Good evening, and thank you so much for inviting me to share this important milestone in your lives.
Tonight, you begin a new career and a new life as Baltimore County police officers. Looking out across this room, we can see the significance of this written on your faces. There is pride and satisfaction - and rightly so; for you have proven yourselves physically, emotionally and intellectually fit for one of the most difficult jobs there is.
Your families share your accomplishment tonight, for they have supported you all through the hard months of study and training. They will continue to support you and, in many ways, to live the job as you live it. There will be nights when they worry for you ... holidays when they''ll miss you ... days when they'll grieve with you over one of the tragedies that police officers inevitably face.
There is no training for any of this. Wives and husbands, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters - you can only give your love and unconditional support. Today, you become a part of the larger police family.
Besides pride, we see your excitement. You are facing a new challenge, and you are eager to get to work.
We also see earnestness, optimism and hope. It's clear that you believe in what you are about to do. You have the look of people who have chosen a cause as well as a profession. You want to make a difference in people's lives, and you have faith that you can make a difference.
I want to talk to you for a few minutes this evening about how important it is that you never lose that faith or that desire.
You know, effective policing doesn't magically result from good training and state-of-the-art equipment; it requires a true partnership between law enforcement and the community. This partnership requires that you care about, trust and respect the citizens you serve ... and that they care about, trust and respect you. Your future success not only depends on how well you enforce the law; it also depends on how well you build this relationship.
Doing that will require effort on your part. Police work by its very nature breeds cynicism. The rest of us live our lives largely insulated from the darker side of human behavior. You will not. Sometimes you will come face to face with the worst that people can do to each other.
This will be difficult for you, and, if you are not careful, it can change you in ways that will hurt you as an officer. It can make you disillusioned. It can make you contemptuous of people. It can make you behave in a manner that makes others contemptuous of you. It can hurt your credibility both in the community and in the judicial system.
Fortunately, you are joining a quality police department that knows how to avoid these pitfalls. As you know, I spent 16 years as a Circuit Court judge here in Towson. I observed many police officers over that long period of time, including many from Baltimore County. With very few exceptions, our county police conduct themselves with the dignity the job demands - as I know you will also. They show respect for the people as well as the law. Their testimony in court has value because judges recognize their integrity. You have good role models, and a high standard to live up to.
We expect you to do that. Policing is not merely about doing a job. It's not just about getting the bad guys. Law enforcement that is strong, fair and sensitive to the feelings and rights of citizens helps us achieve a greater goal: to make our communities stronger.
Tonight, you become police officers; you also become community builders. The impressions people have of you will reflect on the Baltimore County Police Department and on our government. By comporting yourselves well and by responsibly exercising the tremendous powers to given you under the law, you cultivate the public confidence and consequently make local law enforcement more effective.
Remember: our citizens are our advocates. You will need their cooperation and support. The overwhelming majority of the people we serve are honest, upstanding citizens; do not let the few who are not taint your view of the communities that are depending on you to protect them.
A few minutes ago I noted that part of your job means witnessing the worst that people can do. I should add that it also will let you see the best that people can do. You will see good men and women stand up to those who would do them and their neighbors harm. You will see people willing to take risks for each other. You will experience the grateful nod of appreciation from someone you helped, and feel the awe of children who see you as their hero. You will know small acts of kindness and great acts of courage.
You have chosen a difficult road, but one that leads to a deeply rewarding destination. If you do it right, you really will make a difference.
Again, congratulations on your achievement. I know you will do your best for Baltimore County.
Revised December 20, 2002
Courthouse 