PoliceUSA Today Blog

Security Guard Honors

2012-02-04T17:05:11Z

As a police funeral coordinator and, in retirement, a security company operations manager, I have had experience with this topic. However, I have never had to make the decision I will present for consideration.

The questions is, If your agency has an honor guard and a private security guard is killed in the line-of-duty within your jurisdiction and the security company asks for your honor guard to perform full honors at the funeral service, will you? How will you define “in the line-of-duty?” What criteria will have to be met? Or will you provide honors carte blanche as a community service?

Although I haven’t personally experienced this type of situation I have read about it. So agencies are being asked to provide this service and to make this type of decision. Therefore, I think it is pertinent to ask the question. It could happen to you.

As a funeral coordinator I know that there is a specific definition applied to officers who are “killed in the line-of-duty.” I also know that some agencies apply a very wide interpretation of that definition for officer’s funerals.

As a security company manager I know that I have “guards” who would meet that definition if they were killed while performing their duties. So, as a company manager I would not hesitate to ask a local agency to provide honors for a specific type of incident that met the killed in the line-of-duty definition.

As an agency honor guard supervisor I would fulfill any appropriate request. However, I also believe that this decision would be contested by some agency members, including agency managers.

Again, as a security company manager I believe there is a stereo typical belief that “security guards” are substandard to “real police officers” and therefore not worthy of our “honors ceremonies.”

I know that security companies provide security at locations the local police department cannot protect fulltime. Many of these locations are high risk because of past incidents or the high potential of criminal activity, especially robberies. Security agents assigned, at least from the company I worked for, were state certified, well trained, experienced, well supervised and well equipped. We expected them to perform their protection and enforcement duties in a professional manner. This included realizing when they were at a disadvantage and not to jeopardize their safety because they were often alone and local police were the only backup.

However, this is not a discussion about tactics or officer safety. But the acceptance that the death of a security guard who is killed in the line-of-duty should be considered equal to a police officer’s death when it comes to providing honors ceremonies.

But, there is an alternative. Agencies can loan their equipment and train a security company honor guard to perform the flag fold and rifle salute. Taps would likely have to be played by the agency unless they have a computer chip bugle.

So, once again, new situations arise that have not been confronted before. New questions are being asked from police agency funeral coordinators and their honor guards. As more and more protection and enforcement activities are assumed by security companies the likelihood of this type of situation occurring increases.

So if it happens to you, what will your answer be? What criteria will you establish? You will need to be prepared to justify your decision, either way.

John Cooley
Policefunerals.com

The "WOW" Factor

2011-12-16T19:03:25Z

I was recently watching a line-of-duty funeral being broadcast live on the internet. The church held several thousand people and by the time the services began was full, standing room only. The only empty seats were the ones reserved for the immediate family, who would follow the casket in, and the agency, who would march in after the casket and family procession.

As the casket and family procession entered the church everyone stood. I know it’s a show of respect and often marks the beginning of a religious service, but there have been times when I was part of the team planning the entrance procession and there was no discussion about the audience standing or being seated. The procession and audience involvement was traditional or part of a religious rite or just a past practice. I often offered my opinion of a different role for the audience.

The role of the audience during the entrance procession is often never discussed because the procedure is considered traditional or part of a religious service.

I know there are few absolutes in planning a police funeral. The role of the audience during the entrance procession is often never discussed because the procedure is considered traditional or part of a religious service. What I often offered was, “Food for Thought.”

In a church the size of this funeral, the number of people attending, especially in uniform, was impressive, if not awe inspiring. When the family followed the casket into the church and down the aisle and everyone was standing, all the family could see were the people standing next to the aisle as they passed by. It was like being in a tunnel. The family really couldn’t visualize the enormity of the event. They couldn’t recognize the diverse number of agencies present. They couldn’t appreciate what an awe inspiring event this was. And because of the manner that they would enter and leave the church they would likely never really know or comprehend what a sight it was to behold. They wouldn’t realize the “WOW” factor.

