Another form of "AI" has been in the daily news for all to see – Arrogant Incompetence!
I grew up in a law enforcement family – my Dad was a New Jersey State Trooper, his cousin was as well, and other family members were in county and local law enforcement. All were part of The Greatest Generation.
I followed in my father's footsteps and in 1973 became a Jersey Trooper. I graduated from the State Police Academy after three months of resident training, followed by months of on-the-job training riding with a Senior Trooper. Then it was back to the Academy for additional training and ongoing learning for my entire career. That was, and still is, the standard, and while technological advances have been made, the core factor in all the training remains discipline. Discipline is every facet of law enforcement –interactions with the public, investigative attention to detail, following the law, and more.
A Senior Trooper once told me:
"Just because you have a uniform and a badge does not give you the right to be demeaning or abusive... and you will truly know when you are a law enforcement professional, because that will be the day when you give someone a ticket or arrest them and they say ‘thank you’ – not a thank you for what you did, a thank you for how you did it."
My state police career went from being a uniformed Trooper to deep undercover work, infiltrating the Mafia, then an Intelligence Bureau Detective, and finally as an instructor at the Training Bureau. I have taught at law enforcement training centers throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. I have presented at the FBI Academy and taught regularly at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), Glynco, Ga.
I have observed training at all those locations. But what I have observed recently in Minneapolis by ICE Agents does not resemble anything like what is taught. The lack of discipline resembles a roving mob gone out of control.
I have initiated and participated in numerous gun arrests made by one or two cops with no shots fired. What took place with the killing of Alex Pretti was a hard-to-watch, knee-jerk response with deadly force.
How six or more agents are unable to subdue and control one individual is beyond understanding. Pushing people in the chest is learned on the playground, not in police tactics training. One or two agents should be able to subdue and control – not because of being superhuman … because of training!
The Renee Good killing is another example of poor tactics followed by the last resort of force being used as the first option – deadly force – followed by the ICE agent uttering " f---ng bitch " after the shooting and “get out of the f---ing car” when approaching her.
Really? That is professional law enforcement?
Now, why are these non-disciplined, lowest-level actions taking place? Look to the leadership.
The Homeland Security Secretary's immediate response was to proclaim that there was no wrongdoing by ICE Agents. Anyone who has ever been involved with crisis law enforcement work or been on a battlefield understands the "fog of war" concept. It takes time to get the facts, and just because officials rush to state that a person is a “domestic terrorist,” "ran over an agent with a car,” was “brandishing a gun," or “came to massacre law enforcement" doesn’t make it true. Rationalizing behavior rather than investigating facts is not the conventional law enforcement approach.
Law enforcement is a difficult job that does not produce perfection each and every time, yet there has to be an expectation for excellence that comes from tried and tested procedures – not a quota-driven operation looking for numbers versus criminals. Quota systems for enforcement are a 1970s approach.
Courage is not absent of fear; it takes place despite the fear felt, and when fear dominates a law enforcement officer, the result all too often is an over-reaction. Training takes place in a crisis, and the lack of training gets exposed.
Bad behavior does not happen overnight. There is an erosion just like a shoreline that has changed due to erosion – it happens over time.
Hearing politicians say an agent was injured in a prior situation with a vehicle and "you think he may be sensitive" is not justification for deadly force.
A leader’s words matter – they certainly did in 2017 with this message from the top to law enforcement: “When you guys put somebody in the car and you’re protecting their head, you know, the way you put your hand over (their head)," mimicking the motion. "Like, 'Don’t hit their head and they’ve just killed somebody, don’t hit their head. You can take the hand away, OK? Don't be so nice.’ "
When a kid wears a New York Yankee jacket that does not make him a professional baseball player and the same holds true for an FBI windbreaker.
The Commander at Large of Border Patrol throwing a smoke grenade dressed like a storm trooper does not make you a leader.
What we have witnessed is another form of AI ...Arrogance and Incompetence.
ICE needs to reform and undergo a rebranding. It serves an important function within our American system and has worked for years. Making a demand that they “leave” is not realistic. The mission needs to continue, but the current tactics should not. There needs to be a change in leadership, with the selection of true law enforcement career leaders for top-level positions and high-level front-line supervision.
