ASSOCIATE Magazine FBINAA Q3-2024

Continued from "A Message from Our Chaplain", on page 30

Continued from "Leadership Without Course Corrections", on page 29

FirstNet serves as America’s Public Safety Network, driving next generation communication and information technology. Trust is everything in leadership and FirstNet has earned the trust of over 27,000 agencies to provide the communication, technology, and leadership to the first responder community. They have delivered and continue to expand the nationwide broadband network for America’s first responders, helping them communicate, save lives, protect our communities. In terms of coverage, FirstNet covers nearly 250,000 square miles not covered by commercial networks. FirstNet is always-on, 24/7, 365 days a year. FirstNet’s “fast lane” for voice and data communications is part of the strategic plan to keep state of the art technologies and capabilities in the hands of those who protect our families and way of life. If leadership in the first responder and public service sectors are waiting to react to an after-action report from the next crisis (that IS coming) to chart a way ahead and identify vulnerabilities, then they have only done a “patch job” on their “Titanic,” and are blindly heading toward the next iceberg. You can trust FirstNet to get you off the “Titanic” on a better, safer, and state-of-the-art “ship” ready to meet the needs of the next storm.

at the time, it was never too late to make amends and forgive the hurt. It turns out Capt. W. had struggled with our experiences for a long time and was now asking for my forgiveness. He and I both lost many years by not accepting each other and we grew apart as a result, but now, by simply forgiving and understanding, we were free of the hurt and anxiety. It was not a bad Lesson Learned for both of us, and I am very grateful and blessed to know he and I found peace. So how does this translate to the stress and challenges facing today’s law enforcement leadership environment, in which our time-honored profession is now undergoing a transformation of fear unlike any time that I have experienced in my over four decades of law enforcement? I return to the questions I asked earlier--are there limits to what we can endure by the ever-changing culture in our leadership? And how can we adapt to the constant threats to our career? Thinking back to what sustained me during that difficult time in my own career, I suppose my message here is – what makes us accept our differences is the will to listen and learn, knowing that whatever challenges we face in our career and our personal lives we cannot navigate effectively without faith . Knowing and believing that our strength comes from God who loves us and is willing to listen to our prayers gives us hope for a new and better day.

FBINAA.ORG | Q3 2024

continued on page 44

God bless,

Mike Hardee Chaplain

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