You Deserve Respect! You Earned It!

Scott NicholasI have to say I still have pride in wearing my uniform every time I put it on. I know the current climate around the country is that all law enforcement officers are “bad people” and we are all out running rogue. The truth is that our officers are doing it right!

I wish the public knew the pride our officers have, and the commitment our officers have. I recently went into briefing at SEAC and it was brought to my attention that Nora area only had three officers for the entire shift. It’s hard to tell officers to “take your time on a call” (so they don’t make any mistakes) when they tell you they want to answer as many calls as possible before they secure for the day.

Again, this is who our officers really are! Our people have been doing “more with less” for several years. The officers on this Department are making a difference, and you should all be commended for it. It doesn’t matter what your title is or what division you work in. You are Metro!

It takes a sense of pride and commitment to work your ass off every day knowing the media are criticizing you, the general public is criticizing you and the politicians want to take away the benefits you have earned. These same people will continue to devalue the job you do, and we can’t let that happen!

1/000.01 LVMPD Department Policy; Code of Ethics

AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the Constitutional rights of all men to liberty, equality, and justice.

I WILL keep my private life unsullied as an example to all; maintain courageously calm in the face of danger, scorn or ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others. Honest in thought and deed in both my personal and official life, I will be exemplary in obeying the laws of the land and the regulations of my Department. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that is confided to me in my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless revelation is necessary in the performance of my duty.

I WILL never act officiously or permit my personal feeling, prejudices, animosities or friendships to influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear or favor, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence and never accepting gratuities.

I RECOGNIZE the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and will accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of the police service. I will constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before God to my chosen profession … law enforcement.

You deserve respect! You earned it!