Guide To Critcal Issues In Policing

Question 1

Critical Issue Topic Areas:

Guides to critical issues in policing

Answer 1

1. Police Use of Force and Accountability
2. Managing Mass Demonstrations
3. Police Encounters with Persons with Mental Illness/Behavioral Health Challenges
4. Civil Rights Investigations of Local Police Agencies
5. Community Policing and Establishing Police Legitimacy
6. Union-Management Relations in Policing

Question 2

A number of departments have begun to build their use-of force policies around statements of principle, emphasizing ___________

Guides to critical issues in policing

Answer 2

The sanctity of human life

Question 3

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department was a leader in this area, having adopted a policy in 2012 stating…

Guides to critical issues in policing

Answer 3

“ the Department respects the value of every human life, and the application of deadly force is a measure to be employed in the most extreme circumstances”

Question 4

Supreme Court 1989 Graham v Connor

Guides to critical issues in policing

Answer 4

The constitutionality of an officers use of force must be judged “in light of the facts and circumstances confronting them, from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene.

This test of reasonableness “is not capable of precise definition or mechanical application”.

Question 5

Rather, these departments aim to provide broader policies that reflect the Supreme Courts analysis, which provides that officers should consider factors such as:

Guides to critical issues in policing

Answer 5

• the severity of the crime at issue
• whether the suspect poses an immediate threat to the safety of the officers or others
• whether (the suspect) is actively resisting arrest or attempting to evade arrest by flight

Question 6

Could is not the same as should

Guides to critical issues in policing

Answer 6

The question is not, can you use deadly force? The question is, did you absolutely have to use deadly force.

Question 7

The analysis should not focus solely on the moment when deadly force was used..

Guides to critical issues in policing

Answer 7

You start from the beginning and look at each and every decision the officer made prior to using force.

Question 8

___________ have not shot a single person in the last three and one-half years, even though they handle 1.8 million emergency calls per year.

Guides to critical issues in policing

Answer 8

Scotland

Question 9

A key element of the UK response is a tool called the ___________ , which helps officers make logical, well informed decisions about many things, including how they respond to incidents involving mentally ill persons with knives, screwdrivers, rocks, or similar weapons.

Guides to critical issues in policing

Answer 9

National Decision Model (NDM)

Question 10

National movement of over _____ Major police agencies to the study UK’s model on critical thinking, de-escalation, additional responses options without the use of deadly force

Guides to critical issues in policing

Answer 10

20

Question 11

Regarding consent decrees the DOJ typically required use-of force policies to include certain elements including:

Guides to critical issues in policing

Answer 11

1. Clear definitions of the types and levels of force
2. Clearly described consequences for unreasonable uses of force
3. Polices, procedures, and training specific to certain weapons or types of force, such as firearms, electronic control weapons (such as tasers) and vehicle pursuits
4. Requirements for certification of officers in use of certain types of force; de-escalation techniques; reporting, documentation, and investigation of force incidents; supervisors response; and auditing and review of incidents.

Question 12

A consensus based on perf’s research and national conference decided that..

Guides to critical issues in policing

Answer 12

Training on use of force issues should be more holistic and integrated, with fewer lecture based training sessions and more “scenario based” training.

Question 13

Early Intervention System (EIS)

Guides to critical issues in policing

Answer 13

A computerized database of individual officer performance indicators that supervisors use to identify officers who may be engaging in improper or illegal conduct, such as excessive or unnecessary uses of force or abusive behavior toward community members.

Question 14

Indicators tracked in an EIS often include..

Guide to critical issues in policing

Answer 14

• Officer-involved shootings
• Other uses of force
• Citizen initiated complaints against the officer
• Internal investigations involving the officer
• Missed scheduled firearms qualification or missed court appearances
• Vehicle collisions in which the officer was driving
• Elevated use of time off
• Overtime usage
• Work-related injuries
• Unsatisfactory performance evaluation
• Civil litigation against the officer
• Tardiness

-An EIS may also track positive indicators, including satisfactory performance evaluations, awards, commendations, and community member thank/you appreciation letters.

