2013 A look Forward

“Behind the Badge”           A look forward -2013

By Joseph Pangaro

The year is new; once again many of us make resolutions and plans for this annual renewal. Whether it’s getting healthier, smarter, stronger, nicer, and more generous or the thousands of other things we can be “better” at, one thing remains the same- we want to change.

As with other best intentions they don’t always work out so well. We lose interest, get distracted, or lose faith in our goals. In this year 2013 we have many things to consider as a nation and as individual people. Having survived the End of the World this past December 21 and all the hype that went with it for the past three years, I am hopeful that we can begin to look into things a bit deeper, to spend more time trying to gain a true understanding of the things around us and the choices we will be called on to make.

It would seem that as we enter 2013 our nation is truly at a crossroads, some may even say we have gone beyond the crossroads point and have moved in a new direction totally. It would seem that many parts, traditions and norms of the United States, if not most of the “Old” America has been left behind, replaced with a new view of the world and our place in it.

Re-Defining ourselves seems to be taking place right before our eyes, without much actual discussion or debate. For many people this is a refreshing change, a chance to reinvent who we are, to set things right as they should have been. For others it is not quite so good. Changing the dynamics of how we live and function among the global community and within the borders of our own country is difficult at best.Regardless of where you come out on this process the reality is that it is happening and there is no stopping it.

This leads to the obvious question- are we headed in the right direction? Are we remaking America into a better place or are we destroying what was the best place on earth for the sake of change.  I have to ask an even deeper question, do we have any idea who we are at all? It would seem that we have lost our perspective.

When we view the founding fathers, not as noble and honorable men of vision who created a country where anyone, from any background could achieve anything they could imagine by working hard, sacrificing and dedicating themselves to their goals, to seeing them as a group of privileged, racists, whose sole aim was to take advantage to every opportunity, every person and everything of value for their own benefit; therefore rendering everything they did  and set in motion as illegitimate, we remove a cornerstone of who we are. This leads us to a path very different than what we have been following for the past 200 plus years. Which could be a good thing or a very bad thing.

A column of 800 words is not really the place for this discussion, but it is a place to ask the question- what do we want to be?

Looking back at the totality of our history it is easy to find and point out things we have done wrong, beliefs that we had to change, practices and prejudices that could not stand, but if all we do is look at our faults and sins without accepting  that we have made great changes and overcome the negative things, then we are doomed to see ourselves as no better than any other society.

Even making the statement that America is better than most other places is offensive to many people. That in and of itself speaks volumes as to why we are in such an era of upheaval.

To look at our founding we could, if we choose to, see a free people declaring that for the first time in human history, individual liberty trumps government. Or we could view that same founding; as many people do today, as the opening salvo of an oppressive nation lead by an oppressive few, bound to steal the worlds resources for their own enrichment.

Sadly these two options, these two ways of viewing our America, are as real and truthful as anything else.

Did we, at the cost of thousands of American lives, liberate Europe from the diabolical hands of NAZI Germany and a decent into an unparalleled hell, or did we simply take advantage of the moment to assert ourselves as a superpower in a better position to plunder the riches of the globe crushed beneath our military feet?

Does our Military itself serve the betterment of mankind by fighting against evil dictators, regimes, and despots, or does it simply do the bidding of the Rich and powerful who run the military complex, picking its involvements based on financial gain for its owners.

Do the rights we once proclaimed as coming from God, and treasured and vowed to protect to the death, now seem to be valid only if they are wielded against anyone we perceive to have more power or money than they need or deserve.

Have we taken the uniquely American opportunity to rise above our birth stations and become as rich and powerful as our abilities, gifts, and desires take us, or do we now see even the idea of rising and attaining as evil?

Do we now embrace the concept that equal outcome is more appropriate than equal opportunity? Do we cede our options to others to decide what is most fair and just for everyone, or do we maintain our own sense of fairness and justice?

These questions, and many others similarly themed are before us as we move into 2013 and the years to follow. What is our American Heritage? Has it all been a farce? Are we really an evil people deserving of a slide from prominence? Are our traditions and values worth maintaining or do we move away from what has been our American Legacy and towards a new America?

As I talk to people about these questions and the conversations run all over the possibilities, it becomes clear that we are changing as a nation. Depending on the age of the people I have spoken to, their opinions reflect either what they have lived or been taught as truth or as is the case for many people, what they have heard the truth is from the popular culture and media of the moment.

In the end we are faced with decisions that must be made either by proactive national consensus, lethargy and a slide into the answers, or as the result of imposition by whoever happens to be in charge at the moment.

I see America as I choose to live it, a place with a rich history and vibrant past. I am proud of our people for the things we have changed over the years. When we saw or realized something was not right, we changed to become a better America. It was not always easy and the work is certainly not complete, but we are the greatest country God has ever seen fit to live on this planet.

Our Military and their families have fought against tyranny all over the globe, with thousands of patriots paying the ultimate sacrifice on the altar of freedom and justice for people and places they had no previous relationship too other than justice itself.

America is a unique place- a land where the individual could become whoever he/ she wanted to be. A place where you could relate to your God as you saw fit. A place where you could reject the concept of a God and instead worship whatever you believed was truth and find peace in your choice. A place where my children and yours could decide for themselves and their generation what paths to take and how to make the world a better place. A place where the people, bound together by an understanding that human freedom is a gift to be cherished and defended at every turn, could achieve their dreams and lay a foundation for a better tomorrow.

I hope this is still the case for our country. For now it is still our choice. Our destiny is unwritten and will ultimately be decided by our own hands. We will forge a better America based on our traditions, our compassion, faith, and love of freedom or we will choose to let someone else, wiser than ourselves decide for us and live with the consequences.

2013 can be a bright spot for all of us. We can choose to see each other as fellow travelers on the path. We can learn to value each person for their deeds and not their designation by race, creed, religion, social status, or who they love. We can be better and still be America. That’s is my hope for the New Year.

