LAWE 1290 - Current Issues in Policing

Credit Hours: 3.00

Objectives: The student will:

1. Define the role of the police in the community today and define service as it applies to today’s police force. Students will identify what services are appropriate for police to provide and what services the public wants from the police.
2. Define racial profiling. Examine the extent to which officers use race as a marker for police interaction.
3. Identify cultural groups in Macomb County. Students will look at the impact cultural diversity has on Michigan and American policing. Students will investigate and create appropriate police responses to cultural situations they might face.
4. Identify the impact of diverse cultures on law enforcement. Students will also consider what impact cultural diversity has on departments who hire officers from diverse cultures.
5. Identify changes in the laws that affect the duties of law enforcement officers. Students will take note of all of the technology-oriented statutes and discuss the police investigative response to these statutes. In addition, students will discuss the propriety of the involvement of the federal government in influencing new state laws.
6. Define domestic terrorism and how terrorism affects current law enforcement agencies. Students will assess current police tactics and identify areas where law enforcement must improve in the event of terrorist attack.

Outcome 2: Upon completion of this course, students will be able identify and define issues that influence and change law enforcement officers and law enforcement agencies from inside of the department.

Objectives: The student will:

1. Identify the appropriate use of fatal force. Students will research and identify the current appropriate case law governing use of force and will research and examine non-lethal uses of force.
2. Identify the use of force continuum. Students will discuss the current use of force continuum advanced by MCOLES. Students will assess improvements or hazards in the state model.
3. Identify the currently approved methods and devices used to control suspect behavior. Students will examine all of the new technology that assists the police and will assess which should be standard in policing and which are nice but not necessary.
4. Identify the elements of the disciplinary process. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the trial board process, appellate process, and the arbitration process. Students will identify the role of police unions in departmental discipline.
5. Identify the manifestations of stress. Students will compare stress causes and levels of police officers with other professions.
6. Identify stressors in police work and stress reduction techniques. Students will discuss the need of police management to become involved in stress reduction and the role of police unions in negotiating these principles.
7. Identify current attitudes toward police chases. Students will discuss the rationale for chases and will research the current case law in Michigan and in the federal system with respect to chases. Students will discuss appropriate police policy.

1. Force
   1. Use of force continuum
   2. United States Supreme Court Cases
2. Police Pursuits
   1. Policy
   2. Identify issues
3. Ethics
   1. Police decision making
   2. Scenarios
4. Racial Profiling
   1. Drug courier profile
   2. Is race a factor
5. Stress
   1. Cause
   2. Response
   3. Union response