Article # 1: MAGNUS – Describing the Magnanimous Officer*
Mitch Javidi, Ph.D; Sheriff Ray Nash; James Klopovic, DPP; Lt. Christopher
Hoina, Sr. MA; Anthony H. Normore, Ph.D; Timmy Valenti, JD; Lt. Col.
Wellington Scott; Col. Randy Watt; Chief Bill Cooper; Chief Ward Clapham;
Terry Anderson, Ph.D; Lt. Brian Ellis; Sherry Bass; Alexander Javidi
He most lives who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best. Aristotle
Why become a MAGNUS officer
Becoming a MAGNUS officer is your path to individual
happiness and accomplishment; it is the road to creating a
successful career in policing.
Policing continuously evolves. We are in an era of policing
where the police professional must help improve
community wellbeing based on mutual trust and respect
while maintaining safety and security. Whether you have
just graduated from the basic academy or you are in a
senior position, how you do your job, the influence you
have, and the legacy you leave will help shape how
policing services are delivered long into the future. In the
process of pursuing a virtuous life, which is principally
knowing right from wrong and acting accordingly, you will
receive much more from life. Know that your journey to
becoming the very best police professional you can be
begins here as you learn to become MAGNUS.
Magnanimous Man have guided people and civilizations
over 2,300 years and are just as pertinent today to
everyone as they were then.
Our more recent roots in English law enforcement are
seen in the basic ideals of policing outlined by Sir Robert
Peel. He took inspiration from living magnanimously and
built policing based on community trust and engagement
(humility), the use of reasonable force as a last resort
(wisdom), impartiality without favor (fairness) while
operating under the law (courage) all with efficient and
effective collaborative crime prevention. Peel then based
policing in the natural fact that, the police are the public
4
and the public are the police.
MAGNUS officers serve and protect with character, shared
vision, and credible leadership while pursuing virtuous
lives based on trusting relationships with consequences
that better themselves and the common good.
The Roots of the Magnanimous Officer
The MAGNUS Officer Defined
Aristotle introduced the virtue of Magnanimity, 340 BC, in
1
Book IV of his “Nicomachean Ethics and Eudemian.”
Magnanimity, magnus = great and animus = mind, means
greatness of mind or spirit. It defines a person who
disdains injustice and meanness even though it may mean
sacrifice of personal ease, interest, and safety to
accomplish useful, noble objectives.
The MAGNUS Officer is action oriented, fair, and
professional in every way. They develop the habit of
making deliberate choices guided by sound reason,
professional ethics, and personal character.
These
actions are not convenient, isolated behaviors; MAGNUS
officers embody true professionalism guided by the
continuous professional study and practice of virtuous
living. They do magnanimous deeds by acting deliberately
with compassion.
The MAGNUS officer conducts
him/herself with prudence and self-control.
They are
credible because he/she embodies the noble cause of
serving justice with character built on virtuous servant–
guardianship. MAGNUS officers are accountable and take
full responsibility for their actions even though a course of
action may be risky - but the right thing to do. In other
words, they conduct themselves on and off the job with a
moral compass and moral courage while paying forward
2
Aristotle defined the Magnanimous Man as the Virtuous
3
Man. Thus, from MAGNanimoUS we derive the term
MAGNUS law enforcement officer who embodies
Magnanimity, Self-control, Prudence, Humility and
Gratitude. Magnus also means great. The virtues of the
1
Aristotle. (2004). The Nichomachean Ethics. (H. Tredennick,
Ed., J. A. K. Thomson Trans. & J. Barnes, Intro.). New York,
New York: Penguin.
2
Howland, J. (2002). Aristotle’s Great-Souled Man. Review of
Politics, 64 (Winter 2002): pp. 27-56.
3
Havard, A. (2007). Virtuous Leadership: An Agenda for
Personal Excellence. Scepter Publishers.
4
Gaunt, R. (2010). Sir Robert Peel: The Life and Legacy. I.B.
Tauris. London.
the rewards of life and especially by building the credibility
of the policing profession.
Virtues of the MAGNUS Officer
MAGNUS Officers protect their morals by conducting their
lives free from wrongdoing caused by immoral, illegal or
unethical behavior.
They embody a synergistic
combination of virtues exemplified by the following:
Truthfulness – MAGNUS Officers are honest. They take
special care to be truthful and immediately come forward
when made aware of dishonest conduct.
Integrity – MAGNUS Officers never compromise honesty.
This includes never accepting bribes or stealing from or
defrauding others. They protect property under their care.
Honor – MAGNUS Officers earn respect by merit. They
are capable and well-rounded.