I want to thank all of you who take the time to email or write to me. I appreciate all of your comments and critiques and I try to learn from each encounter. We are all truly blessed to be here as 2013 dawns. I wish all of you and your families a wonderful New Year filled with health and happiness and I pray we find the answers we seek and the justice we all deserve. 

Let me know what you think.                     Jpangaro194@yahoo.com

       

Innocence and Angels

“Behind the Badge”                   Innocence and Angels

By Joseph Pangaro

On Friday I was in the Police Academy teaching a group of 60 cops how to plan and active shooter drill when word came that a horrible tragedy had erupted in an elementary school in Connecticut. The initial report was that one person had been killed, which was bad enough. A short time later the devastating news came that over two dozen people had been killed and the heart breaking reality that 20 of the victims were little children, Gods most precious Angels.

The room was filled with veteran law enforcers from all over the state. When the details were announced it was greeted by pained silence. The wave of horror ran through the room and was visible on the faces of everyone there.

Like most people these cops were parents, myself included. My first thought was to go to my kids school, pick them up and hold them as tightly as I could, it was the sense of helplessness that was disorienting.

These incidents of school shootings have become a part of the life experience in our country. Since the Columbine High School Tragedy there have been over 40 cases of school shootings, this one in Connecticut is being tagged as the “Second” worst in history, the first being the Texas Tech massacre in 2007. As the specifics of the Connecticut murders came in the first thing that strikes you directly in your heart is the understanding that the victims were not simply young adult students, but little children, Kindergarten babies. That’s when the truth settles in your soul. This is the worst incident, atrocity, and horror we have had to experience. The fact that these kids are the most innocent among us is more than most people can fathom.

I have seen many terrible things in my career, as most police officers do. I have written extensively about the effect the repeated exposure to these types of horrendous crimes can have on our police personnel and the staggering statistic of police officer suicide paints that picture quite clearly.  I have tried to teach the new people coming on the job that to survive this wave of carnage they must put their jobs and lives into perspective. We cannot save the world. If our careers have any benefit to society it is that over the course of a life time we can help and save individual people. If we understand that we can defend ourselves from the pain we see as we go about our work. For me it has been successful. I hope it helps my brothers and sisters who strive to protect and serve our communities into the future.

The healing from this incident in Connecticut will take weeks for some, months and years for others and some will never recover. The parents, families, friends, teachers and residents of New Town will need our prayers. They will need the help of family and friends to embrace them in their sorrow and we will all need time to reflect on this loss.

A psychologist was on TV saying that he believes our entire nation will suffer some effects of PTSD, (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). I believe he is right. Having watched these types of painful scenes played out in the past tells me we will all be effected to one degree or another, we are after all only human.  Seeing people in pain causes reactions in us, seeing children victimized shakes us to our core.

In the coming weeks our kids, even the younger ones, will know at least some of the things that happened. They may have trouble sleeping, eating or functioning. Adults too will develop these problems as the enormity of the tragedy sinks in and the day after day coverage of the funerals becomes part of our daily news and conversations. Be aware of these possibilities, reach out to anyone who is having trouble and try to get help for them.

Surviving a terrible incident begins with understanding it, putting it in a box and taking control of it. These types of crimes, these senseless, random, horrors don’t offer much possibility for understanding or control.  A person capable of killing children so dispassionately might never be understood and so we will feel helpless. If you need help, talk to someone.

I will pray. I will pray for the families who lost their babies and I will pray for the officers that have to investigate that crime scene and stand as advocates for the fallen. Their lives will be changed forever by this crime and they will never be the same. I will do my duty and continue to prepare to be ready the next time evil shows its face, as will our police officers all across the country.

We will survive, in time we will heal. Today we can remember the innocents, pull our own children close, hug them tightly and appreciate the glorious gift that are those we love in hope that a loving God walks with his newest Angels and comforts us all.

Let me know what you think.     Email me at;    Jpangaro194@yahoo.com          

          

Surviving the Storm- Sandy

The last seven days have been one of the most difficult weeks many of us have ever faced; some have not survived. As the case with any major incident, once the skies clear a bit we must assess, heal and learn because there will be a next time. There always is.

Hurricane Sandy pounded the northeast and the New Jersey Shore area in particular. I saw heroism, fear, good neighbors, tragedy and hope in this mess.

Friends and co-workers lost their homes. People in our community died, children were lost, this is the painful truth and the legacy of this storm. There is another side as well. And it is in the midst of this swirling chaos that it revealed itself.

Neighbors welcoming neighbors and friends into their homes in the middle of the night. Police officers, fire fighters and other emergency workers moving with speed and dedication to save lives and property. Members of the community saying thank you, people showing restraint even when their nerves were worn thin. This is the hope that was revealed. We pulled together.

I was working the past six days. There were countless numbers of residents of my community that brought food, drink and thanks to my officers as they toiled around the clock protecting the community. We were all in the same position, trying to survive. Many of the officers had families at home alone during the storm and in the days afterward. They found it easier to leave them and do their duty because they had friends and family to count on and people who understood their struggles.

We have made it to Storm day plus 7. The true reality of the loss is really just beginning to become apparent. We must maintain the cohesiveness and good will we displayed during the initial crisis. Things will get better.

In the coming days we will bury our dead, clear the debris of our losses and begin again to live. There is little consolation to those who lost someone, so we, the survivors must pray for them and lend our hands to support them. It is only through this process that we can truly help each other rebuild. Then we must plan for the next event. It looms just down the road. We may not be able to see it clearly but its there. How we prepare and learn from this incident, the good and the bad, will help us tomorrow.

God bless us all and watch over us. 

 

Drug Court

“Drug Court”                                                             

by Joseph Pangaro

  

There was a time when going to court meant you might have to face the judge, the officer that wrote you a ticket or arrested you, or maybe the neighbor that signed a complaint against you for your barking dog.

