The uselessness of confrontation
By Chief Danny Watson, City of Darlington, Chief of Police
Turmoil, confrontation, disagreement or conflict, whatever you want to call it everyone has it in some form or manner. In law enforcement, one of our greatest challenges is trying to deal with people who are upset about one thing or another. I have always said, “No one is happy about getting a ticket or going to jail.” There may possibly be someone out there that was happy to go to jail. I have not personally met that person.
As the election cycle has finally finished its course, there is still quite a bit of unhappiness swirling about. In fact, there is quite a bit of bickering to go along with that unhappiness. We preach in our society that we should find a way to get along and move toward a common goal. It seems that we are really dead set against that because of our actions.
Our culture will find a way to argue just for the simple pleasure of a good fight sometimes. If you really think about it for just a few moments, what is the purpose of arguing? Honestly, it has no worth at all. If we worked as hard at finding ways to meet in the middle versus finding things we disagree about a lot more of everything would get done.
The election and the resulting unpleasantness have brought sharply into focus the pointlessness of bickering. We have come to a point in elections to where unpleasantness seems to be a mainstay instead of an exception in the process. It has even filtered down to local elections on an unprecedented scale which is discouraging in the extreme. The most despicable things are said and done in the name of this candidate or that candidate. This creates such bitterness that it is very hard to get back to the business of doing what must be done. While leaving the election behind, we are still carrying bags of unpleasantness about with us. Many are so wounded by these dastardly acts they never are truly able to let it go. This is pointlessly counterproductive on a national level and even more so in local elections.
Local government governs locally, and you know your public officials on an intimate basis. These are the people who will do the most for you if you will work with them to find solutions. Decisions that are made locally immediately affect the lives of those in that community. Local law enforcement is part of that governmental function. We are here to help those who are in our jurisdiction and even those who find themselves within that jurisdiction.
Why say all of this? Problems get solved when people work together to get things done. This does not mean that the problems get solved at the expense of others. No decision, no matter how carefully thought out or well-crafted will ever be ideal for everyone. There is a fair chance that the decision can be reached in such a way that it is fair and benefits the most people possible. You notice that it did not include everyone. There are few decisions that can be reached that will not adversely affect at least one person.
I encourage you to remember this when you come to us with a problem that needs to be solved. We do not control the law. We have a fairly good understanding of how it works however. The solution that we come to may not always make you happy. Instead of being angry because of it ask the question as to why it was done the way it was done. These are the same things I encourage you to do at the local level of politics. There is nothing to be afraid of if you have a concern or question get it out. Remember no one can think of everything. It is entirely possible that your question has not been asked before.
When the decision is made there may be a wide variety of things going on. The decision may have to do with the law. The decision may have to do with past precedents. The decision may be the best one that we could come up with at the time of the incident. Sometimes we can help and sometimes we can’t help any more than we already have. There are few times when a plausible answer most everyone can understand will not be found.
The key to this is not that you will suddenly find harmony in everything that is done. The next time an issue arises you will have a new understanding. Receiving an answer is sometimes about asking the right question. If you don’t ask you won’t know. Getting an answer to a specific question leaves people with a much better feeling about what is going on. Even if the answer is not what you wanted to hear at least you would get some closure to your particular issue. Being a part of the solution is actively being involved in helping to get to that solution. In other words, help us to help you.
Chief Danny Watson MPA FBI NA # 228, Chief of Police for City of Darlington, has been on the Darlington Police Department since 1994 and Chief since 2011.
The News & Press will be sharing updates and opinions from Chief Watson on a regular basis; you can also keep up with the department on their Facebook page: Darlington Police Department.