Serving and Loving Mankind – A Police Chief’s Perspective | David Westrick | TEDxsalinas

well before I get into the meat potatoes

well before I get into the meat potatoes of my talk I want to lay a few ground

of my talk I want to lay a few ground

of my talk I want to lay a few ground rules okay is that okay with you I

rules okay is that okay with you I

rules okay is that okay with you I really like audience participation so if

really like audience participation so if

really like audience participation so if I say something cool go ahead and a

I say something cool go ahead and a

I say something cool go ahead and a little clap action okay also there will

little clap action okay also there will

little clap action okay also there will be a test later and food references

be a test later and food references

be a test later and food references during my talk okay all right I wanted

during my talk okay all right I wanted

during my talk okay all right I wanted to give you a little an idea of sort of

to give you a little an idea of sort of

to give you a little an idea of sort of the lens that I look through when making

the lens that I look through when making

the lens that I look through when making decisions as a as a dad and as a chief

decisions as a as a dad and as a chief

decisions as a as a dad and as a chief of police because there’s so many

of police because there’s so many

of police because there’s so many obviously this time is a little

obviously this time is a little

obviously this time is a little tumultuous in my my business but I

tumultuous in my my business but I

tumultuous in my my business but I wanted to give you an idea of what I do

wanted to give you an idea of what I do

wanted to give you an idea of what I do so there’s really three things that I

so there’s really three things that I

so there’s really three things that I try to look through that are the basic

try to look through that are the basic

try to look through that are the basic rules for me to make a decision or how

rules for me to make a decision or how

rules for me to make a decision or how it applies to different things that I do

it applies to different things that I do

it applies to different things that I do in each day it should be noted that I’m

in each day it should be noted that I’m

in each day it should be noted that I’m a I’m a Rotarian and Rotary

a I’m a Rotarian and Rotary

a I’m a Rotarian and Rotary International has a lot of go ahead a

lot of great things they do throughout

lot of great things they do throughout the world but one of the basic things

the world but one of the basic things

the world but one of the basic things the Rotarians have are are a set of

the Rotarians have are are a set of

the Rotarians have are are a set of principles and one of those principles

principles and one of those principles

principles and one of those principles is Service Above Self

is Service Above Self

is Service Above Self so that first lens that I look through

so that first lens that I look through

so that first lens that I look through is what am i doing today that will

is what am i doing today that will

is what am i doing today that will improve the lives of the community that

improve the lives of the community that

improve the lives of the community that I serve or a single individual what can

I serve or a single individual what can

I serve or a single individual what can I do today that can help bring that

I do today that can help bring that

I do today that can help bring that forward that’s an important concept

forward that’s an important concept

forward that’s an important concept Service Above Self I think it’s

Service Above Self I think it’s

Service Above Self I think it’s something that we can use in many

something that we can use in many

something that we can use in many organizations and in our daily lives as

organizations and in our daily lives as

organizations and in our daily lives as well the second thing is something that

well the second thing is something that

well the second thing is something that I borrow from our own vision statement

I borrow from our own vision statement

I borrow from our own vision statement at the agency that I work at and it’s a

at the agency that I work at and it’s a

at the agency that I work at and it’s a vicious statement that we

vicious statement that we

vicious statement that we together as a group of employees that

together as a group of employees that

together as a group of employees that would best represent our agency and our

would best represent our agency and our

would best represent our agency and our city and one of those concepts and since

city and one of those concepts and since

city and one of those concepts and since my second lens is always do the right

my second lens is always do the right

my second lens is always do the right thing even when people aren’t looking we

thing even when people aren’t looking we

thing even when people aren’t looking we know that we now have body cameras and

know that we now have body cameras and

know that we now have body cameras and car cameras and cell phone cameras and

car cameras and cell phone cameras and

car cameras and cell phone cameras and it’s important to always always do the

it’s important to always always do the

it’s important to always always do the right thing but even when those things

right thing but even when those things

right thing but even when those things aren’t around it’s still important to

aren’t around it’s still important to

aren’t around it’s still important to the right thing because in your heart

the right thing because in your heart

the right thing because in your heart you’re going to know and that’s the most

you’re going to know and that’s the most

you’re going to know and that’s the most important projection you can do is be

important projection you can do is be

important projection you can do is be that light especially if you are in my

that light especially if you are in my

that light especially if you are in my business for those folks out there that

business for those folks out there that

business for those folks out there that need it the last thing and probably the

need it the last thing and probably the

need it the last thing and probably the most important concept for me is is I

most important concept for me is is I

most important concept for me is is I borrow it from 1785 and that is all men

borrow it from 1785 and that is all men

borrow it from 1785 and that is all men and of course women are create equal

and of course women are create equal

and of course women are create equal it’s a very important filter that you

it’s a very important filter that you

it’s a very important filter that you have to use and constantly remind

have to use and constantly remind

have to use and constantly remind yourself each and every day of your

yourself each and every day of your

yourself each and every day of your decisions especially in the position

decisions especially in the position

decisions especially in the position that I have very important so we go to

that I have very important so we go to

that I have very important so we go to ground rules alright great so one of the

ground rules alright great so one of the

ground rules alright great so one of the things that I think is important for me

things that I think is important for me

things that I think is important for me today to kind of invoke is that it takes

today to kind of invoke is that it takes

today to kind of invoke is that it takes an incredible amount of love for

an incredible amount of love for

an incredible amount of love for Humanity for me to do my job and I think

Humanity for me to do my job and I think

Humanity for me to do my job and I think I’m going to have an argument later that