If you were arrested for possession of a small amount of drugs you could expect a fine and an admonishment, the first time. Well, maybe the second and third time too. After that you would most certainly be sentenced to the county jail for a very uncomfortable period of time. Most of the repeat offenders were people who were hopelessly addicted to illegal drugs. Their lives, completely ruled by the relentless, never ending need for more and more of the illicit substance, spin out of control. These people are easy to ignore, easy to write off. We, the non addicted members of our world offer them some good, simple advice; “Stop taking drugs and get a job”. The reality of drug abuse is a little more complicated than that. As anyone who has real experience with drug addicts and drug addiction can tell you; the doctors who treat their afflictions, the friends who lock their doors so they don’t get robbed blind, the parents who cry themselves to sleep wondering if their child will make it home that night, and the police who have to deal with them at their worst. Drugs control and destroy many innocent lives. That’s the truth of it.

These drug addicts, the people we write off, are members of our community, they deserve our help. 

A few years back the courts realized that most drug offenders were not career criminals out to plunder our society for their own gain. They are, for the most part regular people who made some really bad decisions and got involved with things they never should have.  The answer to this problem, serving societies needs by adjudicating the drug offenders, and at the same time trying to help these people trapped by substance abuse, is the DRUG COURT.

This is a unique system that covers both of the bases. The drug abusers have to face the wrath of the court AND get help for themselves. The program is not automatic, but it is voluntary. People who enter into the system have to report to a Judge and probation officer on a regular basis. They also have to face their peers in the drug court system. It is set up like a 12 step program, only this one has teeth and large metal doors that slam shut on you if you don’t follow through. Participants meet to give the group updates on their progress of finding jobs, staying sober and remaking their broken lives. I was initially skeptical of this program. I believed it was another “Feel Good” get over program. We would all feel good, because we were “helping” and the abuser was “getting over” on the system by pretending to get better.

I sat in on a session of drug court recently, and I have to admit I see it differently now.  The judge, a veteran of the Criminal Justice System, was fair, concerned and tough as nails when he had to be. The participants took turns telling the judge, the panel and their peers, what had been going on in their lives. Some of the stories were very upbeat. Some were heart wrenching. Others were B.S. The judge, panel and peers clapped and encouraged the people who were obviously trying to reclaim their lives. As for the peers who were trying to get over….. they were held to account, then provided encouragement. After it was all said and done I was impressed with their efforts. I was moved by their struggles and I was renewed by the chance that it might work, at least for some of them.  Let me know what you think.                              

Faces From the past

         “Faces from the past”

By Joseph Pangaro

There is a term used in law enforcement, “career enders”.  What it refers to are cases you worked where the defendant was sentenced to enough jail time that your career would be over and you would be retired before they got out. I have worked many of these types of cases. Looking back over these investigations I can say I was proud of the work me and my team did on them. In some of them I was the lead investigator, in others I was only a bit player, but all in all they are a part of my history and career.

When Cops get together the conversation will eventually turn to police work. They talk about the good arrests they made, the horrible things they saw; they laugh at the sometimes hysterically ridiculous situations they have seen people in, and they talk about the bigger cases they have worked. As these stories are told you can see the faces of the other cops smiling, frowning or otherwise reflecting the mood of the story and living vicariously through the other officer’s tale. No matter how many times you are involved in a serious fight or foot chase, and regardless of the reality that almost everyone’s stories are virtually identical, there is still interest in the specifics of the job. As I was thinking about this story sharing activity that most cops engage in, I was reminded of several pretty big career enders I worked over the last 25 years. The more I thought about those cases, the more the specifics came to the surface leading ultimately to the bad guys who ended up in prison. It was at this point that I began to think about the human side of this drama, the real life people on the other end of the “Career ender” stories.

The New Jersey Department of Corrections has a public web site that anyone can view. Part of that web site is an offender search. You can look up people in the system by name. So last week I had a need to check something on that site.

Before I left it I checked on a couple of people I knew were in the system, some career enders. As I searched for them I was shocked by a reality that presented itself to me.

I popped in a name of young man that had been sentenced to life without parole for his criminal actions. When I last saw him at trial in 1998, he was a healthy 26 year old man.  Intelligent and quick witted.  When he was arrested I interviewed several times. His crimes were bad, no doubt it and he was in the position he was in due to his actions and decisions, but he was congenial enough. Part of the game for both sides involved in a criminal investigation is to win over the other person, to work the situation to your best advantage. For the police that is to get a truthful and complete confession. For the defendant that is to gain the sympathy of the officers and mitigate their problems as much as possible. That being said, he was not the monster in the closet you would imagine. He confessed, went to trial, was found guilty and was sentenced to life without parole. That was the last I thought about him until last week.

As the computer screen flickered and the different web pages appeared, suddenly there he was. In my mind I pictured the 26 year old man from the interviews. What I saw on the screen was completely different.

He would now be 38 years old. The rough edges of the street had been worn away from him. The look of youth was gone. What I saw now was a man who was struggling, a person adrift on the sea of life going no where. As I looked at this picture, I could feel the smile on my face fade away. His eyes were dull, his body language, even in the photo, revealed he was spiritually beaten up. I could sense the loneliness of his existence and I felt pity for him.

As I hit the exit key and left the web page and that image behind I thought, what a great tragedy it is for those people who commit such acts that require the rest of us lock them away. What a loss for their families and what a desperate situation it must for them.

This experience, seeing this face from the past, and the realities of his day to day life caught me off guard. I can’t say it caused me some type of soul searching grief, it did not. I did what was right, I did what was necessary to protect many other innocent people by taking this guy off the street. His actions and our system of justice did the rest and I sleep like a baby at night. Seeing that picture, that moment frozen in time did give me pause though. Seeing any person, regardless of how deserving, having to live such a life is a terribly sad situation.

As my introspection session ended I put the experience in its proper place. I said a prayer for him, his victims and all the cops out in the street doing the hard work that needs to be done.

Let me know what you think      

jpangaro194@yahoo.com

New members

First of all I would like to thank all of you who have joined and visited this site. The world of law enforcement is a constantly changing and this blog is dedicated to keeping pace with that change.
In the next ferw days I will upload  few new columns and articles I have been working on.