Nobility – MAGNUS Officers are guided by an internal
moral compass. They are driven by a strong sense of
Service, Justice, Peace and Equity. They never act
dishonorably.
Humility – MAGNUS Officers are modest. They maintain
a humble attitude that is reverent, grateful, and respectful
even while faced with resistance, ridicule, or disrespect.
MAGNUS Officers are content with their position,
compensation and status. They see without envy the
success of others as their success and the success of the
team.
Faithfulness – MAGNUS Officers are obedient. They
respect and abide by established laws of the State and the
Constitution. They are loyal to superiors while realizing
they represent more than themselves; this includes the
trust of those they serve, the authority of government,
organizational standards, and the ideals of the police
profession.
Respect – MAGNUS Officers are reverent. They refrain
from vulgar, obscene, coarse, or offensive language or
conduct which diminish personal credibility.
Responsibility – MAGNUS Officers take their obligations
seriously. They recognize that family is the foundation of
society, thus they work to strengthen their own families
and those of others.
Prudence – MAGNUS Officers are judicious. This is
exemplified by sound reasoning, adaptive decisionmaking, and thoughtful action. They avoid malicious
responses while using only that amount of reasonable
force necessary to accomplish lawful objectives.
Gratitude – MAGNUS Officers are grateful.
They
acknowledge the meaningful life gifts they possess and will
receive. They are quick to express how others have
contributed to their successes; in turn they are dedicated
to the successes of the community and ever grateful to
those invested in their lives and the lives of others.
Characteristics and Beliefs of the MAGNUS Officer
MAGNUS Officers work on understanding who they are
and free themselves from bitterness, anger, or prejudice
toward others. They believe in the following:
Shared Vision – MAGNUS Officers are goal oriented.
They inspire others to be likewise by sharing leadership.
They embody the highest ideals of the law enforcement
profession. They embody strict standards of conduct and
set high expectations for themselves and others.
MAGNUS officers by their example strengthen others to
pursue causes greater than self.
Shared Leadership – MAGNUS Officers realize that the
whole is greater than the sum. They realize that shared
leadership is an open-minded approach which inspires
organizational commitment, deeper pride in self and the
agency, and results in cooperatively building communitybased initiatives that reduce crime and improve citizenry
wellbeing.
Being A Catalyst for Progress – MAGNUS Officers are
action-oriented. They exemplify leadership by rising above
harmful thoughts, words and actions.
They are
inspirations of positive direction within an organization by
continually seeking ways to serve the community.
Health – MAGNUS Officers are actively involved in
personal readiness.
This includes physical, mental,
emotional, and spiritual wellness.
They are fit by
maintaining proper rest, diet, and exercise. They are
always ready for duty by continuously pursuing general
knowledge, technical skills, and personal and professional
development. And they remain enthused about life and
the honor of serving as a police officer.
MAGNUS Officers exemplify the best of the policing
profession.
MAGNUS officers are mentors.
They
recognize and embrace their role as leaders and rolemodels while promoting magnanimity within their
organizations and among the citizens they serve. They
believe that conducting themselves virtuously and serving
as a MAGNUS officer are both duty and honor.
*********
The Magnanimous Officer “MAGNUS” is developed under
copyright law by the International Academy of Public
Safety (IAPS) and the Institute for Credible Leadership
Development (ICLD).
Copyright © 2016 All rights
reserved. www.LEOsLEAD.org
Article # 2: MAGNUS – Describing the Magnanimous Officer*
James Klopovic, DPP & Mitch Javidi, Ph.D
We throw all our attention on the utterly idle question whether A has done as well as B,
when the only question is whether A has done as well as he could.
William Graham Sumner
Published & Available on-line: http://www.lawenforcementtoday.com/becoming-magnus-the-natural-pursuit-of-virtue-inpolicing/
The MAGNUS[1] officer introduced by Javidi et. AL. (2016)
is the virtuous officer. Simply, the MAGNUS officer
continuously seeks ideal character by pursuing virtues and
in the process, learns how to serve with distinction and
how to live a life worth living.
Realistically, reaching true virtue is difficult, impossible
most say, but what matters is that we try and by so trying
we become better and better. Thus, becoming a MAGNUS
officer is a journey, a way of life, a way of thinking,
speaking and behaving. The purpose of this article is to
extend the Javidi et.al (2016) work by offering a few
practical tips for beginning the journey. It gathers
information from a very few of our greats, ancient and
modern, who suggest how we can pursue an exemplary
life. Those that set themselves on this path inevitably
become much the better for the work where others say
they are well thought of, accomplished and quite happy
with life. What better way to pursue what matters than by
swearing an oath to serve and doing it magnanimously!
