You are the Future

We are celebrating a very important date in our most recent history, our two year anniversary. It seems just like yesterday that Ricky, Randy, and I sat down and decided to form the North Carolina Sheriff Police Alliance. We wanted to form an employee organization that was very responsive to the needs of its members. We believed that we could build a better mousetrap. This has been a great accomplishment.  However, only you the members can be the judge of that.

If we are doing a good job then the membership will continue to grow and we will grow together with an organization that puts each of you first.  That in the end is going to be the measuring stick. I know for the first two years we have had considerable growth with no sign of letting up. We have exceeded our expectations and goals for the first two years. The response that we have received from law enforcement officers across this state has been phenomenal. That is because you are talking about us to your fellow officers across this state. I want to thank you for your support. Our members have been very supportive of efforts to protect law enforcement officers here in North Carolina. Thank you for willingness to make a difference.

I remember when I entered law enforcement 30 years ago. Things were very different. We weren’t paid nearly as well as we are now. However, we were a closer bonded profession back then. We respected each other all across the state. The biggest difference between then and now is a simple one. We are doing better as a profession. We are better trained and better paid. We have better access to information than ever before. We have more opportunity for advancement than ever. However, we don’t have the great leadership that we used to have across the state. While this does not apply to all law enforcement, it does affect all law enforcement in one way or another. Our leaders aren’t stepping up to the plate as their predecessors did. That is a major difference. Where are the Rueben Greenbergs of our generation? Where are the great leaders of our generation?
As I have opined in many of my speaking engagements our leaders have had to become very political. It is my opinion that they don’t really grasp the plight of the street officers of our profession. I don’t see many of our leaders leading.
However because of many of you there is hope! I believe that you are the future of our profession. I believe that you are going to be the leaders that some of our current leaders are supposed to be. I have met many of you and I have seen the desire in many of you to make things better. You are going back to school in record numbers to achieve a better performance while enhancing your skills that will ultimately show within the agencies you work. I believe that you are going to restore our profession. Many of you are members of the North Carolina Sheriff Police Alliance. Why? You were looking for something different and have found it in the NCSPA. Working together we can change the face of our profession! Thank you for believing in us. I know that we believe in you. Let’s keep change going in a positive direction. The future of law enforcement is in your hands!
God bless ya”ll,
Andy Miller, President
N. C. Sheriff Police Alliance
andy@ncpolice.org