A LEADER IN TOUGH TIMES: GENERAL GEORGE PATTON
General George “Old Blood and Guts” Patton. Perhaps one of the most successful generals of World War II or of any war, for that matter — during a time of unprecedented global turmoil and anxiety (yes, even more than our time of COVID-19, I’m afraid) … Known for his brashness, decisiveness and … well, profanity […]
RELIEVED OF DUTY
Being “relieved of duty” signifies that an employee is under some form of investigation (e.g., administrative or criminal) for an incident that may be either work-related or non-work-related. Some examples of being under investigation include allegations of violations of the Manual of Policies and Procedures (MPP), driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), lying, domestic […]
COVID-19 AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
For everyone, the outbreak of COVID-19 has the potential to increase stress because of the fear of catching (or transmitting) the virus and because of uncertainty about how it will affect us socially and financially. We, as law enforcement, are not immune to this stress and, in reality, may actually be experiencing even more of […]
PEACEMAKERS
As I write this column, our country is going through an incredibly challenging time — certainly, one of the most challenging I have witnessed. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted almost all aspects of our daily lives. For those of us in the law enforcement community, as essential workers, it has been especially demanding and stressful. […]
HEALTHY PARENTING IN THE TIME OF COVID-19
No one imagined the changes we would have to make and the challenges we would have to face when the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the spread of the corona virus had officially become a pandemic on March 11, 2020. This is not the first time humanity has been threatened by a pandemic. However, […]
“SURE I DRINK, BUT I DON’T HAVE A PROBLEM”
It’s one of those phrases I hear frequently enough in the consulting room. Sometimes they’re right. But often, the person sitting across from me is denying a very unhealthy reality. What is a drinking problem? Simply stated, a drinking problem can be defined as any drinking behavior that causes trouble in any one of the […]
HELPING A FRIEND
Making the decision to help a friend with a substance abuse problem is a big one. When making this decision, be aware that you’re likely to experience many different emotional reactions, such as anger, frustration and sadness, to name a few. You might find yourself asking questions like: “How can I be helpful?” and “Is […]
WHY COMMITMENT MATTERS!
Perhaps one of the most important questions we can ask ourselves is: “What do I believe I was born to do?” As I walk and talk with LASD deputies, I often feel I’m among people who’ve discovered their purpose. They truly believe in being society’s peacekeepers and servants. They really do believe in protecting the […]
And So It Begins
What happens when you start buying drinks for yourself because you “deserve” a drink for doing a good job? Are you toasting yourself? Are you the only one celebrating? You might be entering a phase called “reward drinking,” which is often an early sign of trouble. The transition from social drinking to reward drinking is […]