A year ago, the first issue of Law Officer hit the streets, and I have to admit, I feel a bit like a rookie who made it through his probationary year. Whew! I've learned a lot about our readers, our profession and running a magazine.
When Law Officer debuted, we said we'd carve out a unique niche in law enforcement publications, serving those who work the street, face the criminals and make the decisions regarding tactics, training and technology. That's been our mission from the outset, and we've worked very hard to stay the course. In this last year, I've talked to hundreds of cops across the nation, and the feedback has been gratifying. Every one of them has said to keep doing exactly what we're doing.
Our staff operates with the knowledge that if we do this magazine right, it's quite likely an officer will make it home safely who might not have otherwise. We take that responsibility very seriously. That's why we truly believe in a "read it, use it" approach, evaluating everything we do from this perspective. I've lost count of the number of times people have told me they've used our articles for officer training and distributed them to FTOs. To me, that's the ultimate compliment, and it's an honor to serve our readers in this way.
Some people have asked why we focus on the middle of the law enforcement profession the experienced officer through the middle manager. It's simple: Our readers are the most active and influential group of officers. They work the front line, train others and serve in or supervise special bureaus. They truly make a difference in our communities and in their own departments by making the decisions that influence the future of policing. The best new programs and the most meaningful equipment recommendations come from these movers and shakers who actually do the job and use the specialized equipment police work requires. That's why they are and will remain our primary audience.
We've also been asked why PoliceOne.com has such a presence in our magazine. The answer: Our alliance provides a more effective way of delivering information to law enforcement. We realize there are times when you need instant electronic info, and there are times when you prefer to get it on paper. Whether it involves Web polls, breaking news or shared contributors, the relationship produces a synergy unlike anything else in law enforcement publications. During the next year, we plan to offer even more crossover between print and the Web.
Cops come in all shapes and sizes and work in all sorts of areas doing a variety of jobs. I'm continually amazed by the diversity of tasks in our profession. Law enforcement jobs include everyone from the Las Vegas bike cops (spotlighted in our July/August 2005 issue) to patrol officers on the beautiful island of Kauai (profiled in our June 2006 issue). Knowing you're interested in the way cops in other areas get the job done, we intend to continue our popular agency-profile series as we move forward.
One change you will see next year: more frequent publication. We started out bimonthly in 2005, and we'll deliver nine issues in 2006. Beginning in January 2007, you'll see a magazine every month.
It's appropriate to celebrate our first anniversary with something just a little bit different. The story of Will Jimeno (p. 54) is just that different. Actually, it's extraordinary. In my 32 years of law enforcement, Jimeno's story remains the most astonishing I've ever heard. Apparently, Paramount Studios thought so, too, because they're bringing out a major motion picture based on what happened to Jimeno and his sergeant, John McLoughlin, on Sept. 11. I'm proud to know Jimeno and bring his story to our readers, something you won't find in any other police publication.
A special request: One of our most popular columns, I Learned About Policing From That, depends on real stories from the field. Please consider sharing an incident from your career that taught you a valuable lesson. Just think of the value of helping thousands of other cops learn from what you went through. You can send a draft of your story to [email protected]. Don't worry about making it letter perfect we can help. The main thing is to tell the story so others can do their jobs more safely and effectively. Remember, we believe in read it, use it.
Whether you've been with us since the first issue or you're reading our publication for the first time, we're truly honored you've chosen to spend your time with us. It's been a great ride so far, and we're just getting started.
Stay safe and wear your vest. — Dale Stockton, editor