I would have suggested that the master of ceremonies have everyone sit down as the casket and the family processed in.

John CooleyThis is my reasoning:

I don’t think it’s disrespectful for the audience to sit as the casket escort procession, the immediate family and agency, enter and are seated, for two reasons. First, I want the family and agency members to see and realize the enormity of the funeral. I want them to see all the officers present. I want them to realize not only how many are there but why they are there, to give significance to the deceased officer’s life and career.

Secondly, I want the officers in the audience to see the flag draped casket and family members and agency members enter the church. When everyone is standing and the casket and family and agency members enter, the majority of those standing can’t see anything but the backs of the heads of those in front of them. They dutifully stand there until the processional is concluded and haven’t seen anything. I want them to participate in the procession by seeing what is happening and those that are involved.

I want them to watch the flag draped casket being escorted into the church. This has significant meaning to everyone in attendance. I want them to watch the agency members march in and be seated because they all know that it could be them. They should see it happening. I want them to see the immediate family, not just the backs of their heads after they are seated. This is an important aspect of the service also, for these officers from other agencies to actually see the wife, children and parents they have only read or heard about. I want to personalize the funeral and this is one important step to make that happen.

I have talked to various clergy members about having the audience seated during the entrance procession, even if it’s traditionally part of their religious service. They said they had never been asked that question before and after hearing my reasoning for it said it was not a problem, only a slight modification to the service ritual that could be easily accommodated. Some said it was not part of the religious service but just a tradition or past practice and could easily be implemented, especially if in an auditorium.

Funeral coordinators need to evaluate every aspect of the funeral. The entrance procession may need to be looked at from a different perspective, one that meets the needs of the surviving family and the officers in attendance. Does the traditional processional entrance need to be modified? If so, can it be? If you have a legitimate reason to do it, then try to do it. If you can, then do it. If you can’t, that’s okay, because you evaluated your options and make an informed decision.

There are few absolutes. If the service is held in a church or auditorium that has tiered seating and when everyone stands they can see the entrance procession, then there is no need for them to sit. But again, some churches have a sloped seating area, not tiered, and it is not sufficient to allow people standing to see the procession. So they still need to sit.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Ask why the processional is being done a certain way if it doesn’t meet your needs. Ask if it can be modified. You may learn that “Well, it’s always been done this way…” and “Yes, it can be modified…” Don’t hesitate to offer an alternative plan, along with your reasoning for it. Don’t forget the audience who will likely be expecting to stand for the processional. Insure the master of ceremonies announces not only what will be done but why it is being done.

A simple modification for the processional can have a significant affect on everyone in attendance, the surviving family, agency members, and the officers in attendance. I want the surviving family and everyone else in attendance to appreciate what is taking place.

A simple thing like having people sit during the processional entrance and permitting the family to see the audience, actually see them, can make a significant difference. Having the attendees actually watch the casket and family being escorted into the church and placed and seated has significant meaning. As a coordinator I want to try to insure the meaning is not lost in the crowd. I want the family to walk in and say “WOW.”

John Cooley
Policefunerals.com

Police. Who Needs Them?

2011-11-18T04:07:37Z

JPA Podcast

2011-11-02T19:58:31Z

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7 Deadly Mistakes

2011-11-02T19:37:02Z

Online Police Academy

2011-11-01T23:56:14Z

Online Police Academy

For over ten years the Online Police Academy has provided America’s law enforcement professionals with authoritative and engaging distance learning opportunities — from “Perspectives on Terrorism” to “Violence on School Campuses”. Featuring courses written by recognized experts in their field, each of our distinguished instructors either conducts courses in resident universities, professional training facilities, state certified police academies, or is a department training office.

A Brief History

Formerly a division of the Smith & Wesson Academy, the ONLINE POLICE ACADEMY was originally founded by Bill Clede. When management at S&W de-emphasized training, Bill started looking for a new home for OPA. This search took on an urgency when Bill became terminally ill.

A longtime member of AAPO, Bill turned to our organization which was already in the process of developing web-based training courses. It was a natural for our organization to assume the operation of this important educational resource for law enforcement officers.

