We all have opinions. As stated before on this site, it is part of our job to categorize and collate personalities and behaviours, however at times our assessments might be asked to stay bottled up due to the ever present specter of political correctness.
It is a shame that we who are in a very intimate people "qualifying" occupation can at times be forced to turn off certain receptors that we have grown to trust. In a way it is a form of theft, the stealing of ones opinion. We circumvent or at times are made to ignore facts because they may seem bias or prejudicial. This is wrong.
The facts are the facts and the truth cannot be changed because of what others might think of us. When filing a report avoid the "Saccharin Philosophy" often spoken of by attorneys. This artificial sweetening of the facts may make them more palatable but the facts must be reported completely. Without fear of what others might think.
We do not judge, we supply information or intelligence for investigators to use and present to those who judge. I am not saying that we should be insensitive in our dealings with the public, far from it. A competent security professional is very chameleon like and should adjust the way he communicates to suit the situation.
On paper however, in the reporting, we must not fall into the PC trap. State facts pertinent to the case as you know them to be and as accurately as possible.
To refer to a Neo Nazi complete with swastika tattoo on his fore head as a "Skin Head" may not be PC but it's an accurate description and often how they refer to themselves. People are described based on how they present, look or choose to look (often a matter of style) this is how they should be described for the record. It is fair and accurate to refer to a man as disheveled and unkempt. These are your perceptions not a judgement.
All men are men first, equal yet individual. Their perceived ethnicity, mental state or attitude does not "define" them it only describes them. Your reports need that description.
Remember Police are predominately REACTIVE. They often have the luxury of a witness or sworn affidavit complete with descriptive information. All responding parties are reacting to that, its very often cut dried and hanging on the shed for all to use.
You are most likely not going to have such Intel, you will be observing activity first hand and hopefully before any incident has been initiated or crime committed.
It is your job to be PROACTIVE, you must report soft information completely without fear of reprisal or condemnation. A radio call describes two black men acting suspiciously near a sensitive area. That's okay to report, your staff needs to know that. As long as two white men are described as two white men (as they should be) not just two men you are passing on important information.
Middle eastern men are unfairly taking a hit by security professionals in certain parts of the country while in other parts of the country security staff has been made sensitive to the same ethnic group and in effort to show how understanding they can be, may slip into that saccharin philosophy and let something slip by. Wrong.
Fair, equal and truthful to the best of your ability. How else will others view your work if you skirt details critical to the report?
Your "read" or opinion counts of every situation you encounter. The new saying is KEEP IT REAL. This is what it means.
RJ Mosca