I’m going to have an argument later that

I’m going to have an argument later that for police officers it is an act of love

for police officers it is an act of love

for police officers it is an act of love each and every day they put their

each and every day they put their

each and every day they put their uniform on but we’ll dive into that in a

uniform on but we’ll dive into that in a

uniform on but we’ll dive into that in a second the most important thing that I

second the most important thing that I

second the most important thing that I want you to know today though is I’m a

want you to know today though is I’m a

want you to know today though is I’m a California man I’m a dad I’m a neighbor

California man I’m a dad I’m a neighbor

California man I’m a dad I’m a neighbor I’m a friend I’m a police officer I’m a

I’m a friend I’m a police officer I’m a

I’m a friend I’m a police officer I’m a chief but most importantly I’m a human

chief but most importantly I’m a human

chief but most importantly I’m a human being and that’s that’s how I look at

being and that’s that’s how I look at

being and that’s that’s how I look at all the things that I do each and every

all the things that I do each and every

all the things that I do each and every day when I’m out there making those

day when I’m out there making those

day when I’m out there making those decisions is it

decisions is it

decisions is it good for the group and so good as me

good for the group and so good as me

good for the group and so good as me representing the human beings as well we

representing the human beings as well we

representing the human beings as well we see constantly in our in our news feeds

see constantly in our in our news feeds

see constantly in our in our news feeds these arguments about politics ethnicity

these arguments about politics ethnicity

these arguments about politics ethnicity poverty weight

poverty weight

poverty weight if chunky peanut butter is better than

if chunky peanut butter is better than

if chunky peanut butter is better than creamy what is it

creamy what is it

creamy what is it chunky creamy chunky

chunky creamy chunky

chunky creamy chunky alright okay I kind of like them both

alright okay I kind of like them both

alright okay I kind of like them both the the thing is is that at the end of

the the thing is is that at the end of

the the thing is is that at the end of the day all those things that we see in

the day all those things that we see in

the day all those things that we see in our news feeds they all affect us and

our news feeds they all affect us and

our news feeds they all affect us and really affect my job because what

really affect my job because what

really affect my job because what happens nationally or regionally would

happens nationally or regionally would

happens nationally or regionally would affect the way that focus people focus

affect the way that focus people focus

affect the way that focus people focus their their views on my my officers out

their their views on my my officers out

their their views on my my officers out there so something that happens in say

there so something that happens in say

there so something that happens in say for example in Florida would be

for example in Florida would be

for example in Florida would be something that that filter they would

something that that filter they would

something that that filter they would see the police officers in that I have

see the police officers in that I have

see the police officers in that I have worked for me as well so it is a

worked for me as well so it is a

worked for me as well so it is a difficult thing to battle each day

difficult thing to battle each day

difficult thing to battle each day that’s why it is so important this

that’s why it is so important this

that’s why it is so important this concept of loving your fellow man is so

concept of loving your fellow man is so

concept of loving your fellow man is so important that you must impart upon that

important that you must impart upon that

important that you must impart upon that each and every day and I can tell you

each and every day and I can tell you

each and every day and I can tell you how important it is it’s important for

how important it is it’s important for

how important it is it’s important for me as a public servant to pick the right

me as a public servant to pick the right

me as a public servant to pick the right people but it’s more important for me to

