Litter pickup patrols called "police calls" in the military are a big deal and can quickly bring heat from the chain of command (upper management).
While in command at Fort Eustis in Virginia, the post command sergeant major stopped by our office and began critizing my battalion command sergeant because one of the "police call" areas on post, for which we were responsible, was a mess. He went on to chastise us for not having our priorites straight charging that we were performing our "police calls" duties poorly or ignoring them. He said it was unacceptable as the area of concern was a fast food business that operated on post and was constantly viewed by visitors to our post.
A quick call by my sergeant major, to our company that was responsilbe for the area, found that the company had been conducting unannounce "all hands on deck" readiness exercise. A super sensitive drill that also was blessed with alot of attention from higher headquarters. This required all personnel to be present for the first couple of hours of the day. As soon as it was over they planned to "catch up" on other duties such as the "police calls". They had their priorites correct and were not performing their "police calls" duties poorly nor ignoring them. They just had not gotten to them yet due to another priority from our post headquarters.
Later I met with the post command sergeant major and being friends we reviewed the incident. I proposed that when we see something wrong, we should approach others with respectful consideration (1) that something beyond their control has prevented them from getting it done; (2) that whatever is wrong is not for a lack of trying to get it done correctly and (3) that only as the last thing to think should we suspect they have intentionally neglected their work or done it poorly.
So yes, Leaders should "Assume the Good; Doubt the Bad"
