Police Dynamics Garners Attention
Written by David Owens, Editor

Sheriff Ray Nash demands character that's beyond reproach from the men and women in his employ, and his high expectations are paying big dividends. Nash's unique approach to law enforcement has gotten international attention and has earned him the respect of his deputies.

The sheriff's "Police Dynamics" principle works upon the belief, he says, "that the power for positive change is within relationships." Strong, character-based relationships lead not only to higher morale within his department, but also to trust between his department and the public, which helps root out and eradicate criminal strongholds in the community.

The principle "all makes for great moral character and sense," writes author and former presidential advisor Harry Shuler Dent in a recent column praising the sheriff.

Dent, no stranger to character education, has begun a series of articles on the subject, and has long been a champion of character education in schools. He said he became interested in the sheriff's philosophy upon learning of Nash's recent trip to Romania, where Nash taught character-based law enforcement tactics to that country's police force.

"When I saw what he was doing, I became very interested because I haven't seen anybody with that approach to law enforcement," Dent says. While lamenting that it's even necessary to teach people character, Dent says Nash's approach is welcomed.

"Families are all broken up, kids are all messed up. It's ludicrous where we are today," Dent tells The Eagle-Record.

While Nash says, "character is better caught than taught," he says it's hard to catch good character when so much bad character is being pitched. "We see it everywhere," he says. "In the media, Hollywood, sports, politics." Encouraging others to exude good character creates an environment that's very conducive to good law enforcement, he says. "Those that cannot rise to the challenge very quickly will show up," Nash notes.

Strong work ethics translate into higher morale and a sense of professionalism, according to Sheriff's Capt. Tim Stephenson, himself a student of the philosophy. In fact, everyone in the sheriff's office, from administrative assistants to jailers, dispatchers and deputies, studies Police Dynamics taught by Nash personally.

"When it starts with the sheriff, people see that we're serious about it and it has a stronger influence," Stephenson says. "I challenge you to find an organization anywhere where the sheriff conducts monthly training himself. There's no comparison (to other departments). The atmosphere here is just incredible."

While other departments focus on and reward achievement, Nash encourages character qualities. But before you dismiss the approach as some new-age gobbledygook, think again: it's an approach that works. Ultimately, it leads to achievement for all the right reasons. That is, "we look for the character quality that enabled our people to make that achievement," as Stephenson points out. "Truth[fulness], diligence, determination, thoroughness, attentiveness," Nash ticks off one by one. "It all makes for good investigations."

As a hypothetical example, Stephenson says a deputy might rightly be praised for stopping a car along I-95 that's laden with $2 million in cocaine. "Later, he's maybe named deputy of the year, and gets accolades for solid police work from his supervisor," Stephenson said. But there's a danger in that the reward could send the wrong message, namely that the deputy should henceforth stop nearly every car and search it for drugs. "He may one day make a stop and not have probable cause," Stephenson cautions.

"You can get achievement even with bad character, but at what cost?" Nash asks. Indeed, achievement-based results can encourage deceptive practices, he contends. "Are we willing to let deputies lie under oath, falsify evidence, or abuse constitutional rights to get an arrest?"
While some deputies thought Nash's tactics a bit hokey at first, two years later he's reaping the rewards. "After having gone through it, they'll come up to me and say, 'I'm behind you 100 percent.' They say 'it's made a difference in my life, even in the life of my family.'"

To which Stephenson testifies: "I've noticed at home, if my daughter comes home with a good report card, I'll praise her for determination and alertness, instead of just maybe handing her $20. It's really an atmosphere that spills over into your personal life."

In addition to teaching his department, Nash occasionally takes his lessons on the road, consulting other departments. It's a feat he'd be unable to manage, he says, without such a fine staff.
"Many agencies are now looking to Dorchester County as an example," he says. He's been asked back to Romania, a trip he says he'll consider if he gets county council's blessing to go as an emissary of sorts from Dorchester County.

Meanwhile, there's still work to be done here. "You're never going to be at a point where you can say 'We've finally arrived,'" Nash says. "The largest room in the house is always the room for improvement."

This article first appeared in the Dorchester Eagle-Record and is reprinted here by permission. Written by David Owens, Editor.