A model for the future?
by Charlie Edwards
Stamped on the side of all New York Police Department (NYPD) vehicles is their motto: Courtesy, Professionalism and Respect (CPR).
It turns out that the NYPD have a dedicated CPR Unit, headed by Deputy Inspector John Cronin. Sadly we didn't have time to meet with him, but we did do a very unscientific survey on CPR with some police officers on the street. Apparently members of the NYPD are measured and assessed regularly on how professional they are with members of the great American public.
Our survey was too brief to get an idea of how effective the CPR unit is, but it is striking that the police officers we did ask spoke openly about their responsibilities and 'authority they have on their patch'. Most of what they learn is not from the classroom but on the job-from their mentors and colleagues. They also believe that they are bound together with the public by a 'ribbon of trust'. All very timely as our very own John Craig is leading a project on the future of public sector professionalism.