Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol
Zero-Based Law Enforcement
Part Nineteen
Being a law enforcement officer is different from most other occupations. You witness some of the worst aspects of humanity as well as some of the best efforts showing the compassion of humans.
Much of the time, you will do what you do in your job as a law enforcement officer knowing that it may seem to be a thankless job.
On occasion, you will get praise for the wonderful things you may do during the day. Delivering a baby. Rescuing a person in distress. Apprehending a person who just stole a purse from a woman walking down a street. Playing basketball with a group of kids.
But, much of the time, your day will be filled with duties that may tilt towards boredom, with occasional bursts of activities that may make scenes from television crime shows seem tame compared to reality.
You have the power – literally, the power – of life and death in your hands. You may need to use that power based on a split-second decision.
Even if you strive to do everything possible to perform your job well, you will be second-guessed. Your decisions will be critiqued. Criticized. Condemned.
Sometimes, that criticism is valid. Even necessary.
But sometimes, that criticism misses the mark.
People will demand perfection from you. That perfection will be one based on their views of perfection, not necessarily what is possible given the circumstances.
People who you have depended on for support – and people you have supported – will abandon you.
With silence.
With back-handed praise.
With criticism.
You – and your loved ones – know that you may not return home from work on any given day.
If that day does come for you, you know that the news reports will highlight your family. Your spouse or significant other. Your children. Your parents. Your siblings.
News reports will stress the inherent danger of being a law enforcement officer.
In most cases, there will be no negative news coverage of you.
Instead, the people on whom you have depended for support – and people you have supported – will recognize you for your service to the public.
It's always been amazing to see how people – people who avoid thanking those who serve while those individuals are alive – will honor the individuals when they lie in a coffin or their ashes are in an urn.
And yet, given all of this reality, men and women put on the uniform every day to provide service to the public.
There is no way that perfection is possible nor is there is any way to stop criticism.
There are ways to maximize the possibilities of the best outcomes and to minimize the criticism.
Through Zero-Based Law Enforcement, standards to become – and more importantly, to remain – a law enforcement officer would be raised.
Key aspects of these higher standards:
Individuals would need to be able to put aside their personal attitudes toward specific persons and specific groups of people as they engage in law enforcement duties by treating all with respect.
Individuals would need to have the temperament to be able to go from situation to situation and begin fresh in each.
Individuals would need to be able to take abuse – verbal abuse – without reaction.
Individuals would need to be able to show no favoritism to people regardless of position.
Individuals would need to know when it's necessary for them to take a break from the duties of the job.
Individuals would need to be able to take constructive criticism with grace.
Individuals would need to be able to take praise with humility.
Individuals would need to be physically able to perform their duties at the start of their career as well as throughout their career.
Individuals would need to be in good health at the start of their career as well as throughout their career.
Individuals who are currently law enforcement officers and do not meet these higher standards would not be eligible to remain as law enforcement officers in Zero-Based Law Enforcement.
Individuals who are currently law enforcement officers and do meet these higher standards would be eligible to be considered as law enforcement officers in Zero-Based Law Enforcement.
Individuals who are chosen as law enforcement officers in Zero-Based Law Enforcement would need to be able to identify and report other law enforcement officers who do not meet these higher standards.
Law enforcement entities would need to be able to offer supportive services through Zero-Based Law Enforcement to all law enforcement officers – those that strive to meet these higher standards as well as those that struggle to meet these higher standards – with the goal being to have all law enforcement officers meet these higher standards.
The next news column in this series on Zero-Based Law Enforcement will focus on how community involvement is critical for law enforcement entities.
Peirspictiochtai Ar A Saol – Gaelic – Irish – for "Perspectives On Life" is a column focused on aspects of accountability and responsibility as well as ways people look at life.
Contact Richard McDonough at
© 2026 Richard McDonough
