Rule Number One

Ask a police officer what rule number one is.

Maybe you’ll get the answer I’m fishing for—this isn’t a literal universal rule in such a way that I can guarantee it—but certainly if you ask around, it won’t take you long to hear someone saying that rule number one is make it home at the end of your shift.

This isn’t intended to be a literal override of the priority of life—we will always put innocents ahead of ourselves. But it is a recognition of the dangers we may face in an eight or ten or twelve hour deployment. It’s a recognition that when it comes down to it, all other considerations take a back seat to making it out alive. (Walk in our circles and you’re likely to hear someone say, “I’d rather be judged by twelve than carried by six.”)

I agree with some of the basic principle—that when you’re worried about making it out of something alive, concerns of looking good, adhering strictly to policy, and keeping your job can’t let you let up on doing whatever it takes. Make it home. But I propose we demote this to rule number two.

Rule number one is be a good person. Continue reading “Rule Number One”