The Power of Observation   

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🚨 Meet the Hosts! Get to know Deputy Scott Brown and Victoria Newman, the voices behind the “Facing Evil” podcast. Learn more about their journey and what inspired them to share this story. Visit FacingEvilPodcast.com. 🎙️ #TrueCrime #PodcastHosts ... See MoreSee Less

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📅 Countdown Begins! Only five days until the launch of the “Facing Evil” podcast! Get ready to dive into a gripping true crime story. Visit FacingEvilPodcast.com to sign up for episode release notifications. 🎧🔍 #FacingEvilPodcast #TrueCrime ... See MoreSee Less

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Jim Bedinger and Vivian Abraham attended the FOP Great Lakes Coalition meeting held in Indianapolis, IN, on October 3- 4, 2024.

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Thank you for 30 years of service!! And counting …
Stay safe!30 years and counting!

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Great work Officer Harris and K-9 Rocky! Thank you! Stay safe.Great work Officer Harris & K9 Rocky and congratulations on being the District 5 Officer of the Month!!!
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Congratulations to Officer J. Harris and K9 Rocky of District 5, C Squad, who are being recognized as this month’s Officer of the Month.

Officer Harris recently completed a four-week K9 Handler course with his new partner, K9 Rocky. While attending K9 Handler school, Officer J. Harris and K9 Rocky conducted rigorous training to master working as a K9 Team. The curriculum is designed to equip handlers with the expertise needed for effective law enforcement. The curriculum focuses on narcotics detection, tracking, and evidence locating. Officer J. Harris and K9 Rocky have quickly become a unified team. Their combined efforts have led to the successful locating and apprehending of three suspects wanted in connection with felony incidents. Officer J. Harris and K9 Rocky have recovered not only two discarded firearms from fleeing suspects but also other discarded evidence pertinent to the crimes currently being investigated. Their work, including assisting with K9 callouts and routinely responding to 9-1-1 calls, has significantly contributed to maintaining public safety.

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Great picture! Thank you, Deputy King and K9 Vito! Stay safe.Don’t mind us as we carry around "ruffly" 90 lbs. of K9 love.
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Great job! Thank you! Stay safe.Earlier today, when a kitten in Staten Island fell through the grates of a storm drain, concerned residents reached out to your NYPD cops. NYPD Special Operations ESU officers responded, and with help from NYC Department of Environmental Protection, they successfully brought the cat back to safety so it could dry up in today’s warm sun. ... See MoreSee Less

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Welcome, K9 Raider and K9 Titan! Stay safe!Join us in welcoming K9 Raider and K9 Titan! 🐕

“The Gwinnett County Police Department is proud to introduce two new K9's into service. After completing their training in North Carolina, Raider and Titan will both begin work in the county. Titan will work with Cpl. Bartkowiak and Raider will work with Officer Copley. Both dogs are 2-year-old Belgian Malinois.”
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Hello, K9 Diesel and Officer Ryan Coll! Thank you! Stay safe.Meet K9 Diesel and Officer Ryan Coll of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department . Diesel is a half Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd and will be 4 on his next birthday. When he’s not working, Diesel LOVES spending time relaxing with his human siblings and mama at home. Photo by Erik Larson. ... See MoreSee Less

2 months ago
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Congratulations and thank you! Stay safe!Congratulations to Officer Dalton Koch!

We are proud to announce that Officer Dalton Koch has been selected as the O'Fallon Police Department's Officer of the Month for July. This recognition is a testament to his dedication, hard work, and commitment to serving our community. Please join us in congratulating Officer Koch on this well-deserved honor! 👏👮‍♂️
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Welcome!! Thank you! Stay safe.We welcomed a new recruit class at the Lexington Police Department Training Academy this week! For the next 30+ weeks, the recruits will cover topics that will help them Set the Standard.

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Great job, K9 Milo!!!! Thank you!Good Boy K-9 Milo 💙👏
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Thank you Milo for doing such a great job which meant that everyone went home safe!"

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The Power of Observation

I realized at an early age that when it came to competition, I was never going to be the fastest, or the strongest, or the smartest.

Fortunately, I also realized, around the same time, that there were certain things that I could work on and ultimately be as good at as any other competitor out there, particularly when it came to living life.

It is always important to be aware of your shortcomings, but when they are only shortcomings because you are comparing your abilities with others, it is equally important to not allow your awareness of those shortcomings to stunt your growth.  In other words, not being the fastest or the strongest is very different than not being as fast or as strong as you can be.

If you focus on what you can do versus what you cannot, you will always create an advantage for yourself.  You cannot now nor will you ever be able to control someone else’s workout routine, diet, or work ethic. You can only control your own.  So, if you focus your efforts on yourself and you do not spend time worrying about what someone else is doing or not doing, you will automatically have more time and energy to devote to the pursuits that are truly important to you.

One of the more powerful tools that you can fully control and develop is your personal power of observation.  Refining and honing your observation skills will directly and immediately improve your ability to focus, organize, plan, and most importantly enjoy your life.

When you effectively pay attention to your surroundings and the environment in which you operate, you will be more aware of how and why things are happening.

When you are more aware of what is happening around you, you will be in a better position to organize your thoughts toward what you should or should not be doing in relation to those happenings.

When you have your thoughts organized, you can put a plan in place that places you in the best possible position to succeed today and going forward.

When you are following your own plan, you are much more likely to enjoy your life because you are making your own decisions and creating your own consequences.

If you make it a point to actively observe the people who you work with on a daily basis, you will gain perspective as to who they really are, what motivates them, and where you might share some common ground.  When you have a handle on these things, you can figure out how to work together and ways in which their strong suits will compliment and supplement yours.

This type of awareness is a very powerful attribute to utilize if you wish to be an effective leader.  When your words and your actions accurately reflect the thoughts and motives of those around you, people will want to work with you and even follow you.  When those around you follow you naturally as opposed to simply being told to follow you, the bond that you share and the teamwork you produce together will be much more significant than anything that is artificially generated.

Purposeful observation will not only help you in your career, it will help you to be a better family member, friend, and ultimately a better person.  If you know that someone you care about needs an encouraging word because you were alert to their mood, you can take action that ensures you are the one delivering that needed encouragement.

When you demonstrate the meaning that others have to you and in your life, those same people will often reciprocate in the emphasis they place on you and the things that are important to you.  Family ties can be more meaningful and friendships can be more rewarding.

The act of effective observation can also directly enhance your own life’s experiences.  The more you are aware of the events in which you participate, the more vivid your memory of that event will be.

Do you sometimes wonder why certain conversations or circumstances are easier to remember than others?  Many times, it boils down to whether or not you were paying full attention at the time the conversation or event was taking place.  The more attention you pay at the time an event is occurring, the easier that event will be to remember.

If you remember your past more vividly, you will create memories that are more fulfilling and useful to you.  As an example, if you remember specifics about a decision that went wrong, you will be far less likely to make that same mistake in the future.  Conversely, if you specifically remember how great it felt when a particular decision you made helped you to achieve success, you will be far more likely to appreciate that success and go after it with even more determination the next time.

Observation is a key component of participation and being an active participant in your career and your life is so much more rewarding and fulfilling than when you are standing on the sideline as a disinterested bystander.

Just like so many things in life, it is up to you to make your power of observation a priority.  It will take some work and determination on your part, but the payoff is totally worth it!

Scott Arney
Chief Executive Officer
Chicago Patrolmen’s Federal Credit Union

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