MAGNUS in other words, means the pursuit of moral
goodness (Cicero, 1971, p. 164 trans. Grant). Cicero
considered this our duty and it is a very natural thing to do
because human nature is predisposed to doing good. All of
us have it in us to be better. Yes, expect to struggle to
understand what virtue is and then to practice virtuous
conduct; but soon enough it becomes routine and a way of
life. It is simple but not easy; it is about doing good works
(Franklin, 1950 p. 107) at home, at work and in the
community. As we improve in body, mind and spirt we
become a whole person – a quality person who is honest,
dependable, compassionate and thoughtful (Cicero, 2012,
p. 8, trans. Habinek). In fact, the spirit of the MAGNUS
officer is that he and she never cease to improve
themselves, and by their example, better the character of
those surrounding them. This living virtuously is the best of
human nature (Cicero, 2012 p. 109, trans. Habinek). It is
not unlike that described by the ancient philosophers who
suggested why and especially how to pursue the Cardinal
Virtues as Plato defined and then refined the many to only
four:

Justice – Fairness. Continuously determine right
from wrong; from what is advantageous and what



is not. Being fair is about building not destroying
(Cicero 1971, trans. Grant).
Courage – Fortitude. This is about working hard,
sometimes beyond endurance, at doing what is
right and good. We must plan well to take
confident, deliberate, just action.
Wisdom – Knowledge. Continuously read, study,
learn and expressly apply lessons learned. See
what truly matters (Musashi 1974 p. 95, trans.
Harris).
Temperance – Prudence. Exercise restraint in
sensible behavior and modest living (Franklin
1950 p 98).
Of these, Justice is the primary virtue as determining right
from wrong determines all other virtues. Their pursuit
makes us more than what we otherwise would be. It is
about building and leaving a legacy of humble and just
leadership, courageous deeds, wise decisions and a
lifestyle of moderation (Cicero, 1971, p 197, trans. Grant).
It is the result of conducting a life worth living; the ancients
understood that virtuous living is worthy work. Their
thinking guided individuals, civilizations, religions and
republics, throughout the ages and it continues to do so
today. Our founding fathers studied and applied this
wisdom to improve themselves and consequently gave us
the greatest Republic in history.
Ben Franklin, inspired by the ancients, pursued his 13
Virtues (Franklin, 1950 pp. 91-93) by putting them on a
grid in a journal.[2] Franklin understood that thought and
ideas are nothing without action. He tracked each virtue for
a week so he could focus on one at a time, one day at a
time, almost hourly for seven days; the ever so practical
Franklin. Even he could not track all 13 at once. Every time
an infraction of a virtue, say Temperance, occurred, he put
a dot by it. That way he could work on improving one virtue
all week long, every waking hour including the weekend.
Franklin also understood the value of persistence. Since
he pursued 13 ideals he could go through each four times
per year for years and see the infractions diminish. He
continued to improve himself and those around him until
his dying day; his influence still remains all around us. Yes,
Franklin was a genius, but with this simple, practical action
of monitoring his pursuit of virtuous living he became one
of the most significant people in history and made our
world a much better place. Read his autobiography, which
he wrote at age 83, the year before he died. Perhaps you
can start your own grid today and track your dots.
The ancients, the Greeks, Romans and Asians, gave us
the philosophical foundation of the elements of character
which develop an individual who continually improves the
common good, whether it is their family, their work-place,
their community or their republic. Early in life every person
of note embarks in introspective self-study to understand
themselves, others and life. The warrior-philosopher,
Miyamoto Musashi, Japan’s most famous Samauri,
defined the Way of life which comes gradually by study,
training and experience because, “If you practice day and
night . . . your spirit will naturally broaden (Musashi 1974 p.
49, trans. Harris).”
The Asians understood as did the ancient Latins and
Greeks that the pursuit of a virtuous life is natural and
inherent in being human. The nine strategies of the Way
according to Musashi is remarkable life advice,
simple and profound:
1. Do not think dishonestly. The Master understood
that the thought leads to words, then actions, then
behavior and then to character. He also recognized
that it takes more effort to develop bad character
than it does good character. The ancient Greeks
and Latins equate Truth with Justice.
2. The Way is in training. It is not enough to read,
study and think. You must practice holistic, virtuous
living by improving your body, mind and spirit.
3. Become acquainted with every art. This is about
becoming a well-rounded person; much can be
learned from appreciating the beauty of art and
music, the discipline of sports and how a wellcrafted book communicates images, emotion and a
message. Diligently improving your writing skills
makes you a much better speaker.
