Major Ben’s Blog

It is disheartening to see the phenomenon of hate embraced by so many people who don't understand the origin, meaning, or impact. To grasp the significance, you must first understand what it means. It is an intense, deep-seated emotional response of strong dislike,...

Every family member asks this question daily. I wonder how many leaders realize the gravity of that question for their officers. When they get up in the morning, they have quiet time with their family before embarking on, hopefully, another routine day at the office....

A leak is an unintended hole, crack, or fault that allows a substance- such as a liquid, gas, or light- to escape or enter a container or system. As a child growing up in the rural South, I watched my father build his own home. At that time, he installed a tin roof....

As a career law enforcement officer, I am perplexed by the recent debate over officers wearing masks. Everything I learned about law enforcement involved honesty, integrity, and, most of all, transparency. The federal government has a duty to present law enforcement...

As an international speaker, trainer, and consultant, I have been intrigued by the lack of understanding of various terms, with people using them without knowing their meanings or applications. At one of my National Speakers Association conferences, a presenter shared...

Fear – an unpleasant feeling triggered by the perception of danger real or imagined. Origin - past experiences (0-6) History - nomadic days (fight or flight) Survival function - to protect us, triggered by a significant event, i.e., hot, cold, wet, trauma Source: New...

In 2016, I took a course with AARP in defensive driving. Having been driving since I was sixteen, I was curious about what the instructor could teach me. I signed up for the course to get a discount on my car insurance. As the instructor went through his orientation,...

DEI is the latest catchphrase that is the catalyst for the present state of the divided states of America. We raise and salute the flag as we recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America. As patriotic as that sounds, it is far from our day-to-day...

Many police executives approached community-oriented policing with a great deal of skepticism because they didn’t realize the critical role that the community plays in their success. Many felt they could do it on their own. Dr. Lee Brown, a former police commissioner...

After Columbine, over four hundred school shootings were reported in America. Every citizen should be outraged that our society has allowed that to happen. Schools should be the safest place in our community for our students, staff, and teachers. It is challenging to...

Former Atty. Gen. Eric Holder once said that America is a nation of cowards and he received a great deal of pushback for his statement. As I listened to his pronouncement, I wondered what was the concern about his statement. America has always had an issue with...

The Constitution states that “all men are created equal”. There was no mention of women by the founding fathers. Ironically, men have taken this as gospel in how they perform and govern. The fact that women were not part of the original drafting of the Constitution,...

Thirty pieces of silver were the price for which Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus. As it was described in Matthew 26:14-16: Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went in unto the chief priests, and said to them, "What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto...

Being the first at anything is challenging and problematic. There is no playbook or established strategy for how to chart a life’s course. I was the first of seven siblings. It was difficult to know or understand the significance of my position. As the other six...

There is an epidemic of school shootings in America. The phenomenon has caused a great deal of concern about the proper procedure to address this issue. Many officials, politicians, and police officials propose that the best way to address school shootings is by...

Listening to the debate I cringed when I heard the phrase immigrants are coming to the United States to take black jobs. I don’t know how many people took note of the disingenuous scapegoating when it comes to the lives of people of color. The fear-mongering in that...

On May 16, 2024, David Jones penned an article in the Headlines Smart newspaper with the following headline, “Ten-Year-Old Boy Takes Own Life After Relentless Bullying”. This was a tragic ending that never should have occurred. According to the article, many pleas for...

In the post-Jim Crow era, the powerless experienced a measure of power and control. They believed that justice and fair play were attainable. However, some of those who have enjoyed a lifetime of privilege, are experiencing perceived disparities and hereto for unheard...

John Maxwell, leadership expert and author says, if you are leading and no one is following you, you’re just going for a walk.  I have studied leaders throughout my career and found that true leaders have a positive attitude, high integrity, and great empathy. In...

Minority recruitment is an ongoing dilemma for law enforcement organizations. It is a challenge because many leaders don’t understand the need to recruit or how to recruit. It is important to know what recruitment means. Webster defines recruiting as a means of...

As a lifelong advocate of diversity and inclusion, I am saddened by some Neanderthal approaches to the subject. There are many stories about the approach certain trainers in DEI are taking when attempting to address this phenomenon. It is important to recognize the...

I examined the context of the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action, and I was mortified by how out of step the nine justices were in their majority opinion.  It was equally perplexing to realize that the University of North Carolina was one of the main...

The Supreme Court weighs in on the latest iteration of affirmative action. It is an issue that has divided the country for many years. Much of the division is a lack of historical perspectives. The notion that African-Americans would enjoy a benefit because of the...

Webster defines fear as an unpleasant, often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger. It is evident in the behavior of humans, particularly during stressful situations. As a 30+ year member of the Pennsylvania State Police, I've witnessed many...

Like many Americans, when I was awakened by the news that George Floyd had died as result of a police encounter, I was mortified. In that instance, the pictures were worth more than a thousand words. To see a police officer with his knee on the neck of a person who is...

Few words have gotten much attention from the law enforcement community like, “Defund the Police.” It is a phenomenon that strikes at the core of believing that law enforcement was an entity unto itself. They called the shots for what they did. The mention of the word...

Of all the colors in the universe, none has caused more consternation among the psyche of white America, like the term "BLACK." I recently visited a UPS store, returning merchandise to Staples. When I left the store, I was greeted by a young white male who was wearing...

Like many of you, I have followed the racial profiling case involving Whitemarsh Township police department.  I was especially interested to hear when the case was finally settled and the victims received a cash award for the wrong they perceived occurred to them.  I...

I received an e-mail from a small organization that wanted to engage my services to provide sexual harassment awareness training to their small staff.   The human resources director was very serious about undertaking the initiative since the organization had not done...

Like many of you, I have been very disturbed about the sharp rise in the murder rate in our cities. The police as well as the general public have expressed outrage, and rightfully so. From the lack of sufficient manpower on the streets to the reticence of the public...

Law enforcement is facing a serious dilemma of how to attract and retain females and minorities within its ranks. At a time when debate is growing over the program of police profiling and the numbers of females and minorities interested in law enforcement as a career...

Diversity is a term that has been bandied about for many years. The mere mention of the word conjures up discrimination, different treatment, unequal treatment, reverse discrimination, and a myriad other choice phrases. Because it has become such a hot-button issue,...