Something that could save your life!

My company is the  law enforcement representative for "Tactical Medical Packs". These are pocket sized gun shot and stab wound kits. Each kit contains many  pieces of basic first aid equipment, but the most important thing is the Quick Clot Sponge.

If an officer is shot or stabbed they reach into their pocket, take out the kit, tear it open and apply the sponge to the wound.  The chemical inside STOPS the bleeding.

The number one reason officers die from gun shot and stab wounds is bleeding. These kits buy you the time to survive. EVERY COP should have one in his/ her pocket.

They also make kits for hunters, military and other at risk professions and sports. Chekc the web site for "TAC PACKS"  http://www.tacticalmedicalpacks.com/   and contact me for single purchases, department purchases or bulk purchases. 

These are great gifts for anyone you know in law enforcement.  The price is right too, at about $40 a pack, with a three year shelf life, they are a bargain. What is your life worth? No cop should ever bleed out again waiting for an ambulance. Call or email me today.  732-600-8976    jpangaro@yahoo.com

Saving lives is important to all of us. Saving our own lives is up to us!

Gun Safety Class March 1, 2012

March 1, 2012  I will hold a firearms safety class at the Brick Armory Shooting range, Lakewood NJ.
The course consists of class room training on firearms safety, then we move out to the firing range.  All students will get a chance to shoot several types of handguns.  The course fees includes range time, 25 rounds of ammo and targets. A certificate is provided for particpants.

Seats are $75 each. Call or email to reserve your place   732-600-8976    email:  jpangaro@yahoo.com

Bring the family, kids aged 12 and up are welcome with a parent or guardian.  Bring your work crew or friends. Group discounts are available. If you ever wanted to learn about firearms safety this is a great course.

JPangaro CPM

Faces from the past-article

“Behind the Badge”         “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      

Integrity article

“Behind the Badge”                      “Integrity”

by Joseph Pangaro

 The world can get confusing sometimes. The line between right and wrong can get blurred. What’s right one day can change the next. Our society lives on top of a layer of shifting sands. Some of the things we once took as bedrock principles, have over time begun to look out dated and inappropriate. Our language is a clear example of the phenomena. Words that were once a standard part of the national vocabulary have morphed over time, their meanings, taking on negative connotations. To be sure; some of the words and phrases that we once used very easily have come to be seen, and in many cases rightly so, as offensive. My family background is Italian and Irish with a bit of Native American. So I grew up hearing descriptive terms that were less than flattering to me and my family, as have most of us. I didn’t like those terms and words, who would. Over time the use of these offensive descriptors has diminished, so I understand how words can hurt and I am glad that some things have changed. It’s a matter of respect. If someone doesn’t like to be called a particular name then don’t use it. We can all show some decency in this area without lessening our freedoms and we can all adapt to a changing world.

It is in the midst of these changes that one thing really can’t get lost, no matter how much society as a whole changes. That is the need for integrity, especially in all public service contexts. We all make mistakes,  we all make decisions that can be judged later as inappropriate, but knowingly wrongful actions on the part of anyone is bad for everyone.

In the world of law enforcement there are over 500,000 men and women who have sworn the oath to uphold the law of the land. The vast majority of these men and women are great examples of integrity. Unfortunately there will always be those who will stumble along the way. As members of the larger community I don’t think we should point a finger at the profession as a whole, or take any joy in the downfall of individuals.

That undermines the integrity of all the other officers that go their entire career without a problem. And if we think about it a little deeper we will see that the failures of a few mortal men and women also points a finger back at the bigger society. We can all make arguments for or against the changes in our country over the years, but it seems clear that we have allowed the slow dissolution of the clear, bright lines of right and wrong.

This is not to excuse those who wear the badge of wrongdoing. It is used to turn the mirror on the rest of us and have us look inward. Where do we see integrity as it fits into the everyday world in which we live. After all none of us or anyone we know steals cable TV, or shaves their taxes, or keeps money they found in the street, or celebrates when they get over on a retailers mistake, cheats on a test, or goes along with the million other things that can slip by under the wire, right?