I will have piece on Active Shooters adn how the public can and should react if you ever find yourself in this horrible situation.

I will up date some material I had covered in the past and I have a few new thoughts.

I would also like to offer any of you readers out ther that like Action, and or police type novels to drop me an email and I can send you some galleys of a few fiction pieces I am working on.

ONce again than

Capt Gary D'Esposito Tribute article

“Behind the Badge”         “The soul of a man”

By Joseph Pangaro

What is the value of a human life? What value does a man brings to the world? What lives does he touch? What is the soul of a man?

I know a man named Gary. He was my friend, he was a mentor, he was a very good cop and he was a great man.

Gary had gentle soul and a sharp mind. Quick to laugh and share a smile or lend a hand to anyone in need, he was a reserved man in public and always a professional. I saw him offer advice to people that most would have shunned. I saw him offer kindness to many who needed it, and he was the first to say “Everyone has dignity and deserves respect”.

He also told me that a good cop could always spot a bad guy, even if the bad guy was wearing a three piece suit. He showed me and many other officers what the word courage really meant. Never afraid to enter the fray, or jump into the battle to protect the innocent. He said courage is not the absence of fear it is being afraid and doing a thing anyway. He lived that persona, an iron back bone in the worst of times, and a calming word when the storm had passed. All who knew him are better off for having had the privilege.

He leaves behind a legacy of doing the right thing, perseverance, honor and fidelity. He protected his community with a sense of pride and was an example to all. The people of Ocean Township have lost giant.

It is impossible to know what lives in a mans heart, we can only guess by watching his actions on the stage of life. As Gary rose through the ranks he accepted the responsibility that came with each new position and worked diligently to make the police department better, even though each promotion took him further away from the work he loved the most, policing in the street.

If he was unhappy about something you did he never lost his temper. He used each instance to help you understand what was wrong with whatever you did. He used these times as teaching moments to make you better. You never walked away from a conversation with Capt Gary feeling as though he thought less of you, or that he harbored anger towards you. This was the good of the man. He saw the good in people and reflected that back to them no matter the situation.

People who knew Gary would say he was quiet on the outside, which was often true. A reserved man who did not go for big shows of emotion or dramatic expression of his opinion. He made his point with reason and logic.

There was another side to him as well, and for those of us who had the opportunity to see that side we will always remember his wide grin and hearty laugh. At times like a school boy he would step away from his normal steady appearance and beam, the laughs revealing a fun loving, easy going part of him that made you feel good.

These simple memories and thousands of others from countless people who knew Gary will be retold and relived many times over the next few weeks. In that way he will bring a lightness and comfort to all of us as we say good bye to this gentle man.  There are times in life when you know you have met a unique person, a person of value. Gary was that kind of man, a genuinely decent person, and that was his soul. I am blessed, as are all the people who were lucky enough to call Gary a friend.  

God speed Gary, we will all miss you.   

 

Absence Makes the heart grow fonder.

I want to thank all of you who have been following this blog.  I have been extremely busy this past summer, (NO excuses here), and I have been away from the keyboard. I'll be back more regulalry as we move through the fall. 

I am considering running "A Day of Thankyou" next Spring for all our soldiers who have fought so bravely to protect our way of life.

At this point in time  365 of our heros take thier own lives every year, that is unacceptable. They sacrifice for us and find themselves in a place so dark that thier only recourse is death.  I say no.

I want to put together a committee of people who want to give of thier time adn effort to  make this project work.   If you want to help let me know, send me an email  jpanngaro194@Yahoo.com

Thanks again for your support.  JP 

Behind the Badge                       “Life after the squad”

By Joseph Pangaro

Every year thousands of police officers reach retirement age. Many of them go on to second careers in industry, sales, retail, or private security. Donna Roman Hernandez took a different road.

Donna is a retired police captain from Caldwell NJ. Having spent 28 years on the job she retired and began following her heart. She began making movies, documentaries and other short films. Donna started her own film production company “Blue Force Films”.

Using real life stories of police officers and the things that happened to them during their careers she began telling their stories. Her films have won numerous film festival awards, accolades and contests all across the country.

One of the many hero’s she featured includes Sgt. Ken Hogan, who survived a deadly shooting incident while on duty in north Jersey. Titled “A Call for Valor” it’s a film that gives you the sergeants point of view as the incident unfolded and is a primer for all police officers on being prepared, mental attitude and the will to survive. Another award winner was the “Newark Street Preachers” A true tale of the men from Newark NJ inspired by the message of Dr. Martin Luther King, they use non-violence to deal with many of societies toughest problems.

In 2010 Donna created a web TV series called “Crossing Blood Lines”. This project won the NY film festival for best new web series. It’s the fictional tale of a fictional northern Jersey town. The main characters and plot lines follow a group of police officers and some of their relatives who are involved in the world of organized crime. The action is gritty, the emotion real, and the stories and characters grab you and hold your attention. Donna is currently trying to move the web series forward and turn Crossing Blood Lines (CBL) into a feature length movie.

Of all the work she has done and all the awards she has received the most powerful story she tells is her own. Donna is the survivor of domestic violence. Her movie “ The Ultimate Betrayal: A Survivors Journey” is the story of her own family and their battle to survive her fathers attacks on Donna and her mother.  The film doesn’t hold anything back. As the writer, director and subject matter, she revealed everything about those harrowing times and the situations that threatened not only her family but her very life. Once you see the film you will be amazed at Donnas strength, resilience and ability to survive such intense violence. To know her makes her even more amazing. She has a love of life and people that is overwhelming in its scope. Knowing where she has come from and what she lived through should provide hope for anyone in a similar situation as well as the rest of us as we celebrate her life and the spirit of hope the films leaves you with.

Some other films include “Fallen Blue Heroes” a tribute to the officers who have paid the ultimate price, and “Closure” an award winning short film about 9/11 and the effects of that day.  

