Ten Desirable Skills for Police Officers and Police Managers - Research Paper Example

Police Problems and Practices) Part I: Ten Desirable Skills for Police Officers and Police Managers Introduction Policing is oneof the most challenging careers. The role that police officers perform is so demanding that it poses a lot of pressure on them. They are required to posses various skills because their work situation subjects them to following of traffic offenders and capturing of criminals. These duties require police officers withstand pressure and make rational decisions in urgent situations. Given this, police officers and managers ought to possess some skills so that they can perform their duties effectively. A person who is capable of transferring his or her knowledge into action is said to possess skills (Swanson et al, 2012). In this essay, ten of the top skills that police officers and police managers should possess are evaluated. The evaluation involves explanation of the skills, the kind of police position that requires that skill and where the skill is taught or trained. After this analysis, the essay identifies communication as the one critical skill among the ten skills that have been evaluated, which is generic in the sense that it is a broadly required task in the police management functions and delves into the details on how to carry out this communication skill. In addition, the steps that are involved are explained while the instructional material that is used to teach communication skills is outlined. The essay also explains the problems that go along with communication skills. 1. Computer Skills Given that we live in the information age, there have been technological advances in information. The world has moved from the old file and paperwork system to a system where information is stored in databases and processed by the use of modern gadgets such as computers. The emergence of the Internet has even made the use of computers a basic requirement. Almost every task is performed by the aid of computers. As a result, Internet related crime has increased tremendously. According to Travis (2011), computer related offences have increased while the need to store and process information has also increased. Computer skills are vital skills for officers who engage in the enforcement of law. Police officers and police managers require to be acquainted in computer skills because police officers are required to update databases in computer systems, among other clerical tasks (McDavid, 2007). Possession of computer skills aids police officers at the constable and other lower posts, as well as, police managers to identify fingerprints through a computer system. In addition, police officers are able to manage databases of crime information and carry out crime scene management and mapping, as well as, processing information and communication with collogues and seniors. Computer skills for police officers are essential in addressing cyber crime in terms of identification, detection and investigation. This can be achieved by the use of computers to carry out surveillance or monitor Internet users. I identified this skill from Pauw et al (2011), where the need for training of information and computer skills of police officers at all levels of command is emphasized. It should also be noted that policing is duty that depends on a system of networks. It is, therefore, supported by information technology, where electronic information files are accessed and transferred via portable computers and cell phones (Murray, 2014). A police officer can receive training on computer skills from the Police academy. Those who wish to further their training can seek it from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, which trains police officers on identification and prevention of computer fraud. 2. Conflict Management Skills Majority of the duties of police officers involves resolution of conflicts, especially at community level (Miller, Hess, & Orthmann, 2013). Therefore, police officers always face situations where they ought to solve conflicts that exist between community members or an issue that causes conflict to society. Also, police managers and police officers have to solve conflicts that occur amongst themselves. Therefore, conflict resolution or conflict management is an essential skill for police officers and police managers. Conflict management skills are applicable in top management, mid-level management, lieutenant and captain positions. Effective communication is a vital element in conflict resolution while police officers seek to communicate the department vision, solve interpersonal problems and provide guidance (Swanson et al 2012). Police officers should react to the causes or symptoms s of the problem, after identifying them effectively. Police officers are required to understand their own feelings about conflict as they manage conflicts. They should also identify triggers of conflict such as the tone of voice or words. This is helpful in control of a police officer’s emotions, as well as, the motions of others. Conflict resolution involves a greater task than just hearing what one has said. It involves understanding of those words (Greene, 2007). Conflict resolution skills for police officers help them to avoid unnecessary conflict with members of the public (US Fire Administration, 2005). This is because they help police officers to identify disputes that require mediation and protect themselves (McGilli, 2000). I identified this skill from Jones et al (2005), where the need to train police officers on conflict resolution is outlined. Training for this skill can be sought from the Conflict Resolution Academy LLC. 3. Writing Skills Police officers have to enforce law through their duties. Given that incidents ought to be recorded, a police officer should possess writing skills. These skills are essential in incident report writing (Holden, 2006). The requirement that evidence, investigation procedures and results should be documented obliges police officers to be proficient in writing skills so that they can be able to write reports. Police work is associated with a lot of paper work (Ortmeier, 1999). A police officer has to reduce almost everything that s/he does to writing. Properly written document determine whether police officers can arrest a suspect, prosecute him or her to be convicted or sentenced. It is from Orthmann and Hess (2012), where it is asserted that a claim that police officers ought to be proficient in report writing is an understatement, that I identified this skill. Writing skills are essential in effective criminal prosecution and avoiding delayed application of justice procedures. In addition, communication with superiors, co-workers, judges, the public and members the media is carried out through writing (Northeast Editing Inc., 2011). One can seek training for writing skills from police academies and the FBI Law Enforcement Training Academy. 