people but it’s more important for me to

people but it’s more important for me to be that example each and every day for

be that example each and every day for

be that example each and every day for both the officers that work for me but

both the officers that work for me but

both the officers that work for me but also the public that that sees me is I

also the public that that sees me is I

also the public that that sees me is I have to be a reflection of the public so

have to be a reflection of the public so

have to be a reflection of the public so expressing that love for my fellow man

expressing that love for my fellow man

expressing that love for my fellow man is one of my missions every single day

is one of my missions every single day

is one of my missions every single day that I try to do it’s difficult when we

that I try to do it’s difficult when we

that I try to do it’s difficult when we are trying to get into a discussion of

are trying to get into a discussion of

are trying to get into a discussion of again politics and ethnicity race

again politics and ethnicity race

again politics and ethnicity race immigration now

immigration now

immigration now um of us to do our job it’s very

um of us to do our job it’s very

um of us to do our job it’s very difficult in fact it’s it’s been very

difficult in fact it’s it’s been very

difficult in fact it’s it’s been very hampered by some of the national

hampered by some of the national

hampered by some of the national narrative right now so I always go back

narrative right now so I always go back

narrative right now so I always go back to square one and how do i express my

to square one and how do i express my

to square one and how do i express my caring for our fellow man and there’s a

caring for our fellow man and there’s a

caring for our fellow man and there’s a number of ways I think again each and

number of ways I think again each and

number of ways I think again each and every day that our officers get dressed

every day that our officers get dressed

every day that our officers get dressed in the locker rooms and go out is an act

in the locker rooms and go out is an act

in the locker rooms and go out is an act of unquenchable love for Humanity and

of unquenchable love for Humanity and

of unquenchable love for Humanity and here’s why I say that these officers

here’s why I say that these officers

here’s why I say that these officers including myself I’ve been shot at I’ve

including myself I’ve been shot at I’ve

including myself I’ve been shot at I’ve been spit on

been spit on

been spit on I haven’t stabbed hit by cars assault in

I haven’t stabbed hit by cars assault in

I haven’t stabbed hit by cars assault in every way but I can tell you that I’m at

every way but I can tell you that I’m at

every way but I can tell you that I’m at work early every day because I love the

work early every day because I love the

work early every day because I love the fact it’s a simple concept that I can

fact it’s a simple concept that I can

fact it’s a simple concept that I can make a positive change hopefully every

make a positive change hopefully every

make a positive change hopefully every single day in a person in their life if

single day in a person in their life if

single day in a person in their life if I didn’t arrest one more person for the

I didn’t arrest one more person for the

I didn’t arrest one more person for the rest of my career I’d be completely

rest of my career I’d be completely

rest of my career I’d be completely happy because I would know that first

happy because I would know that first

happy because I would know that first off you were being good know if that’s

off you were being good know if that’s

off you were being good know if that’s going to happen but I could have more

going to happen but I could have more

going to happen but I could have more time to make positive changes in

time to make positive changes in

time to make positive changes in people’s lives and that’s important to

people’s lives and that’s important to

people’s lives and that’s important to me every single day the biggest thing

me every single day the biggest thing

me every single day the biggest thing that I want to bring to you is this this

that I want to bring to you is this this

that I want to bring to you is this this notion of Martin Luther King said that

notion of Martin Luther King said that

notion of Martin Luther King said that he followed Gandhi so Gandhi you know

he followed Gandhi so Gandhi you know

he followed Gandhi so Gandhi you know having a probably the most important

having a probably the most important

having a probably the most important American that there was for civil rights

American that there was for civil rights

American that there was for civil rights being followed by Martin Luther King is

being followed by Martin Luther King is

being followed by Martin Luther King is is a real big deal Martin Luther King

is a real big deal Martin Luther King

is a real big deal Martin Luther King was a guy that set for so many

was a guy that set for so many

was a guy that set for so many principles for civil rights and was

principles for civil rights and was

principles for civil rights and was really that the tip of the spear when it

really that the tip of the spear when it

really that the tip of the spear when it came to to those but Gandhi said be the

came to to those but Gandhi said be the

came to to those but Gandhi said be the change you want to be

change you want to be

change you want to be and every day I try to be a little bit

and every day I try to be a little bit

and every day I try to be a little bit emulate Gandhi but being the change that

emulate Gandhi but being the change that

emulate Gandhi but being the change that I can be I tried you that every single

I can be I tried you that every single

I can be I tried you that every single day and here’s my homework for you okay

day and here’s my homework for you okay

day and here’s my homework for you okay it’s not why they’re best foods or

it’s not why they’re best foods or

it’s not why they’re best foods or Miracle Whip is better but I think

Miracle Whip is better but I think

Miracle Whip is better but I think they’re equally the same it is if you

they’re equally the same it is if you

they’re equally the same it is if you can tomorrow when you’re at work or when

can tomorrow when you’re at work or when

can tomorrow when you’re at work or when you’re at home or when your school or

you’re at home or when your school or

you’re at home or when your school or wherever you’re at it see if you could

wherever you’re at it see if you could

wherever you’re at it see if you could find that person or that situation that

find that person or that situation that

find that person or that situation that you can make a positive change please do

you can make a positive change please do

you can make a positive change please do it it’s my theory that those positive

it it’s my theory that those positive

it it’s my theory that those positive changes of course are an act of love and

changes of course are an act of love and

changes of course are an act of love and I think love is like a an easily caught

I think love is like a an easily caught

I think love is like a an easily caught virus right B that virus is easily

virus right B that virus is easily

virus right B that virus is easily caught love can multiply and multiply

caught love can multiply and multiply

caught love can multiply and multiply and it’s important for us to have that

and it’s important for us to have that

and it’s important for us to have that in these time for right now and it’s

in these time for right now and it’s

in these time for right now and it’s important for our police officers out

important for our police officers out

important for our police officers out there to hear that but also express that

there to hear that but also express that

there to hear that but also express that as well and that’s my mission every

as well and that’s my mission every

as well and that’s my mission every single day is to make a positive change

single day is to make a positive change

single day is to make a positive change and show truly that it is a act of

and show truly that it is a act of

and show truly that it is a act of loving mankind thank you