Police on Twitter and Facebook: An Open Blog Post

MSU Police are now on Twitter: https://twitter.com/msupolice and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/msupolice

I have recently learned that the Michigan State University police are on Twitter and Facebook!

Awesome! I think this is a great way to keep students updated and connected with our police officers here on campus. It also relates back to that idea of "service" style policing. When police and students are able to connect, it makes the university and the community a safer and more complete place.

Police are able to use these tools to let students know what to watch for, and how to reach police if they need. Students can feel comfort in knowing that police are always there to help, and having police on social networks can act as a constant reminder of that fact!

Practicing Your Knowledge: Police Officers at MSU

I have talked in earlier blog posts about the different styles of policing.

Well this past Saturday I was able to experience the Service style of policing first hand. At a MSU vs. U of M football game party in my dorm's lounge last weekend there was snack food, drinks (non-alcoholic), games, and "water"-pong. There was also a policeman who decided to join our party. He played some pong, hung out, and talked with some people at the party. 

As I watched the MSU officer socialize with some of the students I realized that he was demonstrating a style of policing where connecting with the community is important. Police at MSU feel the need to create a feeling of trust between them and students and this officer was showing that perfectly.

I was moved by the officer's actions and I actually did feel more comfortable. I now feel that I have a connection with police here at MSU. And as a service style unit, this is exactly what they strive for.

Police Suicide: An Open Blog Post

Studies have shown that Police officer suicide rates are close to double that of the rest of the American population.

Here is the link for suicide statistics of 2010: 

http://www.badgeoflife.com/suicides.php

As you can see, the police suicide rate per 100,000 persons is significantly higher than that of the general population.

Suicide is a very touchy subject, and it becomes even more important to protect against it when we find that the rate increases for policemen and policewomen.

Police are subject to a line of work that requires them to work under stressful conditions. These conditions include, but are not limited to:

-Use of lethal force

-Protection of the public

-Overwhelming amount of work

-Feeling that their work is insignificant

-Always being considered a role model figure

-Need to always stay calm

I would think that in areas where police are more exposed to this type of stress, the suicide rates increase.

I never knew that police struggled with suicide more than the general population. It does make me feel better to know that there are programs put in place to help police officers that are struggling with stress, depression, and suicide.

Works Cited

"THE BADGE OF LIFE." THE BADGE OF LIFE. Badgeoflife.com, n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2012.

Different Styles of Policing: An Open Blog Post

James Wilson was a political scientist that developed the theory that there are three different styles of policing. The type of community and the available resources will determine which style of policing each department may follow.

The first style of policing is the watchman style. Police departments that follow this type of policing emphasize maintaining order. Some criminal offenses will be overlooked as long as order can be maintained. These types of police are often found in communities where police resources are scarce.

The second style emphasizes professionalism and enforcement of the law and is called legalistic. Police officers of the legalistic style often stay out of situations in which laws are not broken. The legalistic style looks to efficiently enforce the laws of the land.

The third and final style of police is service. Police in upper-middle class suburban communities often observe the service style of policing. They look to enhance lives of citizens often by focusing on individual needs.

Each style of policing has advantages for the society it provides for. Policing styles reflect the ethics and morals of an entire police unit and not just of the individual officers.

Contemplating Controversy: The Death Penalty

The death penalty is a very controversial topic in the United States and in law enforcement today.

CLICK HERE to read many different viewpoints on the death penalty.

I think both sides of the argument have a lot of legitimacy. The side that argues that the death penalty is immoral states a few reasons why they believe so:
-The possibility of sentencing due to racial bias/prejudice
-Cannot have an 'eye for an eye' policy
-Killing is always wrong, no matter the context

All of these points made be the PRO side seem well supported and reasonable.
If we take a look at the CON side of the argument we can see the issue from a entirely different perspective. The side that argues that the death penalty is not immoral believes:
-They are following laws of the land
-Can have an 'eye for an eye' policy
-Honors dignity and makes people think twice

The basic difference between sides is the notion of life and death of a human being. When someone's life is at stake it can cause people to become very emotionally invested in what they believe is right and wrong.