4. Interrogation Skills Police work involves addressing various crimes. Whenever a crime has been committed, there has to a criminal and in most cases a witness. Interrogation skills are essential for police officers who have to seek information from suspects. Closely related, are interview skills, which aid police officers to collect information from witnesses. The approach used in interrogating suspects in crime determines whether a police officer will obtain the required information for prosecution or not (vadackumchery, 1999). Therefore, interrogation skills are essential revealing information from suspects in crime. This skill has been identified from Wadman (2009), in which it is emphasized that though police officers are required to prevent crime, it is imperative that they should have skills on reacting to crime. In their bid to prevent crime, police officers should also be proficient in interrogating suspects so that they intercept planned crime. Training on interrogation skills can be obtained from Yale University and from the FBI Academy. Also, Police academies train interrogation skills as a basic training requirement for police officers. 5. Communication Skills Police officers have to interact with people while performing their duty because they are required to guard citizens. They need to corporate amongst themselves, other agents and their seniors. Communication is required for concise passage of information and instructions or guidelines. Documents are involved, at times people have to be ordered to drop their weapons, questions have to be asked and others answered while one may be required to provide evidence in court or give public lectures to institutions and press. With communication skills, police officers and police managers are able to persuade others without resorting to force. Though one is under pressure, effective communication enables one to accomplish tasks, which could have been impossible with physical abilities alone (Glenn et al, 2003). Police officers should record every incident, ranging from a simple dog bite to murder (Palmiotto, 2012). I identified this skill from Brown (2012), where it emphasized that police officers should have effective communication skills, which are necessary in building trust with the public. These skills are important in problem solving and carrying out of investigations. They are also essential in collection and recording of witness, criminal and victim information. Training on communication skills can be sought from the FBI academy and police academy available nationwide. 6. Public Speaking Skills Police managers ought to possess public speaking skills. These skills enable police officers to address members of the public. With effective communication, such police officers and police managers can pass relevant information successfully. It should be noted that public speaking does not involve giving all the information to the public. Discussions should be controlled and messages passed effectively so that vital information for investigation or prosecution is concealed. The public’s safety should be guarded from poor transfer of information that leads to jeopardy, violation of rights of suspects or alteration on investigation processes. Police officers ought to speak tactfully such that the public does not create wrong perceptions, which might jeopardize the information being passed across. I identified this skill from Peak et al (2010). All ranking police officers or leaders are required to have public speaking skills to address the public, and to be able to effectively communicate with crowds. Training for public speaking is available at Florida Law Enforcement Public Information Officers Association and state Police academies. 7. Driving Skills Driving is vital for police officers because it is necessary in vehicle or criminal pursuit. This is because majority of the duties of police officers involve driving, pursuing traffic offenders or criminals or stopping vehicles to prevent crime. In addition, police officers transfer witnesses, victims and criminals from one point to another through driving. Therefore, driving skills are critical skills for police officers because they draw a line between life and death. All police ranks require police officers to be proficient in driving. For instance, it is essential to possess driving skills to carry out street patrols effectively. Police officers should be competent in ensuring that they combine good judgment with steady concentration so as to achieve top-flight performance. Police officers and police managers are required to possess driving capabilities of handling vehicles under any driving conditions in any traffic situations. Police officers should note that routine patrol driving, emergency driving and pursuit driving are all different. I identified this skill from Bondurant and Sanow (2000), in which it is emphasized that driving skills are critical in the competent execution of policing. Training for this skill is offered at the FBI academy, where people train on Tactical and Emergency Vehicle Operations. Other institutions such as St. Cloud State University also offer training on driving skills. 8. Fire Arm Use In their day to day duties, police officers either use a gun or carry it along. However, police officers are required to be proficient in fire arm usage, as much as it a common weapon that they use every day. A simple mistake in handling a fire arm can result into a catastrophe while effective use of a fire arm can save lives. For instance, most high school massacres have been stopped by private, registered gun users who have been successful in intercepting the criminals. The same case applies to police officers who are proficient in fire arm usage. From Johnson (2008), I identified this skill, where police officers should ensure that they are equipped with thinking skills that are associated with fire arm usage. All the components of a fire arm and the legal issues associated with the use of force should be understood. Fire arms should be used with intelligence. A police officer’s ability to use a fire arm to protect or rescue people determines their fate. Police officers can obtain training on fire arm usage from the Police academies within the country. In addition, other special institutions which provide security police training offer fire arm training to officers while training on fire arm usage is a basic training which all officers are required to complete. Training on fire arm use is offered by Police academies. 