Breaching the Blue Wall

Lowell F. Lawson

The BLUE WALL. It is not a physical structure. It is the invisible social and psychological barrier that separates police officers from others. It is not the existence of such a barrier that is unique. Many groups erect such obstacles to relationships. Doctors, lawyers, ministers, politicians, housewives, cheerleaders, bag ladies and winos - every distinctive group tends to segregate itself from others at some point. There is something which draws us together with others who share a commonality with us. All of us tend to withdraw behind a wall that keeps out others who lack that commonality.

Although there are many walled groups in society, there is something about the BLUE WALL that sets it apart from all other walls. That something is the intention of the wall. Police officers build the wall and they maintain it. No one breaches it without the approval of the officers.

Why is the BLUE WALL particularly impenetrable? Why is it, of all walls, the most difficult to breach? The answers are found in the nature of law enforcement. Police deal with the negatives of our culture. Their task is to restore a positive balance to situations and circumstances that are biased toward and/or uninclined to accomplish. They restore domestic peace, recover stolen property, arrest those who commit crimes against citizens to deal with the unpleasantness of life. It is a difficult job carried out under the bright lights of public scrutiny. Police officers inhabit a world little understood by those outside its boundaries. Little wonder they withdraw into an enclave surrounded by the BLUE WALL.

Police officers place the clergy at the far right end of the bad-good spectrum. Like many persons, police officers view others from a stereotypical frame of reference. They see the minister as naive; incapable of accepting the fact that there are bad people in the world. The minister is seen as one who has never heard the "four-letter words" and would be uncomfortable at a murder scene. The police officer thinks that ministers should seed the safe and quiet places, insulated from the real world of the streets.

An impenetrable wall. A closed society. That is the arena in which the police officer lives and moves and has his being. It is also the place where the Chaplain must go if he is to be the Chaplain. An so the obvious questions. Can you get there from here? How do you get there? The answer to the first question is "YES". The second answer is a bit more complex.

You can get behind the wall. Unless you do, you will be a Police Chaplain in name only. Yours will never be more than an appointed position. Certainly it will not be a ministry.

When the Chaplain enters the world of the police officer the initial reception may vary from acceptance to rejection. If the Chaplain is known to the officers and a relationship has been built based upon previous contacts then entry may be eased somewhat. If the Chaplain is unknown he may experience feelings ranging from indifference to ostracism. Hopefully there will be at least passive acceptance and a toleration for his presence.

The Chaplain must know who he or she is. His or her sense of calling must be clear. If it is then they will be will to spend the time that it will take to establish their role as Chaplain. Otherwise, he may soon become discouraged.

The Chaplain must make a serious time commitment. They must visit the officers frequently enough to become a familiar face. They must go to the station often enough that the officers can identify them as a "regular".

The Chaplain must assume responsibility for building relationships. They will need to initiate conversations, ask about how things are going, and speak a good word about something positive he has observed.

The Chaplain must be a listener. What is happening in the lives of the officers? Who is buying a new home? Whose son is graduating from high school? Was the weekend hunting trip successful? How is the daughter who just had surgery? When is the new baby due...and how many kids will that make at home? The bits and pieces of news that are picked up while riding in the patrol car or waiting for roll call are the basis for conversations. Conversations are the basis on which relationships are built.

The Chaplain should be one who affirms. Generally we live in a non-affirming society. Criticism is easy to come by and it is a frequent visitor in the lives of most people. Affirmation comes calling much more infrequently. Criticism is a constant companion of the police officer. The officer seldom arrives as quickly as needed. He uses to little tact and too much force in making an arrest. He forgets to put on his hat when making a traffic stop. The counseling register lists far more disciplinary actions than accolades.

Affirmation helps close the distance between officers and Chaplain. When an officer maintains his composure in he face of an irate citizen venting his anger about some matter over which the officer had no control, the Chaplain may say, "You handled that very well." A simple comment. Yet for the officer who seldom hears much approbation it is better than a raise in pay (almost).

The Chaplain should acknowledge special events. Birthdays, weddings anniversaries, completion of a college semester, and other significant milestones should be acknowledged. The death of a family member is a time when a visit to the funeral home will communicate boldly that the Chaplain cares about the officer and be long remembered. These special remembrances becomes the foundation on which the Chaplain achieves acceptance.

If the Chaplain demonstrates a sensitivity to the officers as individuals he will need not worry about acceptance. Gradually the word will be shared form officer to officer: "The Chaplain is okay"...

No. Acceptance will not come overnight. But it will come. The route behind the BLUE WALL is not short nor is the journey brief. But it is well worth the taking.