Protect us from evil

The question of policing in a peaceful democracy brings out the grey areas in pacifist theology. When is the use of force justified? If we decide policing is necessary and allow members of MB churches to use state force, why can’t we protect ourselves from foreign threats as well? What constitutes violence anyway? Here are two interviews that begin to ask questions closer to home.

When did you first decide to become a cop and why?

I first went to university to become a teacher but I basically felt a calling towards this profession. I felt the call to help people – to make the most difference for the most people, connecting to them in their time of need.

Growing up I always dreamed of serving but never thought of it as an option. I had no relatives or knew anyone who was a cop. I felt called. I prayed about it and talked to family. When I was accepted on my first try it seemed like an affirmation of what I was called to do.

I thought it would be a fun job as well. It never crossed my mind to go into the military however. My parents and extended family were very understanding and I had a lot of church support.

Was nonviolence emphasized at all as you grew up?

I think it was understood that my church had a peace position. My parents always taught me it was better not to fight back. In high school we studied church history and the roots of our confession of faith.

Would you call yourself a pacifist?

I’ve always been uncomfortable with that term – ideally we wouldn’t have to use force. In school the classic question was posed: Would you protect your family against aggressors? I always said, “yes, I would.”

Our teachers at the local MB high school made the argument that if you were a pacifist, you wouldn’t use force against others. Most students weren’t sure about it either way. We had very good instructors who let us see both sides of the argument – that’s actually how I was able to make the decision to serve in the police.

You mentioned earlier that you wanted to be the most help to the most people. How does using violent force help others?

I get a good feeling at the end of each day if I protect someone from a home invasion because I’ve potentially saved their life.

What’s the difference between keeping peace here in Canada and going to war in Afghanistan?

That’s a tough question. I’ve always seen a difference between the military and police objectives. That’s why I chose the police. We would only use force as a reaction to deadly encounter, we wouldn’t go looking for chances to use force, however.

What do you have to say about MBs rejecting police service in the past?

Who would you call in the middle of the night? I bet the same person who chooses nonviolence would be calling on me to protect them.

I have tremendous respect for everyone who has gone before. I’m not going to second-guess the choices anyone else made. But I know that I’m doing something I was born to do. Without the police, the city would go back to the dark ages.

Hypothetically, if the MB conference told you that police service was not possible as an Anabaptist, what would you say?

I feel that the gifts I’ve been given suit me for this position so if I didn’t use them I wouldn’t be fulfilling my responsibility. I would still do this job.

When did you first want to become a police officer?

My dream was to play hockey in the NHL – I never thought that I’d be in the police. My friends were hired and I thought if they could do it, so could I. My parents were concerned for me, but they definitely never said I couldn’t do this.

My pastor at River East MB, Winnipeg, wasn’t against it at all, although he didn’t encourage me to do it. At that time there, were struggles about that in the church, but I received no negative replies.

No one mentioned to me that I would be going against the grain when I took this job. I was 21 years old at the time.

What parts of pacifism do you retain?

As kids we all grew up against war, but I was always interested in military stuff. I very much believed in “turning the other cheek,” but when I heard stories of slaughters in Mennonite villages where no one protected wives or family, I never agreed.

In my view, there are two ways of turning the other cheek – if violence escalates due to my own use of force, then I would definitely turn away. But if the lives of my family members were on the line, there’s no way I would think twice about protecting them. In our everyday lives, however, we’re able to turn the other cheek most of the time.

Do you see yourself as using violent force?

Winnipeg is the murder capital of North America – we’re one of the most violent cities around. I don’t see myself as violent, but I use force against people who are being violent.

There’s an important relationship between extreme force and nonviolent coercion. I remember when we used to play hockey – both Christian teams would be chipping away at each other viciously and all of that was OK. Dropping the gloves was taboo, but after it happened, the game was cleaner.

In Canada, we’re very much like that – we like to chip away at crime but not finish it off. We’re arresting people who have 100 convictions but serve two months in jail.

The same principle plays in personal confrontations – sometimes you need to use extreme force to stop violence in its tracks, otherwise the situation escalates to the point where you’re shouting at each other. When fighting criminals, who represent maybe one percent of the population, we often resort to maximum force. Those who use nickel-and-dime force often end up in a worse situation with these people.

Is there a difference between your job here and the Canadian Army in Afghanistan?

I would say that Canada’s role in Afghanistan is very similar to the police. NATO is saying, “Help us!” and we’re responding – attempting to be peacekeepers.

In the Old Testament, war was usually about being the aggressor – to conquer the land. When you’re into that, it’s unacceptable.

I think it was Martin Luther who said, “if you’re going to kill the enemy, do it in love.” Is it possible to be a loving police officer?

You have to be a strong person. I loved the power and excitement of the job, but once you hit that 13-year mark you start to second-guess. The most stressful thing was not being able to help people. One day you make an arrest, and the next day they murder someone.

What would you say to a rookie policeman who wants to remain true to their faith? What kind of habits can you expect to develop over 20 years of service?

My biggest concern for young police officers is that you’re constantly bombarded with negativity. You start to hate people. You don’t understand why they can’t solve their own problems. You start to talk the language of the bad guys. You’re constantly judging yourself against the worst and saying, “Well, if he’s that far gone and I’m so much better, it won’t hurt to cross this little boundary.”

I think it’s important for young guys to have a pastor who can really listen to them. It’s going to be an astronomical challenge to their faith, and you can’t just toe the line when you’re confronted with human depravity on a daily basis.

If I had to do it over again I wouldn’t join the police force. For the first ten years I was eager to do the best for society and optimistic that I could make a difference. But I’m still arresting the same people I did 20 years ago. It just wears you down mentally.

What do you have to say about the Anabaptist peace position today?

When I left the MB church 10 years ago, I felt that the peace position was one of those defining characteristics that allowed it to ignore other serious issues such as prosperity.

Jesus never tells the soldiers he meets to lay down their weapons to follow him. But he does tell the rich man to give up his wealth.