9. Motivation Skills Motivation skills are a special kind of skills that police officers in higher ranking should possess. This is because police managers and those in higher positions are supposed to give instructions and guidelines to junior police officers and evaluate the implementation of such guidelines by such police officers. In case, they realize that police officers in lower ranking positions are not effective, they should motivate them. They should seek to influence other police officer’s desire and perceptions to the best. This will ensure that police officers within a department can be able to achieve high levels of performance. This skill was identified from Lynch and Lynch (2005), where the need to motivate police officers is given priority. It is worthy to note that police officers always have expectations about the effect that their efforts are likely to have on the behavior of other people. The outcome, compared with these expectations distinguishes perceived success from failure. Therefore, a police officer’s motivation to perform in a particular way and at that level is influenced by his or her expectations regarding the attractiveness of the goals involved. The role of a police manager is to discover that a police officer’s expectations to perform at a certain level are low and motivate such an officer so that the department or agency can achieve its goals. Training on motivation skills can be obtained from Police academies under the Field Training Officer and Police Training Officer programs. 10. Coaching Skills Police supervisors are charged with the responsibility of providing guidance and motivation to officers who are under their supervision. This means that coaching skills are essential in facilitating their roles because they have to serve as mentors and coaches. Coaching involves assisting police officers to carry out their responsibilities. This is achieved through resource identification, coordination and problem solving. Coaching skills are a special category of skills that are meant for police managers and supervisors, who should serve as facilitators while assisting officers to achieve their objectives (Brown, 2012). This skill was identified from More and Miller (2014). Here, the need of supervisors to possess management skills in the capacity of mentors or coaches has been stressed. Field training officers are also responsible for coaching police officers during training and development. Coaching creates a positive environment in which junior police officers and supervisors share work and trust each other. It leads to the development of professional officers who are likely to become successful in their career and lives. Training on coaching skills is available at Police academies under the Field Training Officer and Police Training Officer programs. Part II: Communication as a Critical Factor Among the aforementioned skills that good police officers and managers should posses, communication skills are critical in the role of police officers and police managers. This is because communication is a core function that each of the other skills requires. Effective communication skills are required when undergoes driving training. Effective communication is also essential during public speaking, coaching, motivation, and public speaking. Therefore, police officers and police managers should communicate effectively so that their intentions are known, no matter the condition of the recipient. The recipient may be deaf, blind, enraged, under the influence of drugs or unfamiliar with the normal police procedure, but a police officer should use communication skills to pass information across effectively (Glenn et al, 2003). Similarly, police officers and police managers should ensure that court transcription services are accurate to have deaf people participate in court proceedings. Police officers should learn sign language or seek interpreters so that they can interact with individuals who are dumb, deaf or blind. This applies when police officers are required to advise criminal suspects of their rights or interrogate them (Bristo, 2000). Police officers are required to prioritize the provision of aid to people with disabilities so that they can treat them as other citizens (More & Miller, 2014). When interacting with members of the public, colleagues or seniors, police officers should ensure that they are capable of passing the message without resorting into force or violence (Giles, 2002). When communication is carried out tactfully, there are no problems associated to confrontation. Training on communication skills enhances problem solving in law enforcement because problems can be handled when there is adequate communication. Police officers ought to use communication skills in interacting with the public, their colleagues, the media and their seniors. Similarly, police managers require communication skills in instructing and providing guidelines to their juniors. Communication skills are broadly required in the police management functions. Report writing is a skill that depends on communication. A police with communication skills is able to follow the necessary steps of writing reports. These include carrying out a proper inquiry by examining all the relevant data, analyzing the findings and communicating the findings concisely (Palmiotto, 2012). There are various professional articles such as the FBI Manuals that police officers may use to obtain knowledge on effective communication skills. Also, there are numerous textbooks on effective communication skills and how they can be obtained. Journals related to law enforcement and effective communication can be used to teach police officers and other public officers. It should be noted that communication may not be as effective as anticipated due to differences in culture and understanding levels between citizens and police officers. The cultural differences lead to misperception, which cause communication problems, leading to misunderstanding (Norales, 2006). References Bondurant, B., & Sanow, E. J. (2000). 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Professional Police-Witness Interviewing. New Delhi : A.P.H Publishing Corporation. Wadman, R. C. (2009). Police Theory in America: Old Traditions and New Opportunities. Springfield: Charles C. Thomas Publisher. Read More