Robert Harris

There is no denying social media has become an integral part of our lives. It has shaped the way we communicate and interact with the world around us. It’s used for everything from marketing to dating, and has even spawned its own career field. We have the power of instantaneous interaction with family and friends and our lives are lived in an endless cycle of status updates. The promise of social media is connection. So, why do I feel we are more disconnected than ever?

From the beginning of my term last year, my goal has been to help the League develop in three key ways. First, I want the League to increase in strength, respect and results. Second, I want to expand the League’s influence at the local, state and national levels. Finally, I want to grow the business of the League so that future Boards have the resources necessary to achieve the first two goals.

One of my goals through my monthly Director article has been to communicate the uniquely important role I believe worldviews play in our lives. Both professionally and personally. Individually and collectively. What we deem to be “true” informs the morals, values and principles we subscribe to. It is what our identity is rooted in and where we find worth. The way we interpret the world around us and our individual experiences form the lens we filter life through.

A potentially brighter future is on the horizon for law enforcement. Recently, Attorney General Jeff Sessions released a memorandum in “Support of Federal, State, Local and Tribal Law Enforcement.” This memo sets forth several principles aimed at promoting a peaceful and lawful society. Several of these principles are as follows:

As I sit to write my article this month, I can honestly say there are no shortages of topics to choose from. Among the Department, the City of Los Angeles and the State of California, there are a plethora of issues to tackle. There are so many, in fact, I find it hard to decide which one to tackle. Should my topic be Department policy issues and the administrative terrorism they wage against you?

Over the last year, my intention with each article has been to introduce, promote or critique topics in a unique and thought-provoking way. I strive to be measured and reasoned in my approach and avoid subjective emotional rhetoric. Up to this point, I have avoided writing an article that was purely a membership update. Well, I guess there is a first time for everything.

Law enforcement as of late has become the most recent victim of statistics. It is often empirical evidence that’s used to club police agencies into federal submission and that empowers activists and civilian overseers alike. But are statistics all that they are cracked up to be? Are they accurate representations of the world around us, or are they merely our perceptions rooted in subjective experiences? Recently, a good friend sent me information on this very topic.