I can only imagine the frustration felt by professional career DHS agents who know this behavior is not the norm for what they represent. There are people in DHS who can help de-escalate and run a true immigration enforcement that has worked for decades.
We need to increase funding, not defund. We need to attract the best talent and, to do so, we need to pay them for the excellence expected. We should reward them for the service and sacrifices they and their families make to ensure safety.
ICE has conducted successful targeted operations for decades. Law enforcement agencies working together allow the agencies to function properly.
If we do not make changes, the positions will be filled, and unfortunately, it will attract those who want to mimic what they see on the streets of Minneapolis.
Both parties – Republican and Democrat – have brought us to this point, and playing the blame game is not the solution. This is an American problem, and we should heed the words of a true leader, President John F. Kennedy: “Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past, let us accept our own responsibility for the future.”
Blessed are the Peacemakers.
Stay safe, all!
Bob Delaney is an author and presents globally on leadership, resilience, trauma awareness and selfcare. He is a highly decorated (retired) New Jersey State Trooper, NBA Referee and NBA V.P. Referee Operations /Director of Officials He has received numerous awards including the U.S. Presidents Volunteer Service Award, Naismith Hall of Fame Human Spirit Award and the NCAA's highest honor - The Theodore Roosevelt Award.
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kmskepton
Yes, both parties may have paved the way, but it’s the Republicans who allowed, and continue to allow, this to go way outside of the lines. Beyond the borders, if you will.
Sunday, February 1 Report this
lib224
When billions and billions of dollars were given to ICE by Republicans and corrupt individuals were put in power, this was inevitable. It will be up to Democrats and a few Republicans who have a conscience to dial it back. We are in effect, living in a police state.
Sunday, February 1 Report this
rayfusco68
Very well written article.
Sunday, February 1 Report this
magstarwire
Very well said Bob. You are a true professional in both your career and your personal life.
Sunday, February 1 Report this
N_Alice_Newlon
By saying "both parties" you are also "playing the blame game". When George Floyd was killed, the Minneapolis police did soul searching and added body cams, additional training and other measures to regain the trust of the community and protect both the citizens and the police. No, they did not defund, nor did they try to stop people from recording and cover up abuse by the police.
There is only one administration that is hiring and not properly training ICE members...and encouraging the arrogant and incompetent behavior. So if we want to drop the blame game, don't use that "both parties' phrase and focus on what this administration can to remedy this unconstitutional and unsafe behavior we are witnessing daily. Focus on both parties can do to assure that this administration does exactly that.
Sunday, February 1 Report this
jimandlope
Very well written and informative. We and “iCE” members should not forget how trump threw the Capital Police under the bus when he pardoned their attackers. They, ICE, should be wary.
Sunday, February 1 Report this
rjckeuka4
Sending Tom Homan to Minneapolis to quell things is like opening the door to the hen house for the fox! Oh, the great administrator makes like it will be calming...but damned, Homan is the architect of the entire I.C.E. operation. Great story by Delaney! That's what PROFESSIONALS do!! And Tom Homan, Kristi or Bovino certainly don't fit the mold!!!
Sunday, February 1 Report this
san.gander
ICE should not exist. Abolish ICE is a valid proposal! They do not have a mission for terrorizing our cities or any persons in them illegal or otherwise! That is what they are doing and people are dying! If ever the Federal government failed at a doing a job miserably (remember Vietnam) this is one of the BIG ones! STOP! No, masked paramilitary in our streets. Trump & Republicans, do you really want to destroy the peoples civil liberties; destroy the Constitution and separation of powers?
Congress reign in this executive, "Monster" of authoritarianism, that you have loosed on this country! Or is it too late? Are you truly powerless, toothless - no longer co- equal? Supreme Court, the same question?
Sunday, February 1 Report this
serenowens
ICE is the Trump form of the KKK
Monday, February 2 Report this
igobye3959
Good article, Mr. Delaney, except for the part about additional funding for ICE. They received $75 Billion and are using it for military grade weapons and surveillance technology to use against American citizens and to terrorize a community. They should be using those dollars for training and improving their recruitment.
Monday, February 2 Report this