In this issue: Around The Nation: A coast-to-coast roundup of police news. It’s no secret: Portland pulls cops from terror squad over secrity clearance. Free at last: Who’s off the hook from consent decrees — and who’s not. Black & white issues: A look at who gets stopped & who gets searched. Whodunnit? Finger-pointing over failed effort to address Texas DNA woes. Fine whine: Disparity in substantiated complaints puzzles police. It’s not who you know: San Diego to test new promotion system. Keeping up with Jones: Ex-chief loses bias case. People & Places: Sad day in Syracuse; his act’s no bomb; bound for the Rockies; a day in the park; Gallegos’ goodbye; leaving port; not just about money; change agent; women policing milestones. Gangsta nation: States face up to gang issues. Law & order: Injunctive relief curbs gangs. Judicial notice: State courts have their say. More than words: Building rapport with young victims. Sinister hi-tech: Digital stalkers targeted. Criminal Justice Library: Female chiefs’ paths to the top. Forum: The 10 essential traits of achievement-motivated people. --top-- Note to Readers: The opinions expressed on the Forum page are those of the contributing writer or cartoonist, or of the original source newspaper, and do not represent an official position of Law Enforcement News. Readers are invited to voice their opinions on topical issues, in the form of letters or full-length commentaries. Please send all materials to the editor. --top--

Forum Valluzzi: The 10 essential traits of high achievers      Cynics and misanthropes can be found wherever one turns in American society. Cynicism is like a disease that creeps up on you without admonition or notice. If one were to survey for cynical groups of individuals, they would not be able to overlook law enforcement professionals. The question is, do some law enforcement professionals begin their careers as cynics, or do they metamorphose into cynical individuals? Early in the careers of law enforcement officers, they are instructed to look for transgressions in the community and try to stop these occurrences from happening. Is it possible that after years of policing the public, it becomes extremely difficult to turn off the switch and shift focus to the positive aspects of society instead of rummaging for the negative?      Typically, American police officers acquire a tremendous amount of knowledge and skills training from the beginning of their career to the very end. However, the one area in which American police officers receive a paucity of training is in the character building and personal development realm. It is ironic, for such personal development training will help to prepare them for the many psychological dangers that lie ahead in American policing in today’s society.... --top--