Police sergeants arguably face one of the most challenging roles within any department. From serving as field supervisor on duty or simply higher-paid patrol officers, police sergeants shoulder an immense amount of responsibility.
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1. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Police officers face many stresses in their jobs, and it is understandable if they become frustrated and angry from time to time. But it is crucial that police officers remember that anger management is a skill they can learn – acting impulsively during moments of anger could result in irreparable damage – so it is vitally important that police officers reach out for assistance if needed.
As a police sergeant, it can be easy to become overinvested in one’s job. Sometimes this overinvestment manifests in negative and dysfunctional behaviors which aren’t always due to personal failings; often due to family difficulties, work pressure or health concerns.
Ler Htoo, of Saint Paul police sergeant Ler Htoo is proud to serve his community as its inaugural Karen officer and hopes that more Karen officers can encourage younger members of their ethnic group to pursue law enforcement careers and make law enforcement more inclusive. You can support MPR News today so we can keep providing courageous journalism and honest dialogue – free from paywalls or barriers!
2. Don’t be afraid to listen.
Officers should recognize the need for some individuals who pose threats to others to simply vent, without becoming violent. Officers should learn how to recognize when someone may become angry and take proactive steps such as controlled breathing techniques or de-escalation techniques to keep them safe.
Officers must strive to actively listen for useful information, rather than simply verbalized frustrations. Too often officers miss key details of situations by spending too much time speaking – this could be disastrous; an irate suspect or victim might tell you something not directly about yourself that could reveal illegal activity – this tip should be heard with equal importance as what they are telling you directly about themselves. Listen for any tip or information from them as well as to anything they tell you directly about themselves.
Ed Flosi, a retired police sergeant with over three decades of experience both militarily and locally across the US and internationally, specializes in force options training. As president of Justitia Consulting and principal instructor with PROELIA Defense & Arrest Tactics he remains at the forefront of law enforcement education and practice.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
As a police sergeant dealing with an angry Karen, it’s crucial that police officers ask questions to gain more information and make a decision whether or not to intervene in her situation. Furthermore, asking questions helps officers overcome feelings of reluctance to act and use conflict resolution skills instead to defuse potentially violent interactions.
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Ler Htoo, St. Paul’s first Karen police officer and leader at the Karen Organization of Minnesota. He believes having representation within his department has made a difference for younger members of his community.
4. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
When dealing with an angry Karen, it’s important to remember that although you cannot control what other people do and say, you can control yourself. Focusing on positive things in your life will lessen their power to trigger anger in others and yourself, and help reduce its occurrence altogether. As well as mastering anger yourself and becoming less reactive.
Although its roots lie in black internet culture, the “Karen” meme has been widely denounced as misogynist by real women. Julie Bindel, a UK feminist commentator compared its usage to that seen during Birds of a Feather TV sitcom when using names Sharon and Tracy were often used to disparage working class women on TV sitcom.
Minneapolis-based police officer Robert Manar notes that those coerced into police roles by family, community or the government often don’t have much choice about where they work; yet they still can make an impactful contribution: “They’re doing their best with what they have,” said Robert of his fellow officers from St Paul’s largest ethnic minority group — Karens — promoted to sergeant status this week – including Ler Htoo, one of whom became St Paul’s inaugural Karen officer and leader within the Karen Organization of Minnesota.