Those achievements alone would be enough for most ordinary people, but not for Donna Roman Hernandez. She also writes a monthly column for the NJ Cops magazine, a magazine for police officers published by the NJ State PBA. Donna also hosts her own weekly Internet radio show, “The Jersey Beat”, where she discusses topics of interest to police officers and civilians alike. She is a one woman army.

On any  given night Donna can be found talking to women’s groups, survivors groups, shooting footage for her next film or helping a friend in need. Her life story is awesome, her energy is infectious and her optimism is a beacon for all who know her. She is one to watch in the future and you can say you heard about her here first. I am proud to call her my friend and inspiration. I am not ready to retire just yet, but I know when I do make that move there will be plenty to keep me busy if I want to follow Donnas lead.

If you would like to learn more about Donna and Blue Force Films or see her movies go to www.blueforcefilms.com   You can also see her web series by going to www.kickstarter.com and look up Crossing Blood Lines. You too will be inspired by a truly unique person and police officer, Donna Roman Hernandez.

Other places

“Behind the Badge”                            Other places

By Joseph Pangaro

Having spent my entire law enforcement career here in New Jersey I always assumed that police work was the same everywhere. I recently went to the state of Florida for a short period of rest and relaxation. I had the opportunity to meet officers from Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Tampa, Orlando, Cape Canaveral and the Highway Patrol.

We talked about their daily work and how they handled things down in paradise. As I thought, most of their job was the same as the work for any officer here in New Jersey. They handle traffic, drunk drivers, domestic violence incidents, robberies, drugs, and all the other aspects of crime in a modern society.

It was inevitable that the topic of citizen’s rights  and other constitutional issues came up. As a resident and police officer in the north east I am accustomed to the thinking that if someone robs you, give them your wallet. If they want your car, give them the keys. What I heard from the officers and residents in Florida was a bit different.

I also spoke to other people that live in various parts of the state about citizens rights, and their attitudes about crime and the ability to protect oneself. I was really surprised by the general atmosphere around the topic. Now to be sure, taking any high profile cases that might be in the news out of the equation, that is not a topic I want to comment on until all the facts are in so let’s not go there.

What I did find was the fact that since the year 2000, there have been over 880,000 concealed carry permits issued by the state of Florida to its residents.  And since that time only 162 of them have been revoked because the person with the permit was involved in some type of criminal action, not necessarily a gun crime.  That’s pretty astounding. When I asked about the process to get a concealed carry permit I was told “It’s simple” you go to a gun range, fill out some forms, test for proficiency on the weapon and if you can handle the gun, you get the permit. That’s it.

I was talking to a young woman, 26 years old who works in a doctors office in Jacksonville. She told me she had a carry permit and showed me the 9mm handgun she had in a holster. I asked her why she thought she needed to carry a gun, had she been the victim of a crime?  “No” she said she had never been victimized “but”, she added “why should I be, with this I can protect myself”.  

Over and over again, from cops to citizens the one common thread in most of their comments was the same; We carry guns because we can and we protect ourselves and our families because we should”. This is very different from the way we do business up here. As a police officer I don’t know how I feel about that, the idea of everyone running around with guns is one I am not accustomed to. As a citizen of the United States I have a deep and abiding love of and dedication to the Constitution and the second amendment, but it just seems like everyone having guns would just mean more gun fights.

When I asked the local cops they said the number of gun fights is very low, while the number of people who protect themselves with their legal guns is very high. The officers said they definitely go to calls for service and other police responses more cautiously knowing that anyone involved in the call could be armed, but since its part of the culture they don’t worry about the good guys with guns. As one officer put it “Down here you have to be careful who you rob, the victim might have a gun and not want to be robbed. That doesn’t usually work out for the robber”.  And in that statement the general attitude was summed up. It seems the populace would prefer the criminals worry about what the good guys might do to them more than what they will do to the good guys.

By the time I was heading home it was clear, people are people everywhere and crime is crime. Cops everywhere face the same enemy; people who what to do bad things to other people. That’s one thing that the same up here in Jersey, and it’s our job everywhere as police officers to protect the innocent, stand up for the weak and do what’s right every time, every day.

Let me know what you think.  Email me at jpanagro194@yahoo.com and read my blog at www.jpangaro.blogspot.com         

Hidden Tragedy

“Behind the Badge”                Hidden Tragedy

By Joseph Pangaro

The room was dark. The sound of pumps and meters and all kinds of medical equipment hummed and clicked in the background. In the hallways the sound of muffled voices mixed with sounding alarms and the occasional crash of a dropped tray added to the overall feel of confusion.

The pain raced through her, overwhelming her. The shaking and the tremors came without warning. A wave of heat washed over her from head to toe, her stomach turned. Crying without end until she fell asleep, only to dream of more pain, alone and scared.  

Occasionally, usually after she finally managed to drift off for a few minutes, a nurse would come in and check her over again. The feeling of being too hot was replaced with intense freezing, then the heat would come again. The sick stomach never went away.

Her arms and legs contracted on their own timetable, often twitching uncontrollably. The medicine was forced into her mouth and down her throat, she gagged and did not like the taste. She had no understanding or comprehension of any of this or the endless pain that never let up.

Innocent, racked with pain, an angel living through hell. Lost in her own world of agony she is alone and scared in her hospital bed, but across the country this 3 day old infant is one of thousands of babies born, suffering, and addicted to illicit and prescription drugs.

The picture of this tiny child clinging to life as she goes through withdrawal is heartbreaking and one that is almost too hard to bear. Knowing children like the one in this column are actually going through this horror at all of our hospitals, even now as you read this is enough to shake me to my core.

We all know that people make bad choices and many suffer the consequences of those decisions, sometimes for a very long time. It is one thing to feel sorry for a young person that knowingly gets themselves involved in drugs and the lifestyle of drug use and finds themselves in very bad shape. Common decency demands that we, as good people, try to find some compassion for these misguided kids.