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”The world is changing rapidly and law enforcement is no exception,” said David Dierks, Executive Officer. “There, however, an ‘old school’ wisdom in Bill’s body of work that is timeless. Indeed, the wisdom of law enforcement professionals is at the core of all our programming.”

(While OPA courses are conducted by recognized or state-certified instructors, at this time they do not confer college credits or Continuing Education Units. It is your responsibility to file a copy of the certificate with your state agency to seek its addition to your training record. Our courses will not certify you as a police officer, to become a police officer you will have to attend a certified training academy in your state.)

Video Update

2011-10-29T18:26:29Z

Waiting at the Memorial Park

2011-10-27T05:40:42Z

It seems like such a mundane topic to write about but this is one of the funeral coordinators responsibilities that can unintentionally cause a significant amount of distress for the surviving family. The family has attended the funeral services and been taken in the motorcade to the memorial park and are waiting for the interment services and ceremonies to begin.

When the funeral is being attended by thousands of officers and hundreds of vehicles are in the motorcade it typically takes over an hour, often a couple of hours, for the vehicles to be parked and the officers to be placed in their formation. So what does the family do? What does the family need? How do we prepare the family for the delay to be seated? By pre-planning!

Two days before the interment we need to inform the family about what they will be experiencing so that they will know what to expect. They, the immediate and extended family members, need to understand that it will take an hour or more to get everything ready. Then we need to insure that we arrange for everything the family wants or will likely need. We need to plan for refreshments, snacks, and restrooms.

This waiting period would be an opportune time for VIP’s and dignitaries attending the interment services to visit with the family. They are typically parked soon after the family’s arrival and it is a convenient time for them to be introduced to the family. There is much that can be done, should be done and will need to be done and it all has to be carefully choreographed and scheduled.

John CooleyWhen the family wants refreshments or needs to use the restrooms is not the time to introduce visitors. Visitations are scheduled at the family’s convenience and only for short periods of time. Another option is to coordinate an opportunity for the family to mingle with the agency members, who are also waiting.

These waiting periods can easily go from one to two hours. The funeral coordinator needs to insure that the family members are well taken care of and not left to care for themselves. However, who ever cares for them must be able to solve problems and make certain decisions. Children may need to be entertained or allowed to play outdoors. Appropriate toys or games should be brought with them. Caretakers may need to be assigned.

Many memorial parks have the family brought to their business offices that have waiting rooms and restrooms. At other times the family is with the limousines at the grave site. If the family is at the grave site planning may include shade awnings, chairs, refreshments and arrangements to take people to and from the restrooms, vehicles may be needed.

I had a family tell me, after waiting two hours, that they were tired of waiting for all the officers to arrive and wanted the services to begin. We seated the family and started the services. The family’s wishes are paramount. We had a good plan but were overwhelmed by the number of officers attending.

We had significantly more then we expected. The memorial park parking was inadequate and by the time we got the last of the vehicles parked in alternate parking areas and the officers walked to the gravesite, the services and ceremonies were basically over. These things happen.

But as funeral coordinators we need to insure that the family members will be well taken care while they are waiting for the parking of cars and the officers to walk to the gravesite. It is unacceptable, as I have seen many times, for families to be seated inside the limousines or standing around the vehicles just waiting. They have personal needs that must be taken care of or anticipated.

The waiting period at the memorial park is a carefully planned time period. Every funeral coordinator must insure the family’s needs are anticipated or fulfilled. Two days before the services the family should be asked how they want to fill the waiting period and what they would like or need. Then make it happen.

It is not a mundane planning task, the “no-brainer.” It is very important and can cause the family sever distress and anxiety if not properly planned for. Coordinators need to take it seriously. It’s what we do. We plan for every part of the services, including the waiting periods.

John Cooley
Policefunerals.com

Does the Highway Patrol Keep Us Safe?

2011-09-17T17:19:00Z

Economist Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, co-authors of Freakonomics, weigh in on the question of highway safety.