4. Know the ways of all professions. Every way of
earning a living has lessons for how we conduct a
career. Can we not study the carpenter who starts a
home with a good foundation, gathers wood that is
cut sound and makes true corners, walls and a
roof? This is a metaphor for how we construct a
problem solving idea in the community, from the
bottom up.
5. Distinguish between gain and loss in worldly
matters. Simply, money is not everything. In fact, it
is worthless unless it is in the hands of a good
person. The ancients say that happiness is the
absence of (chronic) pain and (big) troubles. Just
about anyone can have that. What more life can be
to the student and practitioner of living virtuously.
6. Develop intuitive judgement and understanding for
everything. Be able to look at a few situational facts
then deduce the correct, often hidden meaning,
subsequent action and the repercussions of it. This
comes with experience, lots of it.
7. Perceive those things which cannot be seen. There
is always hidden meaning, usually the bit which is
most important, that which lies below the surface of
just about any circumstance, which most people just
don’t realize. Seeing what can’t be seen with the
naked eye is a matter of experience. This is also
large part of being wise and being able to impart
that wisdom.
8. Pay attention even to trifles. Is it not remarkable that
when we don’t have time to do something right the
first time, we always have time to do it over? The
greatest ideas are simply dreams and wishes until
they are slowly realized only by persistent,
determined attention to detail.
9. Do nothing which is of no use. Accomplished
people are rarely idle. Even their rest, relaxation
and leisure are meaningful. Consequently, they
accomplish more than what seems humanly
possible and gain great satisfaction from life.
Mushsashi’s introspection, A Book of Five Rings, written
almost 450 years ago, is still available and was one of a
few volumes in Napoleon’s mobile command post when he
was captured at Waterloo. It is a book that matters. While
it is written in martial terms, it can and must be read and
reread. New insights happen with each reading.
Be deliberate about acting on those insights!
The ancient philosophers gave us the path; we must bring
the spirit of endeavor to it. The MAGNUS officer evolves
their good character and leadership ability by being
deliberate, by constantly working, improving, evolving, in:




Thought – Read. Develop your professional
knowledge and skills. Take classes; finish that
degree. Understand the power of good
communication and be proficient in the spoken,
written and electronic word.
Word – Be compelling. Practice persuasiveness
where the result is win-win.
Action – Take deliberate action. Nothing happens
without working at it. But always think about the
repercussions of what you do. When you act
rashly, the unintended consequences tend to be
negative. When you act with forethought, the
unintended consequences are usually good.
Deed – Do good works. Act as if you will be
remembered, because you will.
This article is meant to begin a journey of self-discovery,
growth and accomplishment. It is a virtuous cycle of, “. . .
growing, knowing, discovering, remembering (Cicero 2012
p. 33, trans. Habinek)” and growing again. While it is a
path of many and continuous tests of determination and
character, it is as exciting as it is worthy. It matters how the
game of life is played. You can begin this moment:



Maintain a healthy lifestyle – There is always time
to take care of your physical self. You can exercise
every day. You can eat right. You can control
stress. Make health a habit.
Study, think – Always have a book at your side.
Enroll in career-long leadership development
classes with the goal of becoming a Credible
Leader.
Develop virtuously with zest for life – It is just the
way of things that the more and harder you work on
becoming virtuous, the more accomplished and
enthused you become about the work of it. You find
yourself in a virtuous cycle of improving and feeling
energized about that growth.
The benefits of the journey are really many and worthy.
Let’s turn to Franklin (p 98) again for inspiration about
what the journey did for him:



Real accomplishment – You will get better and
better at living and life. Expect longevity way
beyond your career when you will have your
greatest impact.
Earned respect, honor and trust – You will leave a
legacy to your community, your peers and
especially your family.
Happiness – Living with integrity and being just is
the definition of a life well lived.
Perfection is not the goal, but effort and persistence is; by
your trying the person mends (Franklin, 1950 p. 98). Start
small, keep it simple and proceed incrementally – But start
you must.



Acquire knowledge – Build a small library by some
of the best thinkers of all time. Buy and study the
books in the References. Write all your thoughts in
the margins.
Learn – Determine to enroll in the Credible
Leadership curriculum and commit to completing all
the phases. As you learn, teach those around you.
Train – Track your growth. Do something for the
body, mind and spirit every day.
We suspect you are asking basic questions. “Why should I
commit to the virtuous MAGNUS journey?” “Where will I
find the time?” “What can I expect?” “How will it affect me
and mine?” Simply, you will achieve more personally from
yourself and get more, much more, out of life. You will
grow in self-awareness – more cognizant of what matters.
Trodding the journey will become routine and rather
quickly at that. You will be much more resilient when, not
if, you go through the ups and downs of a career.
