Boulder City Magazine is a monthly publication full of information about Boulder City and Southern Nevada. Boulder City Magazine features the Boulder City Home Guide, a real estate guide to Boulder City and Southern Nevada.

Boulder City Magazine® December 2009/January 2010 Issue

Cover Story	Spotlight on Business	Tech Tip
Book Watch	BCPD Informer	Your Health
Recreation Zone	Home Care	A Kid's View
Mayor's Brief	Money Matters	Lawyer's Edge
Boulder City History	The Arts	Day Trip'n
Reid Report	Travel Now	Library Corner

BCPD Informer
by John Chase, Deputy Chief
Boulder City Police Department

Integrity

Integrity is defined at dictionary.com as “adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty”. Integrity is at the core of policing. For police departments to be efficient and effective, one’s community must believe they are acting with integrity – even in the face of adversity.

Sir Robert Peel stated in the early 1800s that the police must seek to preserve the public’s favor, not by catering to public opinion, but by constantly demonstrating absolute impartial service to the law.

One of the interesting dynamics of working in the police profession is that I believe there is an assumption by many people that we agree with all of the laws. Nowhere has it ever been written or said that we must agree; however, we certainly must educate and enforce while demonstrating absolute impartiality to the law.

Another one of Sir Robert Peel’s Principles that I find extremely relevant in Boulder City is that the ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon the public approval of police actions. This trust is something that I have treated as a fragile asset that must be handled very carefully. We spend a lot of our time interacting proactively in the community as well as a fair amount of time enforcing laws – establishing a balance is critical. Remember, all of this while demonstrating absolute impartiality to the law.

Law enforcement is continuously becoming a more complex profession. As laws are expanded, court rulings are rendered and technology and communication continue to broaden, one thing is clear – the dynamics of the police profession today will have very few similar characteristics to the profession in 2020.

The police department’s strategic plan is nearing completion, another Citizen’s Police Academy has graduated and you are truly blessed to have some of the best public safety professionals the profession has to offer. Take a few moments to thank them for their service; after all, while you are home enjoying your holiday they will be working the streets to ensure you are safe. Clearly “Service Above Self” says it all.

Have a safe and happy holiday.

John Chase can be reached via his e-mail address at Jchase@bcnv.org.

Boulder City Magazine®
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