I realize that my statement may not set well with some people and may arguably be unfair, but it is made based on extensive experience and a fair degree of scar tissue. I hope that my candor and experiences will be helpful to executives as they navigate the often-treacherous territory (sometimes!) of new equipment acquisitions. I have every confidence that my comments and concerns will trigger some memories.
Please do not think that I am denigrating or criticizing those persons who are experts in their respective fields. To the contrary, they are invaluable in so many ways and certainly strong and knowledgeable resources in evaluating and considering which products to acquire, this is especially true in today’s world of multiple product options in just about every product that can be imagined. Going one step further, many people (including myself) feel that we have a great deal of expertise in some critical areas. For me, the key has been (hopefully) recognizing a bias in favor or with reservations about given products and being able to set those biases aside in fair and objective (again hopefully!) product evaluation and selection.
First, let me provide my definition of an expert! Typically, an expert is someone who has somewhat of a passion for a particular item of equipment, such as communications equipment, computers, software programs, firearms, uniforms, vehicles and specialized equipment. I invite each reader to consider these topics and visualize a person or persons who is passionate about these and other often-essential items.
Perhaps the best way for me to illustrate my concerns associated with experts being decision makers is to share some of my own experiences, and the reason why my psyche is covered with scar tissue.
Vehicle Selection
Vehicle enthusiasts typically have favorite makes and models and often gravitate to positions where they understandably seek to influence selections and acquisitions. There are so many products, options, and influencing factors that need be considered in the critical process of selecting the most appropriate vehicles for the agency. The selection process frequently requires multiple individuals, each of whom holds valid opinions and concerns. There is not typically the “perfect” vehicle, but rather somewhat of a compromise “best judgement” based on a variety of factors. This is a process that may well not have been reasonably considered had “the hardcore” vehicle enthusiast solely made the decision.
Emergency Vehicle Hardware
We all (me too!) have our favorite emergency vehicle configuration package. Examples include conspicuous or suppressed lightbars on the roof, emergency lights in the grills, type and degree of caution lights (flashing, direction arrows, etc.) to the rear, side lights, degrees of density, etc. In my experience I have typically deferred to the judgement of those who most often operate emergency vehicles.
Radio Equipment and Dispatch Systems
This topic accounts for a big portion of my scar tissue, and maybe even a tad of PTSD! There are multiple credible companies with great products, and often with aggressive lobbyists who insist that their products are the most appropriate for each application. Most agencies have employees who are radio enthusiasts and who absolutely have favorite products and models. The magnitude of communication product selection is enormous not only because of the initial cost, but because of massive maintenance, replacements, expandability and inter- agency compatibility.
Some of the experiences I personally encountered as the project manager of LAPD’s then new communications system included non-stop insistent input from people considered to be experts. These expects were lobbying on behalf of various elected and appointed public officials who were in turn being lobbied (including campaign contributions) from various major equipment manufacturers. Lobbying strategies included attempted gratuities to me from potential vendors, being shown deceiving performance evaluations, and receiving items that did not perform as promised. Somehow, I managed to survive the process, and the city ended up with a system that has proven to be pretty darn good. Equally as important, it has proven to be expandable as challenges have grown and improved technologies have become available. This experience has caused me to never again be involved in operating at the leading-edge of technology. While we got about 85% of things right, the other 15% was very problematic; I would rather another agency be at the leading edge and benefit from their problematic 15%!
Software Selection
Different people and organizations use and prefer different types and versions of software. When upgrading decisions need to be made, most agencies invariably want to migrate to where they feel the most comfortable and have had the most success, which is understandable. The key is to assemble the key users throughout all aspects of the organization and select the products and versions that best meet the needs of the entire organization. The final decision maker needs to be resolute and prepared for extensive arm-twisting!
Firearm Selection
This has been another challenging area for me personally and has become even more challenging as time has gone on. In my early years in law enforcement, there were realistically only two competitive firearms manufacturers, and the advocates for each were often very passionate in their preferences. Today, there are multiple manufactures of fine firearms, with each again having passionate advocates. Again, the final selection needs to be influenced primarily not by a single advocate, but as the result of a process that takes multiple factors into consideration, such as grip abilities, training factors, maintenance, recoil recovery and manufacturers’ support and likelihood of business success. As with other types of selection processes, strong opinions can be expected.
Ammunition Selection
While not all are always in agreement, this is typically an issue that is usually resolved without as much drama as some of the other contentious issues. Much has to do with the typical terrain of rural versus urban, penetration characteristic of various types of munitions and characteristics of inflicted wounds. This discussion now often involves multiple types of weapons carried in various law enforcement vehicles. Additionally, with certain weapons such as rifles and shotguns, it is not unusual for officers to be equipped with a variety of types of ammunition, depending on the needs of the incidents that might be encountered.
Uniform Selection
Put on your adult britches (pun intended!) for these discussions. A quick glance at any uniform or insignia catalog is all that is necessary to see every preference that can be imagined! I doubt that Solomon and Mother Teresa acting in unison could please everyone with a uniform recommendation. Factors include historical considerations, body armor configurations, climate considerations, wearability and the biggest of all – individual preferences. Another factor is the size of the agency and the costs involved; a four-person department has a much different financial investment that a 10,000-person agency. In terms of my person advice, the best course of action is much reflection and much employee input. This is not a decision that should be made by a new chief based on personal preferences. We have all seen instances where the new chief wants a new uniform, patch, badge, (or all the above) that are similar or identical to a previous agency. On a humorous note, I will never forget some of the agencies I have visited where the chief or sheriff looked like a third world leader with more stars, bars, medals and accoutrements that I thought existed. While in the eyes of the individual beholder, these costumes disguised as uniforms did not impress me!
Summary
I hope my thoughts, opinions and personal experiences will be of value to those who are following me in the leadership trenches. Many equipment acquisitions may seem simple issues which lend themselves to easy and simple resolution. Most often, such acquisition processes are neither simple nor easy. They are and can become very troublesome, expensive and divisive issues. Further, an equipment acquisition based on the opinion of a single “expert” that can have horrible and expensive implications on future needs, compatibility and budgets. In summary, go into your closets and storage areas and look at the things that are no longer in use because they were not selected or acquired based on a logical processes. Finally, remember that it is always good to learn from your mistakes, but even better if you can learn from the experiences and scar tissue of others – including mine!
Keith Bushey retired from the Los Angeles Police Department as a commander, from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department as a deputy chief, and from the United States Marine Corps Reserve as a colonel. Other law enforcement experience includes having served as a Los Angeles County deputy sheriff, a State of California deputy game warden, and as the Marshal of San Bernardino County. He is an instructor emeritus for the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association and has lectured and written extensively in the areas of leadership, management and ethics. His entire eight booklet Leadership Series is in the public domain and may be downloaded without cost from KeithBushey.com. He may be contacted at KDBS255@AOL.COM