As you become a better and better person you will become
a better father, mother, spouse, friend, policeman or
woman and more successful at home, on the job and in
the community. Most important, you will continuously
develop your strength of character as your depth of
understanding right and wrong, good and bad grows.
. . . by the endeavor (of seeking a virtuous life, I became) a
better and happier man than I otherwise should have
been. – Benjamin Franklin
Notes:
1. Extracted
from
Aristotle’s
discussion
of
magnanimity or magnanimous from which we coin
the term MAGNUS. Socrates (b. 471 BC) began the
discussion of how virtue defined character. Plato (b.
428 BC) made the case that happiness depends on
living virtuously. Essentially, Aristotle (b. 384 BC)
argues that to live well, that is live a meaningful life,
one must be virtuous. Together they make a
compelling case, and fascinating reading, that the
pursuit of virtue is the way to conduct a life worth
living and worthy of the work; it is the key to
success and happiness.
2. Benjamin Franklin’s 13 virtues are: Temperance,
Silence, Order, Resolution, Frugality, Industry,
Sincerity,
Justice,
Moderation,
Cleanliness,
Tranquility, Chastity, Humility. They are in his
autobiography and worth a read.
References
Cicero, M 1971, Selected Works, trans. Michael Grant,
Penguin Books, Middlesex, England.
Cicero, M 2012, On Living and Dying Well, trans. Thomas
Habinek, Penguin Books, London, England.
Franklin, B 1950, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
& Selections from His Other Writings, Random House,
Inc., NY.
Javidi, M., Nash, R., Klopovic, J., Hoina, C., Normore,
Valenti, V., Scott, W., Watt,R., Cooper, B., Clapham,
W., Anderson, T., Ellis, E., Bass, S., & Javidi,
A. (2016). Magnanimous Officers. The International
Academy
of
Public
Safety.
Available
Online: http://leicld.com/magnus/
Musashi, M 1974, A Book of Five Rings, trans. Victor
Harris, The Overlook Press, Woodstock, NY.
*********
The Magnanimous Officer “MAGNUS” is developed under
copyright law by the International Academy of Public
Safety (IAPS) and the Institute for Credible Leadership
Development (ICLD).
Copyright © 2016 All rights
reserved. www.LEOsLEAD.org
Article # 3: Becoming MAGNUS – Success Is Equal Opportunity
1
James Klopovic, DPP; Mitch Javidi, Ph.D; & Nicole Klopovic, PA-C
First, say to yourself what you would be; then do what you have to do. Epictetus
2
Published & Available on-line: http://www.lawenforcementtoday.com/becoming-magnus-success-is-equal-opportunity/
This article continues the discussion from your MAGNUS
guide on how to pursue the journey of becoming a
MAGNUS officer. We began this discussion by making the
case that what matters is that an officer continuously
improves in the characteristics of virtue, that is, learning to
be increasingly fair, strong, wise and prudent. Essentially
living virtuously is simple but not easy. It is determining
what is right or wrong and doing the right thing in the
middle of the shift in the middle of the night when no one is
watching.
Becoming MAGNUS is a process of improving thinking,
speaking, action and deeds through the gradual process of
improving character. The best part of becoming MAGNUS
is that the journey never ends; by its process, you, family,
work, community and life continually get better. By
becoming MAGNUS, you will help define then lead the
next stage of policing evolution, epitomized by the
enlightened officer who sets the example by leading with
head and heart, with intellect and compassion. Enjoy the
road less traveled by.
Success consists of going from failure to failure without
loss of enthusiasm. WLS Churchill
Everyone has the Capacity to be Better
Demands of modern policing require officers who are not
only technically competent, they must continually strive to
be virtuous and thus contribute to the best of their ability to
family, those around them, career and the community.
The greats throughout history practiced what they
preached. Cicero became one of our greatest orators by
life-long study and practice, Mashushi is Japan’s greatest
Samauri because he lived the Way, and Benjamin Franklin
became one of our most accomplished and revered
Founding Fathers by acting on his 13 virtues as a young
man and to his dying day. They all had the pursuit of
virtue in common.
All started humbly, ended having lived lives worth living
and made the world as we know it a much, much better
place. Their enduring message is that everyone, yes
everyone, has the capacity to be better tomorrow than they
are today and consequently make their world much, much
better. This article continues the theme of the practicalities
of Becoming Magnus; after all, how one gets there from
here is always the question.
What matters most is what sort of person you are
becoming, what sort of life you are living (Epictetus, 1995,
p. xiv).