Works Cited

"Is the Death Penalty Immoral?" Is the Death Penalty Immoral? - Death Penalty - ProCon.org. Procon.org, 30 Aug. 2008. Web. 22 Oct. 2012. 

Evaluating Sources: The Effects of Stress of Police Officers

Read this:

http://www.heavybadge.com/efstress.htm

Very interesting, I thought.

This speech also correlates with the material in my Criminal Justice class really well.

This speech was exactly what I expected when discussing the topic of stress in the area of law enforcement. Stress obviously plays a large role in day-to-day police life and I thought that the speech made that fact very clear. It also argues that all police deal with certain levels and types of stress. Some police deal with cynicism, while others have family issues. Policemen need to maintain a good balance between life at home and life on the job to reduce these levels of stress. The speech offers a solution to the problems that policemen face: admittance of a problem and acceptance of help. 

I think the points that were made are very valid. The information about law enforcement that I have learned so far supports this speech. My Criminal Justice class teaches us that these kinds of stress do really occur and that these are major problems in the field of law enforcement.

I also think that the points Mr. Dan Goldfarb makes in his speech are valid because he is a Police Psychologist. He studies criminal justice and law enforcement as a daily job. Therefore, before he makes a speech, he probably wants to make sure his facts are straight.

Works Cited

"The Effects of Stress on Police Officers." Effects of Stress on Police Officers. Heavybadge.com, n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. 

Becoming a Police Officer: The Process - An Open Blog Post

I'd like to do a few posts about how to become a police officer, and what it is actually like to be one.

Please read the link below before proceeding:

http://www.policeone.com/How-To-Become-A-Police-Officer

On this site they have posted a general outline of the process of becoming an officer. It's about what you would expect.

Getting involved is the key step here. Knowing what police actually do on a daily basis will give you knowledge about the field that you might have otherwise not have learned. It will give you a leg-up on other people competing for that position.

Going to college and receiving a good education is also very important. Although they do not require more than a High School diploma, it will give you a great advantage to have an associate's or bachelor's. This will also give you the study skills you need to be successful on the exams.

Being physically fit is important in many jobs. Police see it as a must have. In their line of work, you must be able to complete certain tasks to ensure the safety of the public. Being fit is the way to do this.

Lastly, as I stated before, passing the exams is important. And with a college degree I feel I will be ready for this step in the process.

Works Cited

"How to Become a Police Officer." How to Become a Police Officer. Policeone.com, n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2012.

Defining Ethics in Law Enforcement

You may have noticed... the title of my blog has changed! 

Although I love a lot of aspects about astronomy, I had a change of heart recently. I'm enrolled in an intro to Criminal Justice class and it has captured my interest. Most of the posts from here on out will deal with law enforcement (I will throw in a few about astronomy here and there because it is still an interesting subject and I'm not giving up on it completely).

So, today's post is about ethics in law enforcement. 

Please read this before going any further. 

http://www.dps.unc.edu/DPS%20Policies%20&%20Procedures/Appendix/3LawEnforcementCodeofEthics.pdf

My values and beliefs definitely shadow the words of this document from the DPS. I look to be courageous and official in everyday life. I think it is important to be a trustworthy and honest individual in America. I think that is part of our duty as citizens of our country and policemen are the finest examples of that.

In discussing how this document will help shape my journey through my college experience I have come up with three main goals:

1. Not letting friendship, prejudice, or feelings get in the way of school and personality. I must learn to accept everyone here. There will be good times and bad and I will have to stay strong through them all if I want success here at school and in law enforcement. There will be times where my friendships and feelings are tested and it will be key for me to make the correct decisions.

2. Staying strong. A big part of being successful in both school and in law enforcement is being strong. If you let your mind wander and be weak, it will have a negative effect on performance. You can't stay down on yourself, no matter the situation. This is something I definitely need to keep in mind throughout the entirety of my journey.

3. Stay honest. This has always been my number one life goal. Be honest in every situation. I hate liars. And liars will not go far in law enforcement. Telling the truth is the key component in my new field of study. Honesty is REQUIRED if you even consider a job in this field.

Works Cited

"Law Enforcement Code of Ethics." DPS.unc.edu. Department of Public Safety, 01 Mar. 1998. Web.