is long overdue. Francis of Assisi said, "Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; suddenly you are doing the impossible." Social responsibility amounts to doing what is just. So what is just? Just is doing what is right- fair- equal- the same as the next- reasonable & without prejudice. Law enforcement officers (LEOs) take an oath to protect and serve. The community believes the LEO acts and responds reasonably and with justifiable cause. LEOs hired as servants of the city, but sadly and candidly, some LEOs carry the badge and wear the uniform, having bad intentions or develop the Power Badge Syndrome (LEOs having no power on confidence without the uniform or badge). Countless incidents involving Black-Americans and LEOs have ended tragically. The anger within Black communities has reached the boiling point with the understandable cause. Defunding police has become the forefront and focus of countless diverse communities. LEB Psychology 101 does not disagree but must delve a little bit deeper than defunding the police. Food for thought. So, let's say we cut the head off the snake, but then what? Racism has been a constant threat to Brown/Black-Americans and taken on several forms over hundreds of years. Racism is quiet, smart, and flexible and has silently grown and become a robust unapparent parasite looking for its next host. Racism is a shift shaper. The entity has evolved.