Character is a Matter of Choice
There are really no excuses to prevent you from beginning
the process of, or impeding your progress to becoming
MAGNUS. Think of the example set by so many people
who have what most would consider impediments to life
and happiness, yet they are accomplished in their own
way and happy. In fact, difficulties can uncover hidden
talents, resources and strengths; troubles to a person on a
virtuous path are really opportunities. How many times
have we experienced what at the time seems like the end
of the world, not getting a long-sought promotion, perhaps
losing a job then having to move to find work only to see
things work out for the better, albeit after a lot of work.
The difference is attitude.
I have seen so many
‘handicapped’ people live a full and productive life and
anyone can always be magnanimous. We all can have
generous impulses which we should indulge. There is
nothing like doing good even if it is a well-timed, welldeserved complement humbly offered.
A flourishing life depends on our responding, as best we
can, to those things uniquely incumbent on us. Epictetus
(1994, p. 89)
Decide to be Remarkable - Now
It has been said that a large part of success in life is just
showing up. What more if you show up ready and able to
work and set the example of one guided by a sense of
what is right and wrong. And that he or she behaves
wisely, with a bit of daring and a good dose of humility.
What we suggest is that we develop a noble, values-based
character which then intuitively guides our every action.
This is as simple as always trying to do the right thing – it
is called a moral compass which takes constant practice to
get right. This is not a new idea; the ancients prove that it
is better live a life of moderation. This does not mean
becoming a recluse. It means to live within your means
and doing simple but meaningful things. Learn to enjoy a
dinner with the family.
Go to every school event with your children that you
possibly can. Participate in making little improvements at
work by first doing a lot of listening and moving
deliberately to construct an improvement especially with
the people who can help you make it happen. Really
connect with your community in and out of uniform. This is
a process of iterations.
We must remember that one man is much the same as
another and that he is best who is trained in the severest
school. Thucydides
leave home without one. Experience something
new, even push your limits a bit. Stretching our
comfort level increases capability and ads to the
quality of life. Sign up for classes on your Institute
for Credible Leadership Development Academy
and commit to at least the first three phases.
Act – In the end you must act. Start small but
commit; do something to improve. Then immerse
yourself in the process, the journey of becoming
MAGNUS. As with all things, the more you
practice the better you are at the task at hand.

The First Step is the Toughest
Whether you are brand new to policing, or have a few
stripes, deciding to be better is tough. We all have years if
not formative decades of unproductive habits,
counterproductive behaviors, and perhaps a few character
flaws to overcome. So much of life is characterized by the
clever but exasperating saying, “Don’t just do something,
stand there.” So, take the first step, commit to being a bit
better and take action – Look, listen, learn, do. Look
within.
You can’t change the world without first
understanding yourself.
Asses your strengths and weaknesses. You may even jot
them down in two columns on a page; it is remarkable the
power of writing something down. Then prioritize what you
wish to and need to work on. Perhaps you see something
glaring which needs attention right away. Perhaps it would
be more advisable to correct something simple to get
going. Don’t forget that you can also bolster the good bits
of your character while you strengthen what needs work.
What matters is that you act; correct what can be
corrected and tweak the positive.



Observe – Perceive what is really going on. Most
times what you see is not what is really going on.
The face you see on a call for service is but the
beginning of what is going on with that person.
The first expression of an idea to improve your
working situation needs to be understood in the
context of the people, processes and procedures
required to get it done.
Listen - Carefully listen to what people say; when
you are quiet you can hear the nuances of what is
being said. It also goes that it is most helpful to
listen to people worth listening to. It is ok to ask
good questions. Many times, people really don’t
get to the heart of things unless they are asked the
same question posed several different ways which
brings them to the gem of information, perspective
or bit of wisdom that needs just a little coaxing to
reveal. Then you get to the root of a problem to
correct or the kernel of an idea which can be done
and will actually do some good.
Learn - Continuously learn. If you are not a
reader, pick up a book - right now. Surround
yourself with books especially those that have
something to say. A good book especially a
classic, is the way to wisdom, better command of
language and a lifetime of enjoyment. Never
A successful career is not a matter of a continuous
campaign to promote yourself, which is unbelievably
stressful. It is a matter of a thousand little things done
well and perhaps a little better than you did them the
last time. Living virtuously is not a big thing; it is
awareness of all the little noble things that can be
done throughout the day. It is the difference between
slogging through the day and feeling accomplished
after a shift – It is the practice of simply being useful
thus becoming remarkable, becoming MAGNUS.
The morally trained, rather than resenting or dodging
their current life situation and duties, give thanks for
them and fully immerse themselves in their duties to
their family, friends, neighbors, and Job. Epictetus
(1995, p. 89)
Notes
1. This is the second in a series of articles which
describe the life of a MAGNUS officer and how to
pursue it. The first article appeared in Law
Enforcement Today, December 4, 2016,
Becoming MAGNUS – The Natural Pursuit of
Virtue in Policing.
