January 1999 Volume 80 Number 1 "serving the protectors"
Straight to the POINT
By Trevor Haskell PASA Executive Committee Member

Sad Can Be Bad

The Police Journal November issue had a couple of letters in The Readout that took my interest. Pat Humphrys and Tom Kelsey both provided views that were very interesting. Pat looked at the issue of morale and some indicators he had observed, while Tom wrote on issues also linked to morale.

Morale is a curious thing. The Concise Oxford defines it as: “Moral condition, especially as regards discipline and confidence”. The Australian Pocket Collins defines it as: “The degree of confidence or optimism of a person or group”.

I believe that police officers and our public servants are committed to their work and communities. I suspect that for many there is a sadness or perhaps a fear that they will not be able to provide the service to the community of which they can feel proud.

The issue of morale is confused by often trying to see it as an omnipresent force. I believe that most police officers have high confidence in themselves and optimism that they and their colleagues can (and do) deal with an incredible array of challenges every day. They have strong commitment to their “job”.

The sadness is that they do not always feel that commitment to the organisation. They feel they are not inclusive to the organisation.

I have heard this sentiment expressed by a growing number of managers, some at senior level. They feel they are on the outside looking into the organisation - in some way separate not included. They may help promote current philosophy but don’t have any ownership. But they love the “job”.

Change, or the threat of change, can certainly shake confidence and optimism. In early November, rumours about Local Service Area structures were running. A number of members have indicated to me that they see it as a downsizing exercise and an attempt to get in under the $4 million budget cut that was accepted by SAPOL. I have heard tales of almost 100 positions to go in the metro area.

I am certain that all CIB members are feeling relaxed and comfortable with issues that bobbed up during the EB process. I am certain they look forward with confidence to setting career goals for the next five years.

As the changes begin to spread, I would expect SAPOL management to begin a sales program based on telling us that we are collectively factually incorrect. That there are good management practices behind the changes, and while there will be “efficiency gains” created through “workplace re-engineering” it is not about saving money. I am sure we, and the communities we serve, will be reassured that service provision will be maintained and indeed improved. The increased flexibility created by “workplace re-engineering” will ensure there are no holes in service provision.

I hope it is so. I am seeing too many sad people of late.

Some Things To Do In Sad Times

Focus on self. Consider what it is that you wish to achieve. What are the measures that you set yourself. Continue to believe in yourself and those who you work with daily. Try to focus on the positives that you achieve each day. Know that your daily tasks are seen by your community as a crucial part of their wellbeing. Accept the praise from those with whom you work. Be mindful of the good work your colleagues are doing and tell them. Consider your work group and create strategies that reinforce the positive bonds that exist. Smile - unashamedly.

Does our “self talk” create problems for ourselves? There are times when we all feel that it isn’t worth the effort - it can be almost anything. If the it is something that we really want we will keep working towards it. Sometimes the negative self talk can create the challenge we need to get up and moving.

For some, however, the negative self talk can create problems when there are so many negatives going on at the same time. The hurdles, collectively, are too big to get over. This is when sadness can slide into a more depressive feeling. Sharing can help. In sad times we often can only see the dark and acknowledge the bad. Take ownership of as much as you can. Work with each other, support each other.

Acknowledge the good.

The Living Years

Some of you will have heard the song The Living Years by Mike and the Mechanics. It is a song that can haunt me. It reminds me of what I missed through the death of my parents.

I guess I’m like most - I run a little scared of death even though I don’t often admit it. It is this fear that kept me from talking to my parents about things from their past. It is as if by probing I was acknowledging that they were going to die.

When death did stare at my mother, I found the paradox more pronounced. I told her what I felt about her, thanked her and said goodbye. It was useful but I still felt I did not know enough of her history as a person.

My dad who was a POW on the Burma Railway had poor health for many years. I asked him to write down his memories and bought a book and pen for him to do it. I remember I always felt a bit guilty when I reminded him to put pen to paper.

When he died suddenly I found he had managed to write just a few lines. I am now trying to get an aunt to write or record her memories. She is the last who knew of my parents’ early years.

In counselling we find that a person’s history has had a huge part in creating the beliefs we have about self and others. Much of this creation is through contact with our families. By understanding the context that our parents had to develop their beliefs we can better assimilate the differences between us. Life is changing and we need to be adaptable.

People who are involved in groups such as the Police Historical Society provide remarkable insights into the police past. Many of the widows and widowers that I deal with have interesting photographic histories and personal memories. Much of the history is lost because people believe no one is interested.