10504909Foundations of Policing
Course Information
Description
Examines the roles and functions of police; includes police history and organization, and challenges and expectations within the field. Addresses police operations and critical issues such as technology, drug investigations and homeland security.
Total Credits
3
Course Competencies
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Examine the historical forms of policing and their influence on modern policingAssessment StrategiesExam, Written ProductCriteriaExplain the early forms of ensuring personal safety prior to the establishment of formal, organized police departmentsDescribe how the English police experience helped shape the American criminal justice system and policingOutline the regional differences in American policing during the colonial periodOutline the regional differences in American policing during the 18th and 19th centuriesExplain how events from the 1960s and 1970s influenced American policingYou identify at least four events or people instrumental in the development of American policingExplain the significance of the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration
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Analyze the U.S. public security industry, including local, state, and federal law enforcement, and the international policeAssessment StrategiesExam, Written ProductCriteriaDifferentiate between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and their responsibilities, budgets, and personnelDescribe the relationship between metropolitan, county, campus, and tribal law enforcement levels in immigration enforcementIdentify recent changes in law enforcement caused by economic downturn and reduced budgetsSummarize various organizational models of state law enforcementDescribe the roles and responsibilities of federal law enforcementDescribe the roles and responsibilities of international police
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Examine police department organization and managementAssessment StrategiesExam, Written ProductCriteriaIdentify the major managerial concepts used to organize a police departmentDefine shared leadershipDifferentiate between sworn and non-sworn civilian police department membersExplain the benefits of civilianization in policingDescribe the pros and cons of organizing a law enforcement department by areaIdentify special problems in organizing police departments that operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a weekDescribe the pros and cons of organizing law enforcement by function or purpose
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Examine the process to become a police officerAssessment StrategiesExam, Written ProductCriteriaIdentify tools and information related to jobs in law enforcement agenciesDescribe the standards in the police selection processEvaluate the pros and cons of requiring higher education for police officersDescribe the police recruitment process and its challengesExplain the job analysis phase in the practice of police hiringDescribe the characteristics of a good police officerOutline the typical selection process police departments use to identify and select police officersExamine the training process for new officers
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Illustrate the role of police and police discretion in the U.S.Assessment StrategiesExam, Written ProductCriteriaDistinguish between crime fighting and order maintenanceAnalyze the ambiguity of the police role, particularly in the aftermath of 9/11Identify the primary and secondary goals and objectives of policingCompare police operational styles and their impact on major goals and objectives of policingExplain factors that influence police discretionSummarize issues and policies surrounding police shootings and the use of deadly forceSummarize the role of discrimination in use of forceDescribe the influence of public response to police shootings
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Characterize police culture, personality, and stressAssessment StrategiesExam, Written ProductCriteriaExplain how the police subculture results in the blue wall of silenceCharacterize the police personality and how it is expressedAnalyze the levels of stress in policingIdentify practices that police departments can implement to address stress exhibited by officersIdentify causes of police suicideExamine the effects of officer suicide on an agencyDescribe occupational hazards to the the health and safety of police officers
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Examine the role of minority groups in U.S. police departments and the current status of minorities in U.S. law enforcementAssessment StrategiesExam, Written ProductCriteriaIdentify various minority groupsDescribe the history of discrimination in policingDescribe the role legislation and the federal government played in removing equal employment opportunity barriers to women and minorities in policingDescribe the white male backlash resulting from the rise in affirmative action programsSummarize academic studies examining the performance of women and minorities in policingDescribe current challenges faced by minorities in policing
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Analyze police deviance, corruption, and other misconductAssessment StrategiesExam, Case StudyCriteriaDefine ethicsDescribe the ethical dilemma within the law enforcement profession due to the use of discretionExplain methods used to review police actionsDescribe reasons for the different types of police corruptionDescribe forms of police misconduct such as drug related corruption, sleeping on duty, police deception, sex-related corruption, and domestic violenceDefine bias-based policingExamine the extent of police brutalityDescribe various responses to police corruptionAnalyze the issue of liability and the effects of lawsuits on police officers and police agencies
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Outline the components and methods of effective patrol operationsAssessment StrategiesExam, Written ProductCriteriaDescribe traditional methods of doing police workDescribe the evolution of police patrol and activities involved in the patrol functionExplain the challenges in evaluating the effectiveness of police workDescribe the findings of the Kansas City patrol studyExamine the issues of rapid response to 911 callsDiscuss innovative ways to perform the patrol functionExplore issues behind decisions and how to deploy personnel and resources on patrolExamine methods of resource allocationDescribe alternative strategies in use to better combat certain types of crimeDescribe police traffic operationsDiscuss special operations used by departments around the U.S.
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Outline the components of effective investigations and tactics for detective operationsAssessment StrategiesExam, Written ProductCriteriaDescribe traditional detective operations and activities of a detective in a police agencyWeigh alternatives to retroactive investigation of past crimes by detectivesExplain the importance of crime analysis and information managementIdentify the components of a successful investigationDefine proactive tacticsDefine undercover operations, including undercover drug operationsDefine entrapment and how it relates to police tactical and undercover operations
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Articulate the meaning of police-community relations and their importance to the safety and quality of life in a communityAssessment StrategiesExam, Written ProductCriteriaDefine human relations, public relations, and community relationsExplain public attitudes regarding the police and efforts to improve perceptionsDescribe various minority populations and some of their issues regarding police interactionsDiscuss challenges various populations face when interacting with the policeEvaluate innovative community crime prevention programsDescribe trends in the police-business relationship
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Investigate the community policing strategyAssessment StrategiesExam, Written ProductCriteriaDescribe current thinking about corporate strategies for policing, including strategic policing, community policing, and problem-solving policingDescribe the philosophy of beginnings of current corporate strategiesDescribe the effects of community policingIdentify successful examples of community policing and problem-oriented policingExplain how the federal government influences and supports community policingWeigh the pros and cons of community policingRelate community policing strategies to the fight against terror
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Explain the relationship between police and the lawAssessment StrategiesExam, Case StudyCriteriaDescribe how U.S. crime statistics are measured and analyzedDescribe how the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Supreme Court regulate the actions of the policeSummarize the changing philosophy of the U.S. Supreme CourtUse case law to explore current standard police procedures in arrestsDescribe the state of current law regarding search and seizureIdentify the requirements for a search warrantDiscuss custodial interrogation and MirandaExplain the reliability of eyewitness identification and other identification procedures
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Investigate the use of technology, forensics, and criminalistics in policingAssessment StrategiesExam, Written ProductCriteriaIdentify major uses of computers and controversies surrounding them in police departments todayExplain the use of fingerprint technology in law enforcementDescribe the use of less-than-lethal weapons in policingDescribe how modern technology is used in police surveillance practices
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Describe federal, state, and local efforts for homeland securityAssessment StrategiesExam, Written ProductCriteriaCompare international terrorism and domestic terrorismExplain proactive and reactive methods of investigating terrorismMap out the response of the U.S. government following the 9/11 terrorist attacksContrast the benefits of security to civil liberties and individual freedoms granted under the U.S. Constitution