Integrity is very important to all of us. It is part of the unspoken contract that allows for a civil society. When we point fingers at those who fall, but ignore our own failings, are we any better than those who got caught?

Teaching the next generation of police officers the absolute need to maintain their integrity is essential. We must understand though that teaching those lessons begins long before anyone raises their hand and takes an oath. It starts in our homes and schools when the innocents among us look for guidance. It begins with each one of us choosing to do the right thing no matter how difficult the situation or more importantly how easy it would be to get over.

The last thing that comes to mind when I think of the news of the day and the disappointment that many people feel when those we trust go the wrong way is to try and remember that a persons life is not made up of one incident. As human beings we are all capable of making the wrong choices. Lets hope that we can all learn from those who’s mistakes have become public knowledge and dedicate ourselves to ensuring we maintain our own personal intergrity.

 Let me know what you think.               

Compassionate Police Work- article

“Compassionate Police Work”

By Lt. Joseph Pangaro

Having served my community for 24 years, I have come to some understanding about this career in law enforcement and the things we do. Our profession calls on us to be the calm during a storm, the voice of reason in unreasonable situations and the emotionless authority that makes things better. These are high ideals for mortal men and women. From the time we graduate the academy we are told we are simply observers of happenings. We are not personally involved in the events we encounter. We are told the horrific scenes we see and the destruction of peoples lives we witness are part of the job. The pain and suffering we see people living with are not our pains and suffering. Don’t take it home with you. Forget about it, ignore it.

That sounds easy until you are called on to tell someone their husband was killed in a senseless car accident; or watch helplessly as a mother cries over the dead body of her drug addicted child; or see precious innocent little children used and injured by the worthless adults in their lives. These are all terrible situations, we as law enforcement personnel, have to see and live with everyday. We are taught to push those images out of our minds, leave them at work and move on. The culture of law enforcement encourages us to believe we can just move on from these things, but I don’t think it really works that way. I believe that these default positions build up and take a toll on us over the years. They wear us down emotionally.

 I point to the sobering statistic of law enforcement suicide. Every year in the United States criminals kill between 100 and 150 of us. This is a staggering reality and tragic part of our job. What’s worse is that we kill ourselves at twice that rate, almost 300 police suicides a year. That is higher than any other profession and there is a reason. I believe that reason is the common practice of moving through the painful, emotionally draining situations we face every day, and trying to ignore them. We are tough guys and girls. Those things don’t bother use. Right?

Cop humor is famous in our circles. The things we say and the jokes we make at some of the scenes we end up at would leave the people outside the law enforcement speechless. If they heard some of the comments and wisecracks we make they would run out of the room screaming, convinced we were crazy. Cops all know this humor is not callousness. It is a way to deal with the things we encounter and a way to have control over that which we can not fix or make better. The key here is understanding that this dark humor is a coping mechanism, not a “dealing with it mechanism”. The two phrases are very different and so is the emotional truth of the situation. It is between these two phrases and the real life places we live that damage us. Not as cops but as people.

This is where the concept of compassion and the understanding of how it fits into our lives must come into play. The compassion I am talking about is not simply feeling bad for someone, or being upset that they are in a predicament. It is an all encompassing emotion that has attendant actions. For our own good we must seek out this compassion to help us, not just to live through these difficult situations, but to survive them over the long haul.

One way to seek out compassion is to see people for who they are, regardless of why they have come into out lives. Developing compassion for all the people we come across should be a goal. Extending it to the victims we deal with, to be sure. They deserve out attention and priority. A harder place to extend compassion is to the bad guys we deal with. They don’t usually engender our warmest thoughts and they have done something bad.  It is here we can try to change our thoughts and actions. First it is the decent thing to do; after all we are the good guys and girls in any given situation. Treating the defendants with compassion helps us buy revealing the decency in us. People end up in bad situations for many reasons. Admittedly, most of them of their own doing, but sometimes just because of problematic lifestyles. That does not excuse them of their actions; we all have to be accountable for our choices. My point here is simply that some people have made very bad choices based on the hand they were dealt. Anyone can find themselves in a bad spot at some point in their lives. We all know people like this and some of us have those people in our own families. Treating these people with dignity and compassion speaks more about ourselves then them.

