Lady Justice: An Unwavering Symbol More Relevant to Our Profession Than Ever Before

As many of you know, being a part of our profession is more challenging and difficult than ever before.

With so much misguided anger, confusion and misunderstanding on what our profession is and how we all play a vital role, it is very easy to lose sight of what we took an oath and obligation to do. It is easy to forget the work that we do and the impact we have in the communities and public we serve and protect every day.

In these difficult times, I find myself reverting to and thinking about a symbol that reminds me of how important and necessary we all are to do the work we do. A symbol to keep me humbled and not lost in my emotions about the world and our jobs.

I am talking about the symbol of Lady Justice and what she comes to represent. One of the most prominent figures and personifications to ever exist, Lady Justice is the supposed moral compass across all judicial systems and the ultimate symbol of impartiality and fairness.

Let’s go over the symbolism she represents and how it relates to our profession:

• The blindfold she wears. It symbolizes being objective, impartial and treating everyone with the equality and fairness everyone deserves.
• The toga she wears. It signifies the mantle of responsibility and a high level of logic and philosophy we all must conduct ourselves as those in the field of law enforcement and justice.
• Double-edged sword. The sword of justice is a symbol of power and authority. It is a double-edged sword, meaning that it can be wielded either for or against each party.
• Scales. They represent the fact that justice must balance the needs of the individual against the needs of society. Justice must also balance the interests of another. They represent fairness. 

I find myself remembering the work we all must do and the huge responsibility we carry in this profession. No matter what is being branded of our profession, we still have a duty and obligation to serve and protect the public from evil. This must be done regardless of assignment or tenure. We must hold the line and make sure our mission and objectives are met. We must ensure the communities we serve are safe and that we all get to go home to our loved ones. We must remain professional, impartial, clear-minded and fair to everyone we encounter — regardless of what is thought of us as individuals and as a profession.

We must continue to hold the line of justice.

If you ever find yourself feeling out of sorts with your work or sometimes feel that our work is not making any sort of difference or impact, I implore you to think of Lady Justice and the symbolism she represents. We all “wear” what she wears and “carry” what she carries. The attitude we bring, the demeanor we show and the professionalism we represent are what make the difference. 

I want to personally thank you for all you do. As a partner in this profession, and as many as I can call neighbors as a resident of Los Angeles County, thank you for all you do. 

Please stay safe. If you ever need anything, I am a phone call or email away.