Most government programs have some sort of constituency that will fight to the bitter end to keep the money flowing. However, it is probably safe to say that few voters will take to the streets to defend their right to be arrested, fined, and temporarily blinded by a flashlight.

So in these rough budgetary times, maybe the highway patrol would be a good place to start chopping. Virginia and Michigan have already done so, laying off substantial numbers of state troopers, and Illinois recently came very close. Might this be a win-win, saving us both money and aggravation?

On the other hand, the highway patrol exists for a reason: theoretically, by deterring dangerous driving, it’s supposed to keep us safer on the roadways. Does it?

Greg DeAngelo and Benjamin Hansen have written an interesting working paper on this subject that takes advantage of some nice data. They also cite Freakonomics’ own Levitt multiple times, so you know they must be smart.

As Levitt and Dubner discussed in Freakonomics, it’s tough to determine the effect hiring police has on crime rates, due to what’s called the “simultaneity” of causation. We might suppose police deter crime. But ironically, we often see lots of police in high-crime areas, not because police cause crime, but because crime causes police—that is to say, high-crime jurisdictions are likely to hire lots of police officers. So if we want to study the true effect police have on crime rates, we need to somehow factor in the reverse causation.

Levitt has dealt with this problem using an “instrumental variable” approach. This involves finding a variable that is related to the number of police officers but not the number of crimes. He used the election cycle, which is related to police staffing levels (grandstanding politicians tend to hire more police in election years). Presumably, the point in the election cycle has very little to do directly with how much crime is going on, except through its influence on police staffing levels. Using this approach, Levitt and others have found what we would expect: the crime rate goes down in election years, when more police are on the beat.

There is, however, another way to get at this problem—use of an experiment. Ideally, what we’d like to do is take two very similar cities, order one of them to hire more police while forbidding the other from doing so, and then see what happens. While we’re at it we might also want to train their mayors to salivate when we ring a bell, just for fun. But unfortunately we don’t get to do these experiments because urban planners don’t yet rule the world.

But once in a while we get a second-best opportunity, when a city (or state) voluntarily makes a substantial change in the size of its police force, giving us a chance to see what then happened. This is called a “natural experiment,” and one took place in Oregon in 2003.

In that year, the Oregon Legislature mandated an approximately 35 percent cutback in state highway patrolmen for budget reasons. What effect did this have on accident rates?

DeAngelo and Hansen report that in the three years after the layoffs, statewide traffic fatalities rose by 19 percent, incapacitating injuries rose by 14 percent, and visible injuries rose by 12 percent compared to the three year period before. This is especially striking given that, nationwide, the fatality rate per vehicle mile traveled actually fell by 3.7 percent during the period under study.

Other characteristics that might have to do with accident rates—miles driven, precipitation, snowfall, and the number of young drivers on the roads—stayed about the same before and after the layoffs.

Summary statistics of this type can be misleading, so the authors used some fancy econometrics, the details of which I won’t bore you with. The upshot is that, controlling for other factors, for each one percent drop in the number of state troopers, road deaths on highways outside of cities (where state troopers do most of their work) rose about 0.32 percent, incapacitating injuries rose about 0.23 percent, and visible injuries rose about 0.26 percent.

Enforcement appears to have the greatest effect in dry weather conditions, outside of cities and in the summer—that is, precisely when we’d expect speeding to be the most prevalent, and thus where the presence of troopers should have the biggest impact.

Another important effect: after Oregon laid off the troopers, doughnut and coffee consumption in the state dropped 2.3 percent. (Just kidding).

The authors also looked at state trooper levels in Washington state and Idaho from 1979-2005, and—controlling for other factors like mandatory seat belt laws, speed limits and young and old drivers—they found very similar effects. Again, the biggest impact was outside of city limits and in dry weather.

Counterfactuals are always a tough business, but according to the data and the authors’ calculations, if Oregon state trooper levels had stayed at their 1979 levels (in terms of officers per mile driven on the highways), about 3,800 road fatalities might have been prevented between then and now. That’s about one and a quarter 9/11s.

