New England Chief’s Conference Report #3

New Focus: “Eradicating Violent Crime”, Targeting Gangs and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs)

The special agent in charge of the FBI’s New Haven Field Office, Patrick O’Brien addressed the New England Chiefs last week in Mystic Connecticut announcing that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has made a major strategic change that will effect its operations across the nation.

While the Bureau will retain is current role with regard to ensuring homeland security against terror attacks, it will also take on the ambitious challenge of “eradicating violent crime” in the United States.  O’Brien confessed that the Bureau had tailed back on its historical responsibility to pursue, arrest and prosecute violent criminals following 9/11, but he declared that this has all change going forward.

Street gangs and transnational organizations, that traffic in humans, drugs and weapons are now a priority on the FBI’s hit list. The mission is to uproot all transnational criminal organizations operating within the borders of the US.  The FBI has also pledged itself to assist the US Marshal’s in fugitive apprehension.

O’Brien told the NE Chiefs to expect to see mass roundups, short term prints, month-long campaigns and stings directed at these criminal elements. The message to be conveyed is that no one can escape the law. The Bureau will also be coordinating with ICE, on immigration matters, however, all local and state partners will not be involved.

A PEP TALK FROM THE US NAVY SEALS 

Three Decorated US Navy Seals Offer Insight and Inspiration To The NE Chiefs To Help Face Down Significant Challenges:

Three highly decorated US Navy Seals gave an insightful and inspirational talk to the NE Chiefs of Police Association last week, covering such topics as spiritual sustenance in times of trial, tactical considerations and the fundamentals of effective leadership.   Joel Chapman, Cmdr JD Donaldson and Misrad “Drago” Dzierien captivated the conference as they drilled down deep and shared foundational insights on coping with both their own challenges and the challenges facing police chiefs and officers today.

Joel Chapman opened the session by stating that everyone in the room has an obligation to “raise the next generation of patriots”.  He said: it was incumbent upon all leaders to teach those they lead “the importance and necessity of sacrifice and dedication to the cause of freedom and liberty.”  As a measure of that devotion today, Chapman bluntly said, “ if you don’t have enemies at the end of your life, you didn’t do your job.”.

Despite the edge, the three seals gave some comforting advice as well.  Forgiveness is a key element in achieving the personal peace necessary to be successful in meeting a challenge.   This means enemies have to be to forgiven, particularly those who may have “stabbed you in the back”.  Most importantly, we must learn to forgive ourselves.  This may involve both professional or personal decisions that we made in our past, either rightly or wrongly intended, and for taking stress out on our loved ones, our children and spouses.

All three men emphasized the need to release hate. JD Donaldson reminded everyone that forgiveness does not mean rejecting justice. He said quite eloquently that “justice will not be forgone” but he said it is the Lord who will bring it, not us.  Mistakes can be made by all of us, but when you are wrong, take responsibility for it, then let the matter go. They stressed the importance to have partners in your life. Everyone needs someone who can “kick them in the ass” and tell them when they are heading in the wrong direction. 

On the question of tactics, they emphasized the importance of planning. All were in unanimous agreement that a poor plan executed with violence and speed, is better than a good plan that is poorly executed. They urged their audience to learn to understand the dynamics of conflict. A conflict environment is marked by hate, revenge, danger and uncertainty.  A professional brings competence to such situations through humility, defined as “strength under control.”   Both success and survival requires more heart than ego. Injecting pride into any endeavor is the fastest way to kill any sense of accomplishment.

Donaldson, who is US Navy Commander, told the audience that discipline and motivation are the hearts and lungs of successful action.  He said that the Seals have a philosophy called “turning steel”.  This means, the best way to ensure success in any mission is train much harder than the mission requires.  Donaldson said: “ the more you suffer during preparation, the better you will perform, when you are actually tested.”

The three Seals ended with a brief overview of leadership.  A good leader must be able to spot potential and develop it, not be threatened by it. The fundamental leadership ethic is “ never ask your subordinate to do something you yourself wouldn’t do.”  The essence of effective leadership is to be able to assess situations under pressure.  Leadership in the military as in policing is about risk management . The leader must know what has to be done, ensure that it is done and must realize that serious tasks cannot always be done alone. Teamwork is essential.

END

(Special Thanks to  MAPLE Member Frank Frederickson For Sponsoring our attendance at this great conference)