2. This article is inspired by the Ancients, in particular
Epictetus. He began life as a slave and ended it
one of the most significant men of and in history.
The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue,
Happiness, and Effectiveness (1995) is a
summary of his very practical wisdom gained by
doing what he said he would do and becoming
what he imagined he could be.
References
Epictetus, 1995, The Art of Living: The Classical Manual
on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness, Interpreted
by Sharon Lebell, HarperCollins Publishers, NY, NY.
*********
The Magnanimous Officer “MAGNUS” is developed under
copyright law by the International Academy of Public
Safety (IAPS) and the Institute for Credible Leadership
Development (ICLD).
Copyright © 2016 All rights
reserved. www.LEOsLEAD.org
Article # 4: Becoming MAGNUS – Guardian Heart of Modern Magnanimous
Officers
Chief Ward Clapham, & Mitch Javidi, Ph.D; James Klopovic, DPP
No one is compelled to choose the profession of police officer, but having chosen it, everyone is
obligated to perform its duties and live up to the high standards of its requirements —
President Calvin Coolidge
Published & Available on-line: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/becoming-magnus-whatsnext-guardian-heart-modern-officers-javidi?published=t
MAGNUS officers are warriors with Guardian Hearts
guided by the pursuit of virtue which is the source of their
strength. The Guardian Heart of MAGNUS Officers
determines the nature of their thoughts, words, actions,
deeds and every aspect or their leadership. They
continually evolve as magnanimous people. Eventually
their pursuit of being better people determines how well
they do in life, policing and what they leave behind.
In the process of becoming MAGNUS, they build a legacy
of respect, improvement and progress with everything they
touch. A true measure of the MAGNUS officer is how their
progress on living and acting virtuously can be seen in
how they impact their communities of family, organization
and those they serve. MAGNUS officers surround us. First,
they are peacekeepers. They know right from wrong, they
are a source of virtue, exemplify resiliency, model courage,
nurture creativity, have a passion for purpose, co-produce
problem solutions, and act to ensure results that improve
well-being.
There Is More to Policing Than Policing – MAGNUS
Officers are Servant-Guardians
Because policing is evolving it is not enough to just be
good at the technicalities of policing - what matters is what
police permanently build as policemen and women and
more important, how they go about it. You can build a
good reputation. You can form a cohesive policing team.
And you can devise and lead a permanent solution to a
community problem. What matters is that it is done by
being guided by a firm sense of MAGNUS virtues. That is,
there is more to policing than confronting crime and being
proactive; that’s a great start. As competent peacekeepers, they are aware of their trusted roles of duty with
honor as servant-guardians. Police must keep law and
order and be the change that improves community
wellbeing. This is the heart-beat of the MAGNUS
officer. Do you accept your potential and responsibility to
become MAGNUS!
There Is No Warrior vs Guardian
We as your MAGNUS guides need to dispel the false
notion a warrior really can’t be a Guardian. The guardian is
tough on crime, they police from a position of strength but
with intellect and compassion. When officers drift from this
distinction, the warrior mindset becomes the
confrontational narrative of ‘us versus them,’ and works its
way into policing DNA with negative
consequences. Policing loses its connection to the mission
of serve and protect. There is a better way.
Warriors throughout the ages were always guardians first
as are policemen and women today. They learn the ways
of a warrior because they must keep the peace and
commit to doing so by swearing to serve and
protect. There is a reason that serving comes first in our
oath. Police willingly enter a job, a career that is tough,
unforgiving and many times unappreciated, yet as they
pursue becoming MAGNUS they stick to it and never lose
their guardian heart – It is always there. Becoming a
MAGNUS officer allows a police officers to discover their
guardian-hearts or rediscover it should it become broken
or even cynical. It does not have to be that way. Becoming
MAGNUS opens the doors to opportunities,
accomplishment and reward – if an officer concentrates on
the worthy work of it.
Becoming MAGNUS Is Real Work and Real Reward
Being skilled as a MAGNUS officer greatly extends the
policing toolkit. There is always the possibility of an arrest
but not without being professional, preventive and
proactive first. Proactive MAGNUS police continue the
continuum of their policing toolkit because they have the
skills to problem solve in a way that strengthens the
community which is the best way to prevent crime and
community dysfunction. Becoming MAGNUS is many
times a more difficult way to police yet it is vital to policing
success and their part in the evolution of their profession
and, it is remarkably rewarding.
