Exactly as I said. They don't like the way things are and they don't like the ideas that have been proposed to them for change. I'm not sure we're much different from the fire department or the public health sector, or even government and bureaucrats who work for you. It's difficult to accept that you need to do things differently and significantly differently, not incrementally differently.
I've been on the job for 24 years. You build your career and your reputation based on doing things the way you used to do them. In fact those things are no longer sustainable, and in some cases you need to actually learn new things. It's hard to put that into the context of the individual officer, never mind trying to get it into the context of the entire police service.
Three years ago I started a discussion at the command table about the need for us to invest in social media and utilize social media platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook, and tools such as social media listening for us to do a better job at public safety. The reaction from my peer group was literally laughter. They weren't being mean or disrespectful to me. They just didn't see how that could become a major impact in policing.
In three short years there's been a major impact in policing. Just look at the tragedy that happened down in Boston and how much the Internet was affecting those two young people. Look at how much information might have been available to police and law enforcement, if three years ago, we had been fully invested in the way we're trying to invest now.
The cybercrime issue, the mental health issue, and the prevention focus are all newer approaches to policing. It's going to be hard for leaders and front-line cops to get their heads, their hearts, and their hands fully involved in making those things a priority.