Being flagged does not necessarily mean that an officer has engaged in misconduct.

Question 15

The U.S justice department’s civil rights division regarding consent decrees for EIS’s including police departments in Los Angeles, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Washington DC, New Orleans, and the New Jersey State Police required the following features:

Guides to critical issues in policing

Answer 15

• The system must be maintained and USED by supervisors and managers (not merely created and then given little attention)
• The EIS should have policies and protocols for data collection, maintenance, retrieval, data security, access, and other processes
• Personnel who create or use the system must receive proper training
• Threshold criteria for flagging risk patterns must be developed
• Follow up actions for supervisors must be specified
• Interventions by supervisors must be implemented in a timely manner, and must be tracked.

Question 16

Managing demonstrations and protests police have a DUAL role

Guides to critical issues in policing

Answer 16

They must work to ensure the safety of everyone present

They must work to protect participants first amendment rights to speak freely, to assemble peaceably, and to petition the government for redress of grievances.

It is not merely a best practice; it is a police departments JOB to protect these constitutional rights.

Question 17

In recent years there has been a growing recognition in the policing profession that managing demonstrations requires a _________ approach than sometimes occurred in the past

Guides to critical issues in policing

Answer 17

Softer

Question 18

The __________ Police Department pioneered the CIT concept in 1988.

Guides to critical issues in policing

Answer 18

Memphis

Question 19

The police and mental health workers respond as a team to critical incidents, and also work to resolve the underlying problems of “_________” whose conditions result in repeated calls to the Police.

Guides to critical issues in policing

Answer 19

Chronic consumers

Question 20

Suicide by cop

Guides to critical issues in policing

Answer 20

Threatening an officer with imminent harm in order to force the officer to use deadly force against them.

Question 21

The ________________ gives the U.S Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division authority to investigate state and local law enforcement agencies if there is reason to believe they have unconstitutional policies or engage in a “pattern or practice” of unconstitutional conduct.

The types of conduct covered by this law include excessive use of force, discriminatory harassment, false arrests, coercive sexual conduct, and unlawful stops, searches, or arrests.

Answer 21

1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act

Question 22

Mass Demonstrations Promising Practices

Guides to critical issues in policing

Answer 22

• Meeting with protest organizers to discuss plans and develop a working relationship of trust.
• Engaging demonstrators on the day of the event in order to show good faith and communicate the message that police are present in order to protect first amendment rights.
• Avoiding any unnecessary display of armored vehicles or protective equipment such as helmets and shields (“turtle gear”) but keeping such equipment ready at a nearby location in case it is needed to stop serious violent criminal activity
• Using the National Incident Management System to organize a complex response by multiple agencies
• Establishing clear lines of authority under mutual aid agreements in advance, and ensuring that police agencies from various jurisdictions know the rules established by the agency in command
• Developing a strong presence on social media such as Facebook and Twitter..that can be utilized during a major demonstration to communicate with protesters.
• Avoid making arrests if at all possible.

Question 23

Police chiefs also usually take the _______ role in negotiations over pay scales and benefits of employment

Guide to critical issues in policing

Answer 23

Management

Question 24

What are the six pillars from the presidents task force?

Guide to critical issues in policing

Answer 24

Pillar 1: Building Trust and Legitimacy- is key to maintaining a positive relationship between law enforcement and the community.

Pillar 2: Policy and Oversight- by the police must reflect community values

Pillar 3: Technology and Social Media- can improve policing practices and give departments an opportunity to engage and educate the community

Pillar 4: Community Policing and Crime Reduction- Law Enforcement agencies should work with community members to identify problems and collaborate on implementing solutions

Pillar 5: Training and Education- Law Enforcement agencies should engage with community members in the training process to ensure high quality and effectiveness of training and education.

Pillar 6: Officer Wellness and Safety- is critical not only for officers and their agencies but also for public safety

Question 25

Community policing is based on three core components:

Guides to critical issues in policing

Answer 25

1. Community Partnerships: Collaborative partnerships between the law enforcement agency and the individuals and organizations they serve to develop solutions to problems and increase trust in police
2. Organizational Transformation: The alignment of organizational management, structure, personnel, and information systems to support community partnerships and proactive problem solving.
3. Problem Solving: The process of engaging in the proactive and systemic examination of identified problems to develop and evaluate effective responses.