MAGNUS officers all have the heart of a guardian; they
would not be in policing if they didn’t. Officers begin their
careers to serve and protect as Warriors with a Guardian
Heart. Ask any Police / Sheriff / Law Enforcement officer
about The Calling; why they sign onto the job in the first
place. They proudly answer, it is to make a difference,
serve their community and their country, to help others,
protect the vulnerable – they describe what it is to live a
MAGNUS life.
You Are Part of The Next Wave of Policing Evolution Whether You Participate or Not
This traveling the road of personal discovery and
accomplishment which is becoming MAGNUS, helps
officers realize how great it is being MAGNUS. They are
living in the age of a new renaissance. We as Americans
have gone from an expected life span of about 48 years to
about 78 years in about one lifetime; many of us can
expect to live to 100. Unprecedented! What will you do
with your years? This galloping progress we live in
demands a new age of policing as reinvigorated guardians
guided by our Guardian Hearts, keepers of safe, secure
communities where policing renews its leadership role in
the community to help make it a place where families are
stable, productive, and happy.
Make no mistake you are the vanguard of the next wave of
policing evolution, the era of the self-aware officer who is a
fundamental part of our historical experiment in
governance and takes his or her part in it with
commitment, intention and gusto.
Always Ask “What’s Next?” - Then Make It Happen
Police just can’t deliver all the services expected of them
with continuous austerity and under the microscope of a
smartphone video. The future of policing, and public
services in general, is how local people muster
their own resources to address their ownproblems. Police
must ask, “What’s next?” and take positive action to figure
it out and lead. The role for the officer in the street now
and especially in the future is to ensure safety and security
while he/she participates in building permanent solutions
to local problems with local resources. Law Enforcement
can lead that reality. MAGNUS officers can lead this
inevitable evolution if not revolution.
The DNA of the Guardian heart holds the promise of
strength of character realized in strength, peace, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, selflessness,
commitment, harmony, compassion, safety and prosperity
for policing, community and family. This DNA is the
guardian heart of MAGNUS officers that compels them to
live a virtuous life to serve and protect even when they are
called to be a warrior.
Act as If You Will Be Remembered – Because you are
By committing to the unique honor and privilege to service
as police, you are leading the new wave of policing in one
of the greatest eras of governmental, civil and evolutionary
progress. You are smack dab in the middle of it with the
opportunity to make a real difference. What will you do
with this opportunity? How will you grow your Guardian
Heart? How will you make a mark in and with family,
policing and your community? Will you approach the day
with an eye to quitting time, counting the moments to
retirement? Or, will you dig into the day with enthusiasm,
beyond the disappointments and drudgery, and contribute
to the wellbeing of all you touch, starting and most
important with family. We are all so fortunate to be alive
now in this remarkable moment in history. Your task is to
materially improve things big and especially small. It is by
your example and a thousand little things done a little
better that the whole moves forward. MAGNUS askes:
“Will you act as if you will be remembered? - Because you
are!”
Bibliography
Clapham, W. (2011). Lead Big: Discovering the upside of
unconventional leadership. Published by Fair Winds Press,
Surrey, BC.
George, B. (2015). Discover your true north. Wiley &
Sons, Hoboken, NJ.
Javidi, M., & Klopovic, J. (2016). Becoming MAGNUS-The
natural pursuit of virtue in
policing. http://www.lawenforcementtoday.com/becomingmagnus-the-natural-pursuit-of-virtue-in-policing/.
Javidi, M., Klopovic, J., & Klopovic, N. (2016). Becoming
MAGNUS – Success is equal
opportunity. http://www.lawenforcementtoday.com/becomi
ng-magnus-success-is-equal-opportunity/.
Javidi, M., Nash, R., Klopovic, J., Hoina, C., Normore, T.,
Valenti, T., Scott, W., Watt, R., Cooper, B., Clapham, W.,
Anderson, T., Ellis, B., Bass, S., & Javidi, A.
(2016). Virtues of magnanimous officers. The International
Academy of Public Safety. http://leicld.com/magnus/
Klopovic, J. (2003). Effective program practices for at-risk
youth: A continuum of community based programs. Civic
Research Institute, Princeton,
NJ. http://www.civicresearchinstitute.com/epy.html.
Klopovic, J (Forthcoming, 2017). From the Bottom-Up –
Reforming the criminal justice system with capacity
Building, reentry and a movement. A series of four books,
Affinitas Publishers, Morrisville, NC.
*********
The Magnanimous Officer “MAGNUS” is developed under
copyright law by the International Academy of Public
Safety (IAPS) and the Institute for Credible Leadership
Development (ICLD).
Copyright © 2016 All rights
reserved. www.LEOsLEAD.org
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