Communication In Law Enforcement Essay

Almost every person in the world will experience some sort of interaction with law enforcement. This interaction could be positive or negative based on the circumstances. Usually when law enforcement gets involved the situation is a negative one and police officers get a negative association. The negative association has led to less support of the men and women who are in charge of keeping our communities safe. The profession of law enforcement is one that is rich with history and controversies. Law enforcement have faced increased scrutiny from the public and media, but it continues to work to protect and serve the people. The history of law enforcement in the United States dates back to the early 1600’s in Boston when colonists first settled.

It seems like everywhere an officer goes there is a camera watching their every move. Many videos are taken of confrontations law enforcement officials have with the public and are posted on a social media website. These videos can be misconstrued and turned to make law enforcement look bad. “Cop baiting” is a term that refers to staging an interaction with a police officer, with the intent to get a cash payout. People try to bait the cop into doing something wrong and get it on video. They can then use the video to sue the police department or the officer. This makes being an officer tougher and proper training is essential (Waters, par. 15).

Law enforcement officials go through vigorous training to prepare them for real-life situations. My father, Tom Ulin, who was a police officer for twenty-four years detailed to me the training that he went through. When he went to the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in 1990, he went through ten weeks of training during the week and had the weekends off. He trained in things such as proper use of firearms, CPR, and physical fitness. After completing the academy he had to do 12 hours of training each year and keep certified in firearms and