Question 26

In 2015, the Department of Justice’s COPS Office and PERF released “A Statement by Police Executives, Police Labor Leaders, and Elected Officials on Principles for Building Trust and Collaboration,” identifying five key principles for trust building between the Police chiefs and union officials:

Guides to critical issues in policing

Answer 26

1. Focus on finding common ground: Work toward the common goals of improving the safety of the community and police officers. Publicly stand together on issues. Undermining each other creates a divided and dysfunctional image.
2. Engage in open communication and seek input from one another: Strive for communication and transparency. Meet frequently, share information, and build personal connections with each other.
3. Handle disagreements with respect and professionalism: Disagreements will happen. Be professional and treat each other with respect. Notify the other party if you are speaking to the news media about a disagreement. Don’t take disagreements personally. Personal attacks will damage the relationship.
4. Understand and respect each other’s roles and responsibilities: Each side’s responsibilities are different. Both sides are trying to do their job. Focus on common goals and work together.
5. Recognize the link between promoting officer safety and wellness and building strong police community relationships: Job satisfaction and job performance are related to each other. Police chief’s and labor leaders should treat officers with respect, and thus “model” the way they want officers to treat community members.

Question 27

Union Management Relations in policing

Police chiefs also usually take the _______ role in negotiations over pay scales and benefits of employment.

Answer 27

Management

Question 28

2014 White House Task Force on 21st Century Policing 6 pillars

Guides to critical issues on policing

Answer 28

Pillar 1: Building Trust and Legitimacy- is key to maintaining a positive relationship between law enforcement and the community.

Pillar 2: Policy and Oversight- by the police must reflect community values.

Pillar 3: Technology and Social Media- can improve policing practices and give departments an opportunity to engage and educate the community.

Pillar 4: Community Policing and Crime Reduction- Law Enforcement agencies should work with community members to identify problems and collaborate on implementing solutions.

Pillar 5: Training and Education- Law Enforcement agencies should engage with community members in the training process to ensure high quality and effectiveness of training and education.

Pillar 6: Officer Wellness and Safety- is critical not only for officers and their agencies but also for public safety.

Question 29

The 2014 Presidents task force was given _____ days to “identify best policing practices and offer recommendations on how those practices can promote effective crime reduction while building public trust.

Answer 29

90

Question 30

In 2014 __________ created the White House Task Force on 21st Century Policing in response to a growing concern in many communities about police practices.

Answer 30

President Barack Obama

Question 31

Police departments that operate using a a procedural justice model seek to build trust by applying four elements to every aspect of their work:

Guides to critical issues in policing

Answer 31

1. Voice: Police provide procedural justice when they give community members opportunities to voice their concerns, or to “tell their side of the story.”
2. Neutrality: Police provide procedural justice when they treat people in a neutral manner and apply rules fairly and consistently.
3. Respect: Police provide procedural justice when they treat each community member with respect and dignity.
4. Trust: Police provide procedural justice when they demonstrate that they are trustworthy through their actions and words.

Question 32

Local community leaders can help police departments deliver______________ trainings and establish liaisons and advisory boards to address the needs of the communities.

Guides to critical issues in policing

Answer 32

Cultural Competency

Question 33

Police officials rely on the cooperation of community members to enforce the law, and the community’s willingness to cooperate is based on their perceptions of the _______ of the police.

Guides to critical issues in policing

Answer 33

Legitimacy

Question 34

Regarding procedural justice agencies should apply these concepts in their interactions with community members (_______________) and Police leaders should also apply them in their relationships with officers and other police agency employees (_____________)

Guides to critical issues in policing

Answer 34

(EXTERNALLY);(INTERNALLY)

Question 35

Community support validates the authority, or __________ of the police to enforce the law.

Guides to critical issues in policing

Answer 35

Legitimacy