Here we go again with well-paid men crying foul, calling the kettle black, and casting aspersions without a granule of experience in what it is like to be a police officer…and the National Football League is standing with their players. Or should I say “kneeling” with them?
The NFL announced its support for its players’ efforts to insult cops in the name of “social justice” while concurrently having the gall to decline a Super Bowl advertising spot solicited by #PleaseStand AMVETS commemorating our military veterans.
Per an NFLcommunications.com press release, their “Let’s Listen Together initiative will highlight ongoing engagement efforts among players, owners, law enforcement, and civic organizations to improve communities” while also emphasizing “player-led work on social and racial equality.”
The Let’s Listen Together group of NFL owners, executives, and players “will focus on supporting programs and initiatives that reduce barriers to opportunity, with a priority on supporting improvements in education and economic development, community and police relations, and the criminal justice system.” Those last two are government institutions, as is our military. And to use the phrase “reduce barriers to opportunity” while denying AMVETS Super Bowl ad space amounts to hypocrisy.
“We respect the rights of those who choose to protest, as these rights are precisely what our members have fought — and in many cases died — for. But imposing corporate censorship to deny that same right to those veterans who have secured it for us all is reprehensible and totally beyond the pale,” said AMVETS National Commander Marion Polk.
The NFL claimed it does not partake in political ads yet they clearly stand behind their thug employees who tout political snot like toddlers. The NFL attempted to make a distinction.
The Super Bowl game program “is designed for fans to commemorate and celebrate the game, players, teams and the Super Bowl. It’s never been a place for advertising that could be considered by some as a political statement.”
According to ArmyTimes.com, NFL Vice President of Communications Brian McCarthy claimed the Super Bowl game program “is designed for fans to commemorate and celebrate the game, players, teams and the Super Bowl. It’s never been a place for advertising that could be considered by some as a political statement.”
The NFL actually has its own government affairs division “working to provide support to the Players Coalition, players and clubs who are interested in criminal justice reform at the local, state and/or national level.” Sounds like a lobbyists’ organization which, by definition, curries favor in political realms. But, no…no advertising considerations for those pesky military veterans who unquestionably assured preservation of liberty.
On January 25, 2018 Philadelphia Eagles player Malcolm Jenkins unveiled a video segment addressing his claim that American police officers need training in “social and emotional intelligence” while also iterating the stale and lame lamentations that cops are gun-toting, barbaric, indiscriminate serial slaughterers of “unarmed people being shot by police officers.”
Upper Darby, PA police Superintendent Michael Chitwood replied to Mr. Jenkins, saying about police protocols and the law enforcement institution, “We need people to understand what we do and why we do it.”
“We need people to understand what we do and why we do it.” —Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood
NFL Network features debuted during NFL Total Access, which aired “Philadelphia Eagles safety MALCOLM JENKINS and his focus on racial bias and social and emotional intelligence training for police officers.” (All caps emphasis was done by NFL editors.)
Fine folks at EmotionalIntelligence.net offer the following definition of what Mr. Jenkins accuses cops of lacking:
“Emotional intelligence (EI) or emotional quotient (EQ) is the capacity of individuals to recognize their own, and other people’s emotions, to discriminate between different feelings and label them appropriately, and to use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior.”
“Emotional intelligence (EI) or emotional quotient (EQ) is the capacity of individuals to recognize their own, and other people’s emotions, to discriminate between different feelings and label them appropriately, and to use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior.”
Interesting how that very meaning somehow does not seem to apply to, say…football players. Amazingly, NFL employees commit zero crimes. Astonishingly, NFL associates never oppress or abuse women. Incredibly, NFL sorts never-ever drive drunk. Astoundingly, NFL “stars” are not in the negative limelight. NFL and drug use? No way! Now that we peeked at the utopian version, let’s go long and catch a dose of reality—a recent one involving a supposed NFL star, a policeman, and vulgar threats to the policeman’s wife.
According to NJ.com, New York Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson, 24, was arrested by Sunrise, Florida police Officer Jonathan Hennessy for the initial charge of excessive speed (105mph in a posted 45mph zone). The January 19, 2018 incident/arrest report describes Anderson’s traffic charge arrest and how Anderson elevated the situation which he brought upon himself.
Excerpted from Officer Hennessy’s arrest report narrative, Anderson “began to brace, tense and refuse to get into the back of the [police] vehicle.” At this juncture, it took at least three law enforcement officers to get Anderson properly stowed-away in the cruiser.
“While in the back of my patrol vehicle, Robert stated that when he got out he was going to find my wife, f*@k her and nut in her eye. He continued [to] make other verbal threats towards my family. Based on his statements it was clear that he intended to sexually assault my wife. He also began to brag about how much money he has and how all I was doing was trying to ‘ruin his fun’.”
Officer Hennessy charged Mr. Anderson with Fleeing/Eluding with Lights/Sirens Activated; Resisting Arrest without Violence; Threatening a Public Servant and/or Family Member; and multiple traffic charges.
Anderson’s reckless actions and obscene threats are less demonstrative of emotional intelligence and more illustrative of utter entitlement and social angst. Mr. Anderson was previously arrested in May 2017, for assaulting a police officer at a concert venue. He has a pending trial date scheduled for March 19, 2018. It is the NFL’s policy to refrain from any disciplinary actions pending the outcome of any player’s legal matters.
Given what you just read about Mr. Anderson’s latest legal woes, how much emotional intelligence was exhibited? Let’s go measure.
Success.com states that “Measuring emotional intelligence can be difficult because of its intangible nature.” Per Travis Bradberry, “Emotional intelligence is the ‘something’ in each of us that is a bit intangible. It affects how we manage behavior, navigate social complexities and make personal decisions to achieve positive results.”