Finding that compassion is no easy task when these misguided kids start stealing, robbing, and destroying everything around them because of their addictions. But somehow we know we must be ready to reach out and help them whenever the moment of clarity comes and the chance to save them presents itself. This is the burden of good people. To do otherwise is to throw away our humanity as they have thrown their lives away. To anyone who knows a young person that has become addicted, you know you pray everyday for a chance to help them. Unfortunately that chance doesn’t always come and all too often you are left with broken hearts and an emptiness that cannot be filled; this is the suffering of the family and friends of the addicted. In time there is a numbness that overtakes them, it’s a survival mechanism. It’s acceptance.    

It’s another thing altogether to see these most innocent of all God’s creatures, fighting for their lives from the addiction passed onto them by their mothers who are addicted to drugs. We cannot accept the suffering of babies who had no choice in their misery. They may be someone else’s baby, but they are all our children. 

In a recent study the number of babies born addicted to heroin, prescription opiates, cocaine and other habit forming drugs has tripled! Babies are being treated with methadone, the withdrawal drug used for adult addicts. Their withdrawal is just as physically terrible as it is for an adult, but a baby cannot comprehend why there is such pain. Nor can I.

If you know someone who is addicted to drugs, try to get them to seek help, especially if they are pregnant. If you are pregnant and addicted act for the babies sake and get help.

Leading the Modern Police Force

“Leading the Modern Police Force”

  by Lt. Joseph Pangaro                                                           1711 words

  What does it mean to lead a police force? That question seems like a simple one. In the world of law enforcement we have some rock solid principles and some bedrock purposes. We are tasked by our various communities with “Protecting and serving”, if we combine those principles and purposes with the goal of protecting our residents and serving those who need our help, the outcome should be easy to predict. Our officers would go out into the streets and do what is necessary to get the job done.  If it were only that easy.

The modern police force is very different from the police forces of days gone by. That is not to say that our current mission is vastly different from the police mission of the past. People are people and the needs of society change slowly, over very long periods of time. The basic functions of police work are static. There will always be predators that will look for any opportunity to take advantage of innocence. Human nature being what it is we know that there will always be a percentage of our population that will rob and rape if they can. Unethical people will lie and cheat the elderly out of their retirement funds if the opportunity presents itself. Children will continue to be a target for the perverted and twisted minds of the pedophile. Our homes and property will always be fair game for the burglar and other various types of thieves. The scourge of drug abuse will drive otherwise normal people to acts of criminality. That being said I could fill many pages with the types of crimes that have always been with us and will always be with us. That is the human condition, and the world in which we, as law enforcement professionals, operate.

My focus here; understanding the changing requirements and responsibilities associated with leading the men and women of the modern era of police work. An analysis will reveal that the truth of the matter is that the changes in the world of law enforcement are not changes in the work we do, but the changing people on the job that do the work.

P1

Police work is a people business. Most of us who have been on the job for any period of time, know that reality. Arrests, tickets, raids and investigations are all elements of the work, but the real work is human relationships. People to people, person to person.

As any officer serving anywhere in the United States, and at any rank, can tell you the people who are coming on the job today are different than in the past. That is not a bad thing, but it is something that must be understood and managed for the betterment of all involved.

Today’s recruits grew up in a world that viewed the idea of simply doing what you’re told without question, as not valid. Many were taught to question authority at every level. If someone tells you what to do, ask them why you should do it that way. If someone tells you why you should do it a certain way; ask them if there is a better way to do it. I call this group of young people the “Millenials”, taken from the on going generational categorization’s such as; the baby boomers, the Gen X’ers, Generation Y and so forth. I can’t take credit for it, but I like it and I use it.    

Many of the new officers are motivated by different things then those of us in previous generations. I loved overtime; it helped to keep me and my family above water as I moved through the various pay scales and ranks. I loved being at work, doing the work. Today money is not the greatest motivator. I see a trend with many new people in that they are more concerned with their time off, and what other lifestyle perks are available. They are hard workers, and they have tremendous skill sets to offer, but they see things differently. That must be taken into account. Demanding they act and appreciate what past generations saw as important is a futile exercise. They must be seen and valued for what they have to offer and their needs and concerns must be figured into the equations. That is our responsibility as leaders.                   

P2

With that understanding of the people will now lead we must look at our organizations and our selves much closer.

As a practical matter we are quasi military organizations with ranks, rules, regulations, policy and written directives. That is the functional part of our business. They set the internal boundaries in our departments and the basic parameters of how to deal with the public out in the street. Technology moves at lightning speed, doubling capacity every 18 months. We file papers and push out new policy and new directives in record time, all good stuff. Unfortunately what get’s lost in that shuffle is our people, our cops, especially the young people of the modern work force.  

How we deal with our people is lagging behind all the other types of change that have come down the pike. We are, in many instances, clinging to old ways and practices that do nothing to move us forward and help us to lead our people in the most appropriate way. It is time for those of us in leadership positions today to do a top down review of how we run our organizations, starting with our own actions, styles and practices. Just because “That’s the way we have always done it” doesn’t mean we have to continue with those models. We must ask ourselves; are we doing things the best way possible, regardless of our own personal preferences and desires. If we are not then we should change the way we do things.

This concept could easily be regarded as a back hand shot at the current leadership in any organization today. That is not the point, and it should not be looked at that way. It is a call to all members of our profession who are responsible for leading our people, to look beyond ourselves. To pick our heads up, look around and see what’s going on out in the world and see what we can do to better serve those we lead. If we can not look forward at what could be, compare it to the lessons of the past, then think of ways to do things better based on the combined experience of all involved, then we are never going to improve in any meaningful way. As leaders we must evolve.

My years of experience, both in law enforcement and more importantly in my life as a member of our society, have revealed what I believe are some important lessons in regard to leading effectively.

P3

I start with defining the basic premise of leadership. What are the goals and most importantly, the responsibilities of being a leader? Does being in charge make one a leader? The answer, I think, is, sometimes. Obviously if you are the chief executive of any organization by virtue of your position, you are a leader.