Granted, hiring more troopers would have been expensive—in Oregon, putting one in the field costs about $100,000 per year. And Oregon would have needed 1,159 patrolmen in 2005 to match 1979 per-mile-driven levels, as opposed to the 250 that were actually working in 2005.

But the investment would have been worth it: the authors find more patrolmen would have cost about $320,000 per life saved, a real bargain given that economists generally value human life much higher than this. And those savings don’t even count other kinds of injuries and property damage that might have been averted.

This suggests that cutting state troopers is penny-wise but pound-foolish. I know cash is tight these days, but if we can find tens (hundreds?) of billions for a program that is penny-foolish and pound-foolish—high-speed rail—we surely should be able to find a way to keep our roads decently patrolled. Using the $100,000 figure, the $45 billion (optimistically) we’re planning to spend building just the California portion of HSR is enough to support the entire force of about 7,300 California highway patrolmen for over 60 years (and plenty more, assuming a decent rate of return on capital, since the savings for HSR would come now and the troopers would be paid over many years).

In my opinion, it’d be better to keep our state police budgets intact—even if it means we all have to spend plenty of time practicing our stories about being late for flights and having medical emergencies—than take the chance that many more people will die on our roads.

A Dedicated Employee Is A Dedicated Employee

2011-09-08T00:48:34Z

Should active duty civilian employees who die, from any cause, be provided some sort of honors ceremonies? Is so, what? If not, why not? Know the question gets even more complicated. Do civilian employees who wear a uniform, such as dispatchers, parking enforcement, desk officers, and jailors, deserve more consideration then those who don’t? Does a secretary deserve more consideration than a clerk? What about custodians and mechanics? Do managers deserve more than those who aren’t? And the list goes on.

A dedicated employee is a dedicated employee, sworn or civilian. Although a full honors ceremony, rifle salute, Taps, and flag fold, may not be appropriate there are ceremonies that can be performed, and rightfully so. As with any funeral planning protocol, what the family wants is paramount. My experience has been that civilian employee’s families didn’t expect any sort of honors ceremonies performed at the service. However, when I discussed the potential to do specific ceremonies for them some accepted the offer and some declined the offer.

Remember, funerals are for the living. Families who declined the offer didn’t think a paramilitary style honors ceremony was appropriate for their funeral service. It was their decision. Those who accepted my offer were very appreciative and typically stated how working for the department was just as important to their deceased family member as any sworn member of the department.

For civilian department members who did not wear a uniform I typically offered a casket flag and flag fold by two honor guard members. The U.S. Flag Code permits any citizen to have a national flag as a casket flag. The fold and presentation symbolized the commitment and dedication the employee demonstrated to the department, its mission, objectives and values. If the employee wore a uniform, such as dispatchers, front desk officers, parking enforcement etc., I also offered Taps. I didn’t offer the rifle salute.

When it came to providing honors I classified all civilian employees as the same. Managers, supervisors, secretaries, clerks, custodians, mechanics etc. were all dedicated employees. I wasn’t going to impose a value or rating system on their importance to the department.

John CooleyRegardless if there would be any sort of honors ceremonies provided I always offered the family the same management and coordination service as I did for sworn. They always appreciated having someone manage the service and provide the support they needed to cope with the complexities involved. Typically only minimally aware of the paramilitary culture of the department they were often surprised at how the service was managed. Having the uniformed officer’s march in and sit in a predetermined location impressed them. Having the chief or the employee’s commanding officer give a eulogy was another unexpected part of the service. Having uniformed officers perform a hand salute as a final gesture of respect was something they would remember for ever. It’s often the little things that mean so much. \

So as funeral coordinators we need to be aware of the special ceremonies we can provide for our civilian employees. They deserve many of the “honors ceremonies” we typically reserve for our sworn officers. They deserve the support and management services of the funeral coordinator and agency. A dedicated employee is a dedicated employee.

John Cooley
Policefuneerals.com