“Emotional intelligence is the ‘something’ in each of us that is a bit intangible. It affects how we manage behavior, navigate social complexities and make personal decisions to achieve positive results.”
Per PsychologyDictionary.com, social competence is “a skill a person has in interpersonal relationships with the ability to handle different situations.” Fair enough.
As a career cop, social encounters didn’t always go optimally. (Turn on the TV news or read the newspaper’s crime reports.) It takes two to Tango. It also takes two (or more) to play nice. It all starts with…you. One playing nice is the ideal scenario rendering this entire discussion moot.
Part of playing nice is complying with established laws (rules). Break one (or more) rule and society’s law enforcement institution is activated. We all agree to this constitutional mechanism addressing mayhem. Upon engendering police/citizen contacts, indeed both have a mutual responsibility to respect, listen, and understand each other.
Ultimately, “achieving positive results” that Mr. Bradberry mentioned above can only be a dividend of willing, cooperative parties exercising emotional intelligence characteristics.
What features define emotional intelligence?
- Robust emotional vocabulary using the words “anxious” or “downtrodden” instead of just “bad.”
- Curiosity about people; curiosity is the product of empathy, one of the most significant gateways to a high EQ.
- Embracing change by being flexible and constantly adapting to newness.
- Awareness of strengths and weaknesses: accepting what you’re good at and what you are awful at.
- Good judge of character; social awareness and the ability to read other people, know what they’re about.
- Difficult to offend; self-confident and open-minded, with a pretty thick skin.
- Ability to say “No”; knowing how to exert self-control, even when others fail at it.
- Put mistakes behind you; harboring miscues makes you anxious and gun shy.
- Giving without expectation; chronically putting others’ needs before your own.
- Grudgeless; holding onto stressful history can have dire consequences if not dealt with.
- Neutralize toxic people; approach rationally, seek solutions, keep feelings in-check.
- Recognize we are imperfect; realistic with outcomes and adaptive when fallacies present.
- Show gratitude; despite shortfalls, exhibiting thanks for what one has relates to optimal health.
- Disconnect; going off the grid is a sign of self-awareness and ability to de-stress and start anew.
- Limit caffeine consumption; keeps adrenaline levels balanced and quells knee-jerk reactions.
- Sleep indulgence; recharging affords self-control, attention, and memory capacities.
- Cease negative self-talk; recognizing our brain’s habit of inflating the frequency or severity of events.
- Allowing limitless self-joy; master of your own happiness versus conforming to labels from others.
Given Mr. Jenkins’s suggestion that cops go to class for emotional intelligence instruction is akin to telling them to grow up. Even the least mature police officer will mature right-quick during the very first day on The Job. My very first call out of the gate was to investigate the death of a toddler. Although I went into law enforcement later in life, I garnered at least 15 years’ of empathy in that very-first 12-hour shift. I also gained a new pseudo-family with whom I memorialize the baby.
I have always felt the so-called intangibility of emotional intelligence is a paradox. Humans possess innateness and raw instincts. Our species is replete with layers of emotion. It is more a question of how we use our emotional intelligence and less of if we possess such abilities.
Processing thoughts translates the emotional capacity to cater resolutions for others; putting others before self. Sound like the core purpose of cops? Also sounds like a species-wide trait which we are all capable of implementing.
Since we are on the topic of emotional intelligence, it is best to exhibit grace/humility by patronizing any business of your choice.
Having commenced a boycott oh-so-long-ago, I stumble with fathoming how the NFL machinations somehow spin their gears and throw not only cops under the bus but also downplay the importance of recognizing our military veterans…the very vessels catering our beloved freedoms.
How preposterous. How contradictory to deny AMVETS ad space while always expecting and enjoying flyovers by pilots operating military assets. How ludicrous to have soldiers all over every NFL field during pre-game and half-time shows —stridently gripping our nation’s red/white/blue cloth— yet slamming the door on #PleaseStand AMVETS advertisements.
Incidentally, this article’s cover photo came compliments of the Philadelphia Police Department and was cobbled in a collage right after 58 mugshots of criminals arrested by Philly cops. The crimes and stone-faced mugs preceding the graphic image of a Philadelphia police officer coddling a frightened child is uncanny, especially as it relates to any discussion of emotional intelligence or accusations of a lack thereof.
After another batch of unsavory-looking folks depicted in orange jail jumpers, the following image illustrating emotional intelligence is an apropos rebuke of what Malcolm Jenkins insinuated.
There is no potion to demystify the essence of policing a free society. There is also no healing for a wound (tangible or perceived) when we keep needlessly touching it. As “OC21” commented on a thread run by CNS News: “Quit living and glorifying the thug life and you will [have] less interactions with the cops in the first place.”
An NFL bulletin highlighted a curious collection of words and thoughts which you may find…befuddling.
“I know what our [NFL] players have done in the community on a year round basis and there is nothing more American than what they are advocating for, equal rights and justice for all. With our continued efforts through RISE and funding to individuals and organizations that further the principles of community engagement, education and justice reform, our vision is to use the unifying power of sports to bring people together,” said Stephen Ross, founder of Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality.
Yeah, I’m convinced: that sounds more like a lobbying group than an athletic club handling pigskin. So, we are to believe that the “unifying power of sports…bring people together”? What about the divisive tactics of sports figures, images of game-day protesting, and kneeling during the National Anthem ? I fail to see the relation. Yet I smell the gall.
With all the formal and continual training cops have, isn’t Mr. Jenkins barking up the wrong tree?
