Talking With Your Hands

People talk with their hands.

Words come out of mouths but meaning comes from members.  Exclamations, sincerity and genuineness can be punctuated by hands.  Communicating with gestures is effective.

Think Danny DeVito.

An officer talked with his hands.  

Whenever he spoke, about anything at all, his hand fell to his sidearm.  Sometimes he softly cupped the butt of the gun between his thumb and forefinger.  Other times he shifted his weight onto the weapon by placing his palm and leaning.  When he really wanted to make a point, the semi-automatic would be gripped.

A slight tug left the barrel in the holster but the weapon in his hand.  He would pull the gun up an inch only to replace with the conversation's cadence.  Up and down, in and out of his hand, the handgun was just as conversant as its proprietor.  

Subjects varied; small talk and philosophy interested him, but each subject was accompanied by firearm fondling.  He talked with his hands.  Feedback from nervous listeners, interpreting his firearm fondness as a threat, seemed to fall on deaf ears.  

He meant no harm.

Civilian complaints about fearful exchanges may have been lodged but old habits are hard to break.  Police culture includes gun culture; he was one of many cops who talked with his hands.  

What's the big deal?

"What's the big deal?" asked a reader.  

"I have never feared the police.  Why would I?  They are here to help," pressed an audience member. 

"I guess everyone has a different experience," said another.  "You were terrified of police, but have things changed for you?  Are you still scared of cops?"

The Lord is my light and my salvation.  Whom shall I fear? ~ Psalm 27:1

Gun whisperers now think twice before touching sidearms because departments are implementing Axon Signal Sidearm.

Signal Sidearm is a sensor that alerts cameras when a firearm is drawn.  Because cameras in the cruiser and on the officer's chest begin capturing footage, moving a weapon an inch now requires an explanation.  Awareness of technology that polices the police comes from proximity.

The Lord continues to use Christian outreach among first responders in unusual ways.

Some departments have made behavior that discomforts civilians uncomfortable for cops.  New patterns of behavior, like limiting sidearm touches, are the result of internal changes.  Perhaps citizen feedback played a role.  Litigation can bring about change.  

Sometimes cops just do the right thing.

An officer has kicked a habit because his department invested in technology.  

What's the big deal?

Watching the change has been otherworldly.  He had no idea how nervous he was making his chaplain but the Lord knew.  Asking God for change works, when we think to ask but the Lord was never asked. Seeing the Holy Spirit work among law enforcement professionals is a big deal.

We still see each other and he's still a storyteller.

He still talks with his hands but now they're empty.

Think Danny DeVito