 Next, and most importantly, we must be compassionate toward ourselves. We must change the culture of law enforcement that ignores the emotional scars the job can leave on your soul.  We must address these situations, accept the horror of them and talk about it. We are not too tough to be moved by the death of a child or the collapses of someone’s life. The purpose of this self compassion and facing the terrible things we see is not to make us “Touchy feely” cops, or to get in touch with our nurturing sides, but to help us address the negative feelings that come with the experiences we have. Once we address these feeling head on, we can put them into perspective, which will take away their power over us. It is only then that we can move on without damage.

Our career provides us with and unprecedented glimpse into the world of human interaction. It is a double edge sword though. On one hand we have a “Back stage pass to life”, we see things and go places that most people will only hear or read about. On the other hand we sometimes have to do our businesses in the depths of people’s cruelty to each other. It is an honor to be in law enforcement and a great trust the people of our society have given us. We must not allow the rigors of the work ad the fact that we are placed into some very bad situations, to deprive us of the joy this life has to offer. By making these changes in our police culture; perhaps we can save some of the three hundred brothers and sisters who die by their own hand each year.

After 24 years on the job I have made my peace with the evils people do to each other. The idealistic beliefs of my youth have matured over time. I have come to accept the fact that I can not save the whole world, but what I can do is make small differences in the lives of people I encounter. In this way I help them and take care of myself. We all need to take care of the person inside. Everyone of the officer who have killed themselves calls out to us. We must listen and learn from them. We must start a dialogue that is long over due.                    

 What do you think, I’d like to know.    

Lt. Pangaro can be reached at:  jpangaro@yahoo.com

Super Bowl Article

“Behind the Badge”         “Super Sunday”

By Joseph Pangaro

In a few short weeks the nation will be transfixed around out TV’s for the Super Bowl. This is now an American Holiday that is watched around the world by over a billion people. There are traditions that have sprung up around this event like Super Bowl parties. It is no longer just a game it is something to look forward to.

There are also some police related angles here. One of them is the belief that domestic violence calls go way up during the super bowl. The idea is that during the super bowl many men become so engaged in the game and all the activities surrounding the game that they lose their minds and become abusive. Every year I listen and hear the news reports that “Police across the country” get an overwhelming number of domestic dispute calls during the game. It is a template report that just seems to be a part of the day.

I’ve been at this work for a long time and I just don’t see it. The calls for domestic violence come on Super Bowl Sunday just as the do every other day of the year, I don’t really see an increase. The sad fact is that there calls everyday for domestic violence. This is a statistic I wish we could remove.

 What I do see an increase in during Super Bowl though is the drinking and driving incidents. Because the atmosphere around the game has changed and become one of big parties and all out good times, many people who would not normally over do it with the booze, have a tendency to drink too much.

The media image of the drunken husband or boyfriend smacking everyone around because the game is on is something I’m sure does happen in some homes, but it is the exception, not the rule. If there is a problem with domestic violence in your life, on any day, let someone know about it. Get some help. There are many options out there for you. You don’t have to take it.

Now that we have set that myth to rest, let’s enjoy the game, root for our favorites and be safe out there.

Let me know what you think. 

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.

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.                   

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.

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.  

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.      

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.

Pangaro Bio

Lt. Joseph Pangaro is in the 26^th year of his law enforcement career. He serves in a police department in Monmouth County, New Jersey. A graduate of the Certified Public Managers Program (CPM) through

Fairleigh-Dickenson University, as well as serving his department as the lead training officer. Lt. Pangaro also writes a weekly newspaper column dedicated to helping his readers understand the rigors and joys of a career in law enforcement. Joseph Pangaro is also the CEO and president of Pangaro Management and Training Enterprises. 

Email Lt. Pangaro with your comments at :    jpangaro@yahoo.com                                   

Crime Novel- Turning Point

This is a trilogy story that introduces FBI Special Agent Michael Madonna to the world. The story takes places across the globe following a group of terrorists as they attack America again.

