Lieutenant Larry Abbott, Orange County Sheriff's Department

Status Quo No Longer Exists

It seems that each New Year brings new challenges. Because whether changes are good or they are bad, there is one thing which we can count; change will occur. 2003 is no different. Homeland security, something we've always taken for granted, has become a concern. Will that change the focus of the relationships between law enforcement and the community? I'm sure most of us think it will. After all whom will the community call if an unusual event occurs? Obviously the Police and Sheriff's Departments who protect them. Vigilance, then becomes paramount in providing the comfort of security. The need for vigilance, 24-7-365, is what we are trained to do; but we can't be everyplace all the time. We need to develop support from the public, who else! What better sources within the public are there than the unions? They obviously, have as much interest in Homeland Security as we do. They can and will help. What a formidable force we'd become if, and when, disaster strikes. Our training and leadership, combined with their might and enthusiasm would surely overwhelm any foe, foreign or domestic.

Do we, working labor, have an inside track with our union and management counterparts? Yes, I believe we do, and maybe one of the changes we need to make is to build upon the relationship and trust, to support the common issue. Each and every one of us can make a difference.