The better question is; does simply being “In charge” make you a good leader? The answer here is clearly, no. We can all think of people in leadership positions who are not very adept at being good leaders. They can give orders, make rules, issue edicts and puff themselves up and demand everyone fall in line, but they do nothing to better their people or their organization. This type of leader harkens to a different time. In police work most of us can all conjure stories of old time chiefs who ruled with an iron hand, or were the type of leader that was locked away in his office. You never saw the guy, but when you did he was an almost mythical figure. It was “My way or the highway”. This example may be a stretch, but not too much of a stretch. The dinosaurs like that are mostly gone from the scene at this point, but they were the model for many of us up to this point. I am suggesting that we learn from the past, take what was good from that style of leadership, and then move on. Its time for a paradigm shift in leadership practices.

So if simply being in charge does not make you a good leader, what does?  

I believe that being a good leader requires changing the way we view the art of leading. There will always be a time for the autocratic leader. On many occasions our business demands immediate, forceful and decisive action on the part of those in charge. We must be able to give direct orders and have them followed without hesitation. Lives sometimes depend on it. That being said I don’t believe that those are the best examples of where leadership takes place. It is more than that, more than just driving the tank into battle.  

P4

The next question to ask then is” what can aid the leaders of tomorrow to be the best they can be”. It is in this context that I suggest we can begin by adopting several concepts:

One; Being a good leader is a choice. Like anything else we want to do and do well, we must make choices. This is where separating ourselves from the seductive perks of leadership must take place. The term “because I said so”, has to be replaced with “What is best for my people, not necessarily good for me”. This is where the hard work takes place. Many people have worked an entire career to be in charge. When they get there they lose perspective on what their main goal and focus must be; their people, not their own career track. 

Two; Owning the principle of “Servant leadership”. The higher up the chain you go, the more you owe to those in positions below you. Doing what needs to be done to make their jobs easier is the key obligation of this principle. You must work tirelessly to assist them in anyway you can; guiding, counseling, positive critiques, listening not just hearing them, appreciating them and working for their career goals. Selflessness is incumbent to this type of thinking.

The choice here is to choose forgoing the belief that since you have obtained a leadership position, whatever you think has to be right and best and everyone should do what you want simply because you are in charge. This is a morale killer and displays very poor leadership qualities. People don’t follow poor leaders, they tolerate them. As leaders our goal should be to make our people better, not exist to be tolerated. You must take an active role in their work lives. You should always be available. We teach best by allowing others to try using their own skills. If there are two ways to do something and the immediate outcome is not critical, let your people choose their own path to the objective. The experience they gain in the effort and the trust and confidence they receive from you is the greatest reward.      

P5

Three; Loyalty is a two way street, but it starts with the leader. The leader must be the first to show unconditional loyalty to their people, standing up for them in every instance. Looking out for their needs; both personal and professional. In the old paradigm the leader demanded loyalty. In return goodies were doled out to the loyal. This style prostitutes the concept. The leader receives loyalty only on the basis of material things, better assignments, promotions, and the like. The depth of that loyalty is shallow indeed and non existent when the treasure runs out. On the other hand loyalty based on how the leader looks out for their subordinates is almost bottomless and is constantly refilled.

When our people believe we are there for them and the organization and not just for our own needs, they respond in kind. It creates credibility. 

Four; Succession planning. This should be paramount to any leader. Instead of concern with ones legacy as to ones own achievements, the good leader is concerned with preparing his people to assume his position, to take over. As a leader I feel no greater satisfaction than to have my people take what I have to teach and rise to their potential. My goal does not end there; my mission is to assist my people to eclipse my record. My legacy is not borne on my achievements but on the achievements of those I have taught. It is through their success that my journey as a leader is completed and my career justified. I want them to surpass me. 

These servant leadership principles require sacrifice on the leader’s part. They are not always easy to live. They are a process and a belief system that puts leadership on a new path. For many people these concepts will seem strange and unconventional. They are, but I believe our profession is at a point that we, as leaders, must assume a new role, accept new responsibilities, and understand the changes in culture and the people that are coming into our profession. We must lead with a dedication to our core principles, purposes and our people first.

Let me know what you think.

Spring Time Safety

“Behind the Badge”               Summer time troubles

By Joseph Pangaro

Once again the terrible cloak of winter has been lifted, for the most part. With the Spring comes the flowers, leaves on the trees, warm breezes, bar-b-ques and the driveway scammers, fake home repair scams, door to door sales scams and a host of others.

Yup, this time of year we can expect all of that. The flowers and leaves are not too much of a problem, it’s the scammers we have to watch out for, especially for our older population.

Over the years the scams change a little here and there in the way they are employed, but for the most part they are constant.

#1 The driveway sealer scam;  “Hi we are doing a job up the street and we have some left over driveway sealer.  We can give you a great deal”.  That’s usually how the pitch goes. Then the scammer will ask the potential victim if they can pay for the job or at least give them a good portion of the money and they will be back to do the job as soon as they finish with the other job. The price is usually set to be a great value so many people will take advantage of a bargain and give up the money. The scammers leave and do not return with driveway sealer or your money.

There are variations on this scam, sometimes they will offer to do the job right then and there. You pay them and they seal your driveway, only instead of a high quality driveway sealer, they use old motor oil, some kerosene or some other substance. Either way it’s a rip off.

#2  The door to door salesman routine is a distraction job. Someone may knock on your door and offer to sell you some product or other. Their job is distract you and get you away from the main part of the house so their partner can sneak in a steal whatever isn’t nailed down.

# 3 is the fake home repair scam. This is similar to the door to door salesman routine. At times after a summer storm when the trees are knocked down, you might get a visit form a nice fella in a truck. He will knock on your door or talk to you in the street about your broken tree branches or shrubbery and offer to clean then up. Some of these guys are really just hard working people looking to make an honest living, others not so much. The scammers will start the job and then tell you they see some shingles have come off your roof and need to be repaired, or they see a potential leak area that needs some attention. Many people will panic when they hear this and go along with the scammer. He will offer some price to go up on the roof and fix it. Many people are cheated this way every year. They might climb on the roof and nail up a shingle or two, or just bang some nails into your roof or tell you about a bigger problem requiring more money. These thieves tend to target our older neighbors because they don’t think they can get up on the roof to check.