The things they do will horrify and enrage the reader as they push the envelope of terror. The action builds from a high shcool football stadium to the deck of a large cargo ship. As the plot unfolds the people of the country will reach the turning point in their undersrtanding of what must  be done to protect America.

SA Michael Madonna is from Indianapolis Indiana, where he lives with his wife and baby daughter. When the terror cell strikes its first blow at the heart of America it does so in Madonnas back yard. Assigned to the case as a criminal investigator, he is soon drawn in to things he never imagined. HIs life and the life of his own family hang in the balance with the rest of the country.

To read the opening chapters send me an email stating your interest.  jpangaro@yahoo.com  and put in the memo section  Turning point.   

Training courses available March 2012

There are two sides of the Pangaro Trainng and Management house. The law enforcement side and the public sector side:

Law Enforcement courses: 

March 12-15, 2012  "Hyperdrive Narcotics Investigation"   a 4 day hands on role player based course. Takes the student officer from the very beginning of a drug investigation, through under cover / control buys to raid planning and execution.  $ 395 per seat.   Call 732-600-8976  or email jpangaro@Yahoo.com to reserve a seat. See the web site for   more details   http://www.jpangaro.com/


March 26 & 27, 2012     Crisis Intervention for the ROAD COP   a 2 day hands on role player based course that teaches the student officer how to handle a crisis call. What  to say and not to say. Keeping everyone safe is the key. $ 199 per seat call or email to reserve a seat.  jpangaro@yahoo.com    732-600-8976      web site  http://www.jpangaro.com/


PUBLIC COURSES:  Can be taught at your business location or ours.

March 6, 2012 Making the business presentation:

This is a 5 day course, one day a week for several weeks. The course will teach you how to prepare and present a professional business presentation using: Powerpoint, and other electronic media as well as non-electronic media. We cover public speaking and the fear that comes with it. Overcoming stage fright, choosing your media, power speaking and then practical exercises where the students must create presentations. A must for anyone who has to make any type of a public presetation.  $295 for the course.  Call or email to reserve your seat.  732-600-8976   jpangaro@yahooo.com   


Surviving the ACTIVE SHOOTER Incident.  Date to be set in April 2012

This 1 day course is designed for anyone who leaves their house. Active shooter situations take place every day in America; in the work place, the shopping center, schools, courts and other public buildings. This course gives a history of active shooter incidents and provides insights in to the actions you can take to save your life should you ever be in the middle of this deadly action.  Seats are $89 each.
 Call for details.  732-600-8976

Leadership in any form

Leadership in any arena is dependant on many things. My view is that a leader is not just a boss or the person in charge. A leader inspires his / her people to be thier best. A leader mentors, teaches, challenges and encourages his/ her people.

I believe very strongly in the concept of "Servant Leadeship", basically a belief that  the higher you go in an orgniazation the more you owe to the people below you. This concept can be used in any environment where there is heirarchy, or bosses. No matter where you are on that ladder you owe it the people you have the priveledge of leading to give your all to thier needs and thier concerns as well as your own.

Just becasue you are in charge does not mean you are always right, it means you have the responsibility of investigating and finding out what is right and pursuing that position. Making sure your people understand the mission and getting their input can often make the journey towards the goal easier and more impactful.

Being a leader means staking out the high ground and teaching your people why you believe your position is correct.  Demanding that people do as you say is the easy part, getting people to "buy in" to your idea and run with it , using all of thier skills and abilities is the true art of leadership.

For the people that say discipline must be a large part of leadership, I say; It depends on how you define discipline. The root of discipline is disciple, to follow.
If someone does something wrong beacuse they were trying to accomplish your mission and they did so witout malice, you must correct the action and re-align them. If they do somehting wrong to cut corners or evade work then negative discipline comes into play.  For most people, positive actions work much better than negative.

And finally you must  care about your people. You cant live thier lives but they shold know you  care about them and thier lives. This is part of servant leadership. Giving of yourself as your people need it, be that time, energy, advice or just a listening post.

