FBINAA Associate Magazine Oct/Dec 2021

We never know how much we value first responders until we need them. We take them for granted until that moment comes, it may not be a conscious as we go about our lives, but when the moment comes we realize how lucky we are to have an emergency response system. Wherever we are, we can dial those 3 numbers and help is on the way. T hen it happens, you wake in the middle of night, your child is screaming, panicking and can’t breathe. You’re helpless, you don’t know what to do, you panic, and emotions run high. You call 911 and they come. You’re scared, you don’t know what’s happening but people you don’t know are there for you. They signed up to be there for you in your time of need and experiencing it is something we don’t ever forget. As a law enforcement professional for over 20 years, I can tell you that even in my position we can all get complacent about how lucky we are to have these services. It all starts with the phone call; our dispatchers are under appreciated in our society because most EVERY INTERACTION MATTERS RYAN COLUMBUS

don’t realize how vital they are as the first line of defense in our emergency response system. It always starts with dispatchers. Police, Fire and EMS cannot do what they do without them. Dispatchers and first responders are there for us in our worst moments, the moments we never forget. We don’t forget what the dispatcher said to us, the faces that arrive at our door and how they treated us. This is an important reminder to all of us who are in these professions; people who call us may only call us once in their lifetime and make no mistake, they remember us for the rest of their life. You know the feeling, someone is looking at you while you are off duty and you don’t know why, but they do. I won’t forget those who came into my home to help my son, ever, and how they treated us. I am forever grateful. As emergency workers, we go onto the next call and the next after that, going to thousands of calls, but we need to remember the effect we have on people based on how we treat them. We need to emphasize this as leaders to our people. Sounds simple, right? We hear buzz words like procedural justice and impartial policing, which are great, but let’s keep it simple, let’s remember the effect we can have in a positive way just by treating people the way we want to be treated. Whether we are answering the phone, the front desk or responding to their worst moments in life, our actions matter in the smallest of ways and we do make a difference with each and every interaction. As Chief, I’ve been asked what I am looking for in new police officers and I always say the same thing, I’m looking for good human beings, first and foremost. If we start there we will be in a good place to ensure we treat people the right way on every inter- action. This came full circle when the young officer that I recently hired came into my home to help my son. It’s comforting knowing good people want this job and have a calling to help others.

About the Author: Serving over 20 years in law enforce- ment, Ryan M. Columbus is currently Chief of Police of the Tweksbury Police Department (MA). He holds a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice and is a graduate of FBI National Academy #255.

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