In any event we must be vigilant to these types of rip offs. If someone knocks at your door and you decide to hear them out, ask for a name and phone number. Most people have cell phones, even the bad guys. If they give you a cell number, call it and see if their phone rings. Take down their license plate number. Even better yet ask them if they mind if you call your local police and see if they ever heard of them. Real people seeking to do honest work will have no problem with your requests. Scammers will usually make some excuse and leave.

If you have older friends, neighbors or relatives, tell them to call you before they agree to have anyone do work on or in their home. This can help protect them from being victimized.

Next up, are the car burglars. These are the people that walk our neighborhoods during the night time hours and steal whatever they can get from our vehicles. The best way to combat these guys is to always lock your car doors, every day. Take all your valuables out of the car or at least out of view and put them into the trunk. While locking your car is no guarantee that the really aggressive car burglar will not smash your car window, your chances of being a victim go down if the car is locked. Most car burglars walk up and down the street pulling on door handles. The ones that open, they enter. When they find a locked one, they keep going.

 And last but never least is the house burglar. Warmer weather leads to open windows. Burglars look for open windows. Many house burglaries take place during the day light hours when many people are out for the day. A common way they operate is to knock on your door. If no one answers they go around and enter through an open window. If there is no open window they may pop a window and get in.  A good strategy to help prevent this is to use window stops, little gadgets that allow your windows to open but only 6 or 7 inches. Enough for a cool breeze to get in but not a burglar. Leave a radio on in your house while you’re out. Burglars do not want to confront anyone at home. If they hear a radio, they may think someone is home and move on.

Another good thing to do is get a Crime Prevention Survey conducted at your home. These involve a crime prevention expert coming out and looking over your home and property. They make suggestions on ways to safe guard your home and prevent burglaries. Some insurance companies offer discounts on your homeowners policy if you get a crime prevention survey.

So there we have it our Spring time primmer on not being victimized.  It’s a beautiful time of year, enjoy it. A few simple safety thoughts can go a long way. If you want more information on Crime Prevention Surveys send me an email and I’ll point you in the right direction. 

Let me know what you think.

Self Defense in the modern world

Date Line- Sanford Florida.

The news has been covering the story of a young man shot and killed by a local resident of this Florida town. The shooter killed the young man under the cover of the florida law of self defense known as the "Stand your Ground" Law.

The concept is easy enough. When you are in your home, your "Castle" and someone breaks in you have every right to defend yourself and your family from harm. You have a right  to stand your ground and do what you need to do to protect yourself. This is an idea that is time honored, even here in NJ where our laws tend towards a more liberal bent.

Outside the home on the other hand the idea of standing your ground has been abandon. Right to carry (Concealed weapons) laws are very restrictive and almost impossible to obtain in NJ. The idea of fighting back against a robber or assailant is acceptable as long as that fighting back does not result in a serious injury or death of your attacker. This concept owes itself to many, ever changing and evolving social norms in our society. As we get farther and farther away from our founding ideas and we become a much more progressive society the rule of thumb is "Dont fight back".

In states like Florida and other southern states, the older traditions, beliefs and thinking about self defense allows the average citizen more leeway in thier personal defense and in some areas to the defense of their property.

Floridas decision to send a message to the crimnal element: If you attack someone they can and will strike back with force and possibly with deadly force. This is a belief that harkens back to another era, one of self reliance.   A belief that each person as a citizen is entitled and empowered to protect themselves.

In the Saford Florida case, what seemed on its inital report as a situation where a man was protecting himself and killed his assailant, has morphed inot something else. The facts as they are now being revealed paint a different picture than I think the law was intended to address. I dont know the actual "Facts on the ground" I only know the stories being reported. Based on the new information it is beginning to feel like this was not a justified use of dealdy force. In any event a young man is dead and his family is left to suffer that pain. Hopefully all the facts will come out and justice will be done, which ever way the facts dictate.  If the man appropriately used force to protect himself then the lesson of the Florida law and the message the larger Florida residents are sending will be loud and clear: Attack someone and you can die. If the man was wrong in his actions then that lesson must be heralded as well: use deadly force inappropriately and you will suffer the consequences.

Weilding force in the name of self protection is a complicated legal question. In reality it is much simpler. If someone is trying to hurt you, you have every right to stop them from doing so. The problem is how do you stop it. A robber in a parking lot with a knife is a formidable problem to a person with only a wallet or cell phone to use in thier defense.
The concern we all have in rectifiying that balance by allowing people to carry concealed guns for their protection are the people that will use guns and dealy force in situations where it is not warranted. Shooting a neighbor after an argument over a fence, or after too many beers and a simple shoving match turns deadly. To avoid this we prevent everyone from possessing guns and going with the odds that only a few innocent, unarmed victims might be killed by criminals, as opposed to scores of improper shootings over less than life threatening situations.  This is fine as long as you or someone you love is not one of the sacrificial lambs. 

The other problem that looms in the background, as it does in the Florida case, is the question of race in these sitautions. This is the topic that we can not seem to come to grips with. It is so potentially dangerous and frought with difficulties, that we ignore it and can not bring our selves to have an open and honest discussion about it.

Those who see racism in every situation will point to any incidents involving people of different races involved in any type of situation and attribute the actions to racism, regardless of the facts.  Many other people will ignore racism when it is real and present in a situation so they can bolster their beliefs and make the facts fit. Either way we do not move ahead asa society, we become stuck in the mire. The only winnners here are the criminals. 

All of us want to be safe. All of us want to live a life of peaceful existence, to pursue our hopes and dreams with out being molested by crime. How we get there is a problem for all good and decent people. Unfortunately as we debate the most appropriate response to crime adn how to be just  and fair and not react more than is right, we put ourselves at the mercy of the criminals who give no thought to righteousness, justice, decency or respect for others.

More to come on this topic........ Let me know what you think.