Being a good leader is not about you. Its about your  people. JPangaro     

Unintended Consequences

“Behind the Badge”        “Unintended consequences”

By Joseph Pangaro                      Part ONE of a two part article

Domestic Violence in our society is a large and growing problem. In the last 25 years the spot light has been pointed directly at the problem, yet it continues without any apparent end in sight. Police officers receive constant updates and training on handling these crimes. The courts have a great sensitivity to these problems and we are more aware then ever of the damage caused to our communities by this specific type of violence. 

In the last few weeks we have seen several high profile domestic violence incidents that ended in the death of both the victim and the perpetrator. This is known as the murder-suicide. The sad fact of the matter is that domestic violence is a very fertile ground for these types of killings.

Law enforcement professionals everywhere have tried to understand how we can lift the fog and see the signs before these crimes are committed. We ask what type of anger must there be to turn a loving relationship into a violent one. At some point the victim and the perpetrator professed their undying love for one another. They made plans for the future, they started families and they marched into the future hand in hand. Then, in many cases, only a few short years later the love is replaced with arguments, control issues, money problems, stress, alcoholism and violence.

The relationship dynamic is many faceted and therefore not easily put into a box. As anyone in a long term relationship knows; to keep the relationship fresh and viable both partners must constantly work at it. This is true for all relationships regardless of who is included in the relationship.

When problems come to the surface how people deal with them often dictates how they solve the problems or escalate them. In many instances these problems morph into arguments, hurt feelings and violent actions. On the far end of the spectrum is the Murder-Suicide.

I have often tried to see how the system we have in place either helps in these problem situations or makes things worse. After years of interviewing both victims and perpetrators from all types of relationships including; gay, straight, married, unmarried, common law marriages and dating relationships there is a string that connect them. The feeling of powerlessness often leads to violence.

When one partner begins to make independent decisions or take independent actions within or outside the parameters of the relationship the other partner can feel jealous, angry and spiteful. The reasons for these independent moves doesn’t matter, but are usually a symptom of someone moving away from the relationship for any number of reasons including; a realization that they are no longer in love with the partner, they found someone else, they have experienced personal growth, the relationship is not healthy or any  other number things.

The partner that is not moving away and is a realistic person in a healthy mind frame usually reacts in one of several ways; they want to talk out the problems and try to save the relationship, they accept the change and prepare to move on, or they allow it to happen and experience a sense of loss.

The unhealthy person on the other hand usually reacts much more strongly and negatively. This is where the violence can come in. Some of these examples are; demanding the other partner abandon their new pursuits, friends, and activities. They put ultimatums into the equation, or they threaten and or act violently. If the partner doesn’t give in and obey, the effect of powerlessness can now effect the demanding partner. Powerlessness demands one of two reactions. Acceptance or aggressive action to reclaim power, this is dangerous territory.

At this point their partner moves into the category of victim; that doesn’t mean they are weak, it means they are now in danger. The actions of the negative person that involve demanding or violent behavior have to be stopped.

When the system intervenes, the first step in that intervention is normally the police being called for an argument, threat or assault, both parties enter a new world. Depending on what took place someone may get arrested. That heightens the tensions. If the couple takes advantage of any of the many counseling options that are usually offered in domestic violence situations they can; stop the violence, save the relationship, end the relationship, or come to understandings they can live with.

If they do not take advantage of these counseling options the violence can escalate, more criminal charges and financial burdens can be accrued and no resolutions are reached. When you add children and or financial obligations to the situation the potential for violence increases many times over.

