Wasted Honor -- - Say What you Need To Say......: So you made Sergeant

Wasted Honor -

Carl R. ToersBijns is the author of the Wasted Honor Trilogy [Wasted Honor I,II and Gorilla Justice] and his newest book From the Womb to the Tomb, the Tony Lester Story, which is a reflection of his life and his experiences as a correctional officer and a correctional administrator retiring with the rank of deputy warden in the New Mexico and Arizona correctional systems.

Carl also wrote a book on his combat experience in the Kindle book titled - Combat Medic - Men with destiny - A red cross of Valor -

Carl is considered by many a rogue expert in the field of prison security systems since leaving the profession. Carl has been involved in the design of many pilot programs related to mental health treatment, security threat groups, suicide prevention, and maximum custody operational plans including double bunking max inmates and enhancing security for staff. He invites you to read his books so you can understand and grasp the cultural and political implications and influences of these prisons. He deals with the emotions, the stress and anxiety as well as the realities faced working inside a prison. He deals with the occupational risks while elaborating on the psychological impact of both prison worker and prisoner.

His most recent book, Gorilla Justice, is an un-edited raw fictional version of realistic prison experiences and events through the eyes of an anecdotal translation of the inmate’s plight and suffering while enduring the harsh and toxic prison environment including solitary confinement.

Carl has been interviewed by numerous news stations and newspapers in Phoenix regarding the escape from the Kingman prison and other high profile media cases related to wrongful deaths and suicides inside prisons. His insights have been solicited by the ACLU, Amnesty International, and various other legal firms representing solitary confinement cases in California and Arizona. He is currently working on the STG Step Down program at Pelican Bay and has offered his own experience insights with the Center of Constitutional Rights lawyers and interns to establish a core program at the SHU units. He has personally corresponded and written with SHU prisoners to assess the living conditions and how it impacts their long term placement inside these type of units that are similar to those in Arizona Florence Eyman special management unit where Carl was a unit deputy warden for almost two years before his promotion to Deputy Warden of Operations in Safford and Eyman.

He is a strong advocate for the mentally ill and is a board member of David's Hope Inc. a non-profit advocacy group in Phoenix and also serves as a senior advisor for Law Enforcement Officers Advocates Council in Chino, California As a subject matter expert and corrections consultant, Carl has provided interviews and spoken on national and international radio talk shows e.g. BBC CBC Lou Show & TV shows as well as the Associated Press.

I use sarcasm, satire, parodies and other means to make you think!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday, April 14, 2014

So you made Sergeant – Now what

Congratulations, you just received your first big promotion. Chances are you worked hard for such an achievement and ready to get to work doing what sergeants do. But wait, before you go to work as a new sergeant let’s take a look at your skill set and readiness level to be a new supervisor.

First you have to refrain yourself from criticizing the agency you work for as you inherited a responsibility that puts you out there as an agent for the organization and all your subordinates. What you say on your own time is your private moment but in uniform or on while on duty you will be held accountable for what you say and do all of the time.

Talking badly about the officers that have left or quit can get you into hot water with others. Remember there are friendships still intact and those that work for you expect you to be fair and talking bad about others only makes them think what you might say about them one day. Being gracious and polite to those that have departed will get you a long way in the field of respect.

Favoritism would be shown if you begin to replace the old team with a “new” team made up of friends and others that favor you as a person or friend. Eliminating others from the team will create a division and poor morale and can emerge into feelings of discomfort or unwanted creating friction and conflict on the shift or workplace.

Promotions mean more responsibilities not less. Ignoring the needs of the officers around you and the inmate population can create messy and unorganized things that will come back and haunt you. Ignoring what you did so well before should be eliminated and avoided at all costs.

Making solo decisions and failure to consult with the “team” may result in sub optimal performance and communication breakdowns. This does not apply to all cases but in those where it is wiser to gather feedback, it is essential you do it. Although strategies are good to have, it is important that you remain open and available to you team so you can get their buy in for your plans or tactics. Being someone that decrees a not so well strategy can be detrimental to your effectiveness as a team leader and your reputation.

Then there is your demeanor and what you say. You must realize now a sergeant your words carry more weight now than they used to. This means that your mood, tone, body language and words are now subject to interpretation as a boss and saying the wrong things can cause conflict or anxiety and stress. It is better to think twice before you say it or make a joke as it will be perceived to come from a command position that is much more authoritative than before.

Realize you are not “bulletproof” and don’t act like you are invulnerable. There are times where you may be dead certain what to do or what action to take but take into consideration you recognizing the uncertainties in any situation and don’t take an attitude that may in fact be dead wrong. While you are in this position never forget where you came from and don’t compete with the previous sergeant assigned to the team. There is no need for competition.

The most common mistakes is talking too much and not enough listening. Getting too big for your own britches can and does create attitudes and changes the behaviors around you. Don’t use a tone that is offensive when a normal tone will do the job. Be considerate of others and don’t give out orders while you sit behind the desk acting all mighty and powerful. Know when it’s time to talk and time to listen and you will be a successful communicator.

Paying attention to these rookie mistakes will help you avoid some difficult times ahead. Don’t pretend you know it all and don’t forget to ask for input from others. Make it clear how you perceive your role to be within the workplace, the shift or among your team members. Following these rules will allow you not to be seen as a rookie sergeant being a jerk and making rookie mistakes.