Editor’s Note: This is the second installment in our newest series, “Ask Tung,” featuring Commander Eric Tung. With 17 years of experience as a police officer in Washington State, Tung currently oversees patrol operations and his department’s wellness and peer support programs.
In this series, Tung will share his expertise on fitness, wellness and leadership, providing valuable insights to help officers thrive on and off the job. From workout recommendations to wellness strategies and leadership guidance, “Ask Tung” is your go-to resource.
Have a question you’d like answered next? Send yours to Tung on Instagram @bluegritwellness or bluegritwellness@gmail.com.
This month, I received a question: “Will my young age be an obstacle to becoming a police officer?”
This is a question I’ve encountered frequently from police applicants and recruits. Many of us have anecdotes or opinions, drawn from personal experiences or observations as trainers, peers or supervisors.
There’s no doubt that youth — like any other observable characteristic — can be a source of bias or prejudice. However, this question can be broadened to include any aspect we might consider a challenge, obstacle or barrier in performing our duties.
So I don’t leave anyone hanging, I’ll start by addressing youth. As I’ve mentioned many times before, I was hired at the young age of 21. If you follow my social media, you may have seen a recent post of me in the academy, where I objectively look no older than 16.
Is this an obstacle to policing? It certainly can be. People often size you up as a cop. Beyond policing, and in the professional world in general, youth is frequently met with negative prejudice. People assume you’re inexperienced, lack wisdom, are impulsive or simply don’t know enough. And frankly, sometimes they might be right.
For the young, this can be turned into an advantage. Instead of overcompensating for it, let it enhance your awareness. Embrace it with humility, which can make you the eager learner every veteran officer on your team appreciates. Focus on recognizing what you don’t know so you can learn. Carry this mindset throughout your entire career, maintaining a high level of introspection to identify and dismantle any blind spots.
This isn’t just an issue for the young — seasoned officers know they’re judged, too. People on the street may think you’re too relaxed to catch them in their schemes (or in a foot pursuit). Colleagues might assume you’re out of touch. While I may sometimes come across as youthful, I’ve been an officer for 17 years, having worked assignments both on and off the street, and now serving in command staff. And yes, with that comes the patrol ranks wondering if I “still got it.” Just like being a young cop, “it’s a thing.” There’s no need to dwell on it — just acknowledge its existence and keep doing the work.
For older entry-level cops, people might think you can’t learn new tricks. As Jocko would say, “Good.” You know what you need to do. For the older patrol cop — stay limber and quick on your feet, whether it’s closing the distance or making the veteran move of hustling back to your patrol rig.
Keep those vigilant eyes scanning and share your knowledge with the younger officers — after all, you’ve seen it and done it. For the newly hired veteran of life, keep plugging away, do the work, and apply your life experience and wisdom. By doing so, you’ll excel and silence your doubters.
Impostor syndrome
As we discuss these examples, it’s important to talk about imposter syndrome. The phrase is exactly what it sounds like — it’s the feeling of questioning whether you’re legitimate in your role, wondering if you’re a “phony,” either incapable or undeserving of the position you hold.
Imposter syndrome, also known as the impostor phenomenon or impostorism, is a psychological experience of feeling like a fraud in intellectual and professional settings. A fraud? Ouch. No one wants to feel that way.
The concern about whether an officer is too young or too old is rooted in this concept. The doubt about whether someone without a degree can be an officer or a supervisor stems from the same place. The question of whether someone competing for a SWAT position against a peer with special forces experience, despite having top in-house training and range scores, is also rooted in imposter syndrome.
Psychology Today estimates that 70% of adults have experienced “impostorism” at some point in their lives, with high achievers being more susceptible to imposter syndrome — whether ongoing or at certain times. High achievers, those with high expectations for themselves and others, are common in law enforcement.
In fact, many might argue that we actively select for these traits in recruiting, hiring and promotions. This makes imposter syndrome particularly relevant in our professional culture.
Here are three tips for dealing with imposter syndrome:
- Stay positive: A positive mindset can help break us out of negative spirals. For example, a new officer can reflect on all the hard work that got them to where they are, recalling the tedious process they endured and the many candidates they outperformed to earn their spot. The SWAT applicant can focus on the countless hours spent at the range, dry-firing at home, and pushing through fast runs and pull-ups. By concentrating on these earned achievements, positivity can naturally follow.
Be objective: When people are feeling self-critical in any capacity, I often offer them a hypothetical perspective from someone else. This practice stems from my days in peer support, where I worked with officers struggling with moral injury or guilt. I ask them if they would judge a friend or peer in the same situation. Without fail, officers quickly respond, “Of course not.” That’s when they “get it.” We often don’t extend to ourselves the same grace we would offer others.
For a young sergeant or supervisor, it’s natural to second-guess your situation at some point. Did I promote too soon? Is my experience inadequate? Should I have built up my resume more? Again, by stepping outside of yourself and considering whether you would think the same about a colleague with identical credentials and experience, you may find a more objective and rational way to evaluate the situation.
Share feelings and failures: Drawing from my peer support background, I’ve found that simply sharing your feelings can improve your mental and emotional state. This could mean talking to a peer, mentor, coach or trusted friend. Sharing can also take the form of writing or journaling. Often, when we speak our thoughts aloud or put them in writing, we gain the ability to see or hear them more clearly, which helps us recognize their invalidity.
Reflecting on mistakes or failures can help validate your feelings and shift them toward empathy, self-compassion and constructive progress. One thing that has helped me is recognizing how many high achievers and influential leaders experience imposter syndrome from time to time. By reading about and listening to the mistakes of others, I’ve become more comfortable sharing my own — not only as a way to “pay it forward” within my agency’s culture but also for my own growth, allowing me to move onward and upward. This brings us back to the first point: staying positive!
Conclusion
It’s important to recognize that in police work, we will always be judged. Our actions are highly scrutinized — now more than ever. At the same time, we operate in a field where noticing small details can mean the difference between life and death. We belong to a selective, bonded culture where cohesion enables us to accomplish amazing things, while the lack of it can erode organizations.
Simply put, we pay attention to details, and judgment is a prevalent part of that. To work through anything, we first need to be aware of it. As the Stoics would suggest, after awareness comes the recognition of what we can control. What we cannot control, we release as best we can.
What we can control are our efforts, intentions and actions. We ensure that we’re doing forthright work with passion and purpose. What we can’t control are the impressions, judgments and scrutiny of others. We acknowledge their existence and continue forward. We also have control over our own self-judgment and potential perfectionism. We can practice a positive mindset and mindfulness. Repetitions build foundations, and that practice creates permanence.
When all is said and done, if nothing else, take the wisdom imparted by a certain Disney ice princess-turned-queen and “let it go.”
MORE: How can you tell the difference between occasional second-guessing and full-blown imposter syndrome?