“Behind the Badge”        “Unintended Consequences”

By Joseph Pangaro                    Part TWO of the article

As discussed in part one of this article, the reasons the danger in a relationship increase when you have strife, anger, and pain and you add children of money to the equation are pretty obvious. As sad as it is people will often use their children as pawns. Ask any police officer and they can tell you countless tales of people using their kids against each other. This can include telling the kids half truths or outright lies about the other partner with the intent to turn the kids against the partner. The purpose of this is to inflict pain on the on the partner. Another ploy is to prevent one parent from being with their child by withholding visitation. Some parents, and that includes men and women will purposely ignore court orders, or make the visitation so difficult to the other partner that it creates a great sense of frustration and anger. This is a weapon people use when they want revenge, want to inflict pain on the other person or feel powerless to do anything else to control the situation

Money is another cause of problems. It is expensive enough to run one household let alone two. When partners split up the courts will sometimes order one partner to pay the expense of the other in addition to their own. This can go on for a long period of time. When the paying partner complains they may or may not get the relief they are requesting from the courts. When they  believe they have legitimate reasons for relief and do not get it, the level of frustration can grow exponentially.

As you can imagine these situations are a powder keg and a recipe for disaster. As a police officer we are often called in to bring order to this anger, frustration, pain and hurt. Often there is not much we can do to make a situation right or instill justice, we can only ensure no one gets hurt.

The relationships that end violently, like the ones we see on the news, usually gave some indications that the volcano was going to explode. When a person reaches that boiling point, the point of no return; when their powerlessness reaches critical mass everyone involved is in danger. These types of people often strike out at any and all the people they think did them wrong. In most cases they only manage to get to one or a few of their targets. Usually it’s the spouse or partner. Some may tell people or leave notes describing their frustration and anger as well as a declaration that if they cannot have the relationship or the person of their desire they will decide to kill themselves and take that person with them. We see this scenario played over and over again.

As a police officer who has investigated domestic violence killing I have to wonder what else we can do to prevent these needless tragedies. What is it as a society we can recognize and take action on. What can our courts do to help these people in crisis. And what can we as the friends, family and associates of people living in these relationships do to prevent such horror and pain.

I don’t have all the answers, maybe not even some of them, but I know that we cannot sit back and ignore these situations when we become aware of them. If you know someone who is involved in a domestic violence situation, suggest they get some help. If they won’t get help on their own make an anonymous call to your local police and let them know what’s going on. If someone is violent or suffering violence all the more reasons to take some action. Be sure though that I do not mean you should put yourself into the problem or in danger. Actively getting involved in someone else’s relationship is not usually a good idea. Provide support and counsel if you can, suggest ways for the victim to get help and make some calls for them if you can, but standing between two warring people is dangerous. Call the police for that, we are trained to handle it.

Children as the silent sufferers in these situations and often get lost in the battles. Keep them in mind. If you know a child is in a violent home, tell someone, tell a teacher or a cop. We can’t solve peoples life problems but we can activate the systems that are in place to help them.     

In a final thought; a domestic violence murder-suicide is the polar opposite of the love, trust and good will found at the start of a relationship. The destruction and pain is powerful, but never as powerful as love and understanding. We must do more.

Let me know what you think.            

                    

Active Shooter article

Active Shooter article- JPangaro

“Behind the Badge”               “Active Shooters”

By Joseph Pangaro

Several years ago a couple of high school students in Columbine Colorado went on a killing rampage. They plotted an attack on their fellow students at Columbine High School. Their weapons of choice were guns and homemade bombs. They made notes and written plans. They made videos of their intentions and then they acted. When that horrible day was over, many students were dead, a teacher was killed bravely trying to protect other students and the two demons that started the whole thing killed themselves.

The attack in Colorado was the most visible in a long and growing line of Active Shooter incidents nationwide. That incident also changed the way police officers respond to these fast moving and violent situations.

The question we have to ask is; are these incidents a new phenomenon in our society or have they always been with us? I think it is clear that homicidal rage and people striking out with deadly violence has been with humanity since the beginning of time. These Active Shooter incidents though do seem to be a hallmark of our time. Children shooting other children, the growing scourge of gangs in our towns and cities, angry, misunderstood people using murder as a weapon to punctuate their personal pain, real or imagined.

Almost every day you can find a story about an active shooter somewhere in the country. As a training officer in my agency I am always on the lookout for these types of incidents so I can try and learn from them and provide my officers with insight and information to protect our community.

