"Make a decision..right or wrong... make a decision"

 -Captain Christopher Colitti, NH State Police (ret.)., 1st Lieutenant United State Marine Corps

Among his many accomplishments, Chris was also the commander of the NH State Police SWAT Unit for a number of years. I served with the Unit during that time and his quote has remained with me ever since. He is still a close friend.

During one particular incident, those words rang very, very true. It seemed that an 18-year-old man was upset that his girlfriend wouldn’t let him visit their infant child. The young man armed himself with a 12-gauge shotgun and .308 rifle. This individual headed for a wooded area in Raymond. As the first trooper arrived on scene one rifle round impacted his headrest.

SWAT was activated and shortly afterwards, four of us arrived at the location and assumed positions that only offered limited cover. Numerous rounds flew overhead. However, the correct but certainly difficult decision was made not to return fire. The reason? We knew there were houses behind the young man’s position and we couldn’t place innocents in harm’s way.

Eventually, the entire team was on scene and after hours of negotiation the upset individual was taken into custody. No one was hurt and everyone went home.  “Make a decision…right or wrong…make a decision.”

We are tasked with making decisions every day. It would seem that most of these are minor in nature, depending on the situation at hand. What do I have for lunch? What shows do I watch before bed tonight? When can I have my hair done (if you’re my wife)? And so on.

Of course, we are also required to make major, potentially life-changing choices. Often these are made with less-than-optimal facts, but we make them just the same. Do I go forward? Do I go backward? Or do I just move out of the way?

We hope that all of our decisions are correct and that the outcomes are beneficial. Unfortunately, not always true. In my time, I have seen great decisions as well as poorly made ones, the latter tragically resulting in the worst outcome of all…the loss of a human life.

In January, 1980 I attended the 49th NH Police Academy (as I write this, the 182nd NH Police Academy class is in its third week). In those days, the academy was held at Pease AFB. We were housed in the visiting airmen’s quarters and our classroom was in the law enforcement building on base.

Our instructions for the first day was to muster at 0800 hours. Of course, we all arrived around 0600 hours and assembled in the first-floor lounge area. As zero hour approached, we saw neither hide nor hair of the staff. Our stated meeting time came and went.

In an effort to solve the mystery, it was decided that two recruits would reconnoiter in order to locate the staff. Time passed and no recruits and no staff. A second decision was made to send two more recruits. Again, time passed and no recruits and no staff. Our third decision was for the remaining members of the 49th to search as a group. We located our missing colleagues and the staff on the third floor of the barracks. Our excuse of, “You didn’t tell us where to meet” carried no weight whatsoever.

This was our first test. To put our successes (or failures) on the first day in perspective…I did 350 pushups (not all at once fortunately).

We were taught that not everything is black or white. We learned there’s a lot of grey that makes decision-making difficult. 

Of course, the night we decided to have a toga party (what were we thinking!?!) about half way through our then 8-week process proved to be a very poor decision. More yelling and more pushups.    

Today, we have very serious decisions to make. Every day brings new information and we’re asked to decide what to believe and what to do about it.

We make serious attempts at collecting as much useful information as we can, but even that can be lacking or downright incorrect. And yet, we still have to decide on a personal course of action.

Our leaders find themselves on the horns of the same dilemma. They are tasked with making decisions that have life altering outcomes. Make the right decision and they are heroes. Make the wrong decision and they’re villains. But decisions have to be made.

As I mentioned, we have to make decisions too. Do we lead, follow, or get out of the way? These are highly meaningful and important thought processes with far-reaching implications for us as individuals, for our loved ones and for our friends and neighbors.

My only words of wisdom…give the matters serious thought, make an informed decision and follow through. The results will become apparent.

As I write this, changes to our way of living are occurring again. As one unknown soul said, “Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same.” Remember, the world has changed and even though there are some things we will not see again we must move forward.

Please be careful, use your gifts and strengths to weigh the options you do have, be mindful of others and their thoughts, and always be safe.

-Chief David Goldstein