“With cunning they conspire against your people; they plot against those you cherish.”
–Psalm 83:3
Any of you who have been in corrections, probation or law enforcement for any period of time should be able to identify with the above scripture passage.
How often have you had some drunk or person impressed with their own self-importance threaten your job, you or fellow officers our worse of all, your family.
I remember all too well the first time a doper reminded me he knew where I lived; he knew where my wife worked and he knew where my kids went to preschool. It was unnerving. Whether we admit it or not, the job often invades our personal lives at times when we least can afford it.
The media scrutiny, the invasion of our private lives by policies and procedures all tend to be stressors but not to the degree that having some “low life” threaten those who are most important to you. These folks know that if you have a weakness, that attacking those you care about is it and the only power they have over you…especially while they stand there in handcuffs on their way to the gray bar hotel, is to try to get you down to their level.
Our lives are all about authority and control; and the thought of someone like that invading the safety of your family and friends will push your button faster than having to interview a child molester who is trying to convince you that it’s OK to have sex with a 3 year old.
The key word is “control.” Don’t lose your career or freedom over what someone like that might or might not threaten to do to you or your family or friends. Take a deep breath and remember that God won’t give us anything greater to deal with than He knows we can bear. Remember you ARE in control and just document, document and document. Take the steps to put into the record what the person said and then move on.
“Submit yourself to God, resist the devil and he shall flee” –James 4:7
Just as many in which you come into contact daily represents pure evil, if you resist and stay strong, they will flee. Don’t lower yourself to their level of evil. Stay strong and you will prevail.