All police agencies in New Jersey are mandated to train on Active Shooter situations and to run live practice drills every couple of years. This training is very important for our officers, it prepares them to react professionally and quickly to a call like this. Since the training first became part of our lives I have seen a change in the cops. They think about the possibilities and they prepare themselves mentally to handle the stress and difficulties associated with these potential incidents.

In reality, statistics tell us that the large majority of our towns will never experience an Active Shooter incident. They are on the increase and they do get a lot of media attention in our 24/7 media world, but they do not strike everywhere, everyday. Of that we can all be thankful. We can also be comfortable in the knowledge that our officers are actively preparing for the unlikely event of an active shooter incident. Of all the things we do train for, this is one that has great value because the incidents can have such a powerful impact on the people and communities involved.

The next part of this situation to understand is that while most people think of schools as the place for active shooter incidents like; Columbine high school, Virginia Tech, and the schools in Georgia where they experienced them, these incidents can take place anywhere people congregate.

Some of the places where these incidents regularly take pace are businesses, court houses, shopping malls, municipal buildings and probably the most well publicized location-postal facilities.

The term “Going Postal” became an addition to our everyday lexicon because of the many incidents of active shooter problems they had. In fact most active shooter incidents do not take place in schools at all, they are just the hardest to deal with emotionally.

As a response to this we are all aware of the possibilities and as a society we have responded with increased security at our schools and public buildings, we train our kids and teachers to take pro-active action to protect themselves and these steps all help keep us safe.

One of the lessons learned from active shooter incidents over the years is the fact that most of the people that go off and do these crimes often let it be known they are on the edge.  They tell friends and co-workers about their anger or dissatisfaction with their work place or bosses. Many kids are on the social media web sites like Facebook, My Space and other web sites that cater to interpersonal conversation and they say what’s bothering them and how they intend to handle it. We have to look for the signs.

We have to listen to what people say and take them seriously. If we hear someone in crisis or someone making threats, we have to let someone know. In many previous violent incidents people have heard and seen the warning signs and have ignored them or discounted them. This can prove deadly. In our modern age of immediate contact people often lay out their anger and intentions for all to see. Most people are just venting, but many are not, many people are preparing to extract their revenge on their perceived wrongdoers.

If we see someone is suffering, in pain, being bullied or otherwise having difficulties and they are making noise about it, tell someone. Getting help for these people before they act out can save innocent lives and their life as well.

We can’t live in fear, but we can live smart when it comes to dealing with the possible dangers of our modern world. Active Shooters are real and they don’t seem to be going away. We can take positive actions to protect ourselves, we can train in our workplaces, we can plan our response to these incidents and we can be aware.

If you have any questions about what you can do at your work place to plan and prepare send me an email-  jpangaro@yahoo.com

Let me know what you think.                 

Introduction

I have been a law enforcement officer for 27 years. It is one of the most rewarding careers I can think of. In this blog I will try to give you an "insiders view" of police work and the life of a police officer. It will not be the usual everything is great approach. You will get the real side of police work, the grit, the horror, the excitment and the politics of it.

I will throw in some columns and articles I have written as well as my opinions on many topics.

Training and teaching is my passion so we will cover those areas with the goal being- to pass on my experience and knowledge to help make you better at what ever you do.

As for my experience: I was a street cop for  9 years, a street detective and detective supervisor for 12 years and a lieutenant for 6 years. I have  investigated homicides, narcotics, sex assaults, car jackings, burglaries, robberies and economic crimes. I write  about these topics in a weekly newspaper column called "Behind the Badge". I have been published in the FBI world wide magazine, NJ COPs magazine, the New South Wales Law Enforcement Gazette(Australia) and other American publications.

I have tried my hand at acting in the Web TV series  "Crossing Bloodlines". My writing and the web series can all be found on the web by googling my name.

I enjoy life everyday, I have seen horror in my job and I understand that every minute of life is prescious. I love my family and friends with all my heart and I am thankful to God for them. I hope you come here regularly, we have a lot of ground to cover!

Thanks for visiting. Send me you questions and thoughts at jpangaro@ yahooo.com  Visit my web site at http://www.jpangaro.com/

JP