Last month (May 2015), during National Police Week, IACP launched a campaign designed to highlight the diversity and commitment of the law enforcement profession. Officers from all over the world are using the hashtag #WhyIWearTheBadge to share photos, videos, and stories on social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.
I was proud to share why I wear the badge in a brief video introducing the campaign. For me, wearing the badge is a long-standing family tradition. A career in law enforcement comes with the great responsibility to serve the community. I wear the badge every day with pride as I serve my community, and so do the members of my family who share this responsibility.
Each #WhyIWearTheBadge message that has been shared is unique not only in the content, but also in the delivery. Dunwoody, Georgia, Police Department created a video narrated by a police officer’s children. Azusa, California, Police Department utilized Periscope, a relatively new live video-sharing app, to read a police-themed bedtime story to the children in their community. Jefferson County, Colorado, Sheriff’s Office published stories of deputies that serve in different roles in their agency. Individual officers shared their own pictures and testimonials that answer why they joined the law enforcement profession, what motivates them each day, and what they enjoy most about their jobs.
In the current climate, where the law enforcement profession has come under heightened scrutiny, some agencies may have been hesitant to share or participate in this campaign. But it is this very public scrutiny that makes this campaign even more important. The public needs to hear why we do what we do. Future law enforcement leaders need to know why wearing the badge is so important. Our communities need to know that we care and take the call to serve and protect very seriously.
I encourage you to go online and search various social media platforms for #WhyIWearTheBadge. You will be amazed at the stories you read. I also strongly encourage you to share your own stories and have the men and women of your department do the same. It doesn’t have to be complicated; post a simple tweet or Facebook message, share a picture, or shoot a video using your phone. We want you to have fun with your participation, be creative, and consider challenging your peers or other agencies to share their stories using #WhyIWearTheBadge.
Our goal is to keep this campaign going. We want the powerful #WhyIWearTheBadge testimonials to spread and to be heard and seen by other law enforcement officers and their communities. There have already been several local media stations that have featured their local agency and their #WhyIWearTheBadge submissions.
The IACP is also doing our part. The IACP Board of Officers and Executive Committee have been active contributors in the campaign, through their own personal submissions and by actively encouraging their departments to contribute. In addition, I have personally highlighted many of your submissions at meetings I have attended. Just recently, I spoke at IACP’s Law Enforcement Information Management Conference and showed the Hampton, Virginia, Police Divisions #WhyIWearTheBadge video to the 800 attendees. I personally enjoy being able to showcase all the extraordinary work done by the men and women of law enforcement around the world. Your heroic and daily acts of bravery, kindness, and compassion speak for themselves. Now, let’s take a minute and share this with the public using #WhyIWearTheBadge.
Thank you all for your contributions thus far. I look forward to seeing more. Most importantly, thank you for your service and the daily sacrifices you make in order to keep our communities safe. ♦
Please cite as
Richard Beary, “Why Do You Do It? Participate in the #WhyIWearTheBadge Campaign,” President’s Message, The Police Chief 82 (June 2015): 6.
