Week 1

Question 1

What is the early definition of professionalism?

Answer 1

Its earliest meaning comes from those professing the vows of a religious order.

Question 1

What year was professionalism secularized?

Answer 1

1675

Question 2

What is the Oxford English Dictionary’s definition of Professional?

Answer 2

One who is “engaged in one of the learned or skilled
professions, or in a calling considered socially superior to a trade or handicraft.

Question 3

What is Webster Dictionary’s definition of profession?

Answer 3

A vocation or occupation requiring advanced training in some liberal art or
science, and usually involving mental rather than manual work, as teaching,
engineering, writing, etc.; especially, medicine, law, or theology (formerly called
the learned professions).

Question 4

What makes Law Enforcement a “Profession”?

Answer 4

-The members possess a specialized body of knowledge, not easily acquired,
accomplished through advanced education or training.

-The members share a commitment to serving the public (or community they
serve).

-The members share a commitment to promoting the common good.

-The members share a professional creed or code of ethics that effectively holds
themselves and their colleagues to a higher standard of behavior than is the
norm for other vocations.

Question 5

What are the characteristics of professionalism?

Answer 5

Service to others
Assessment of needs to others
Theoretical body of knowledge obtained through extended pre- service education.
Standards for entry, practice, and ethical conduct
Professional association to maintain standards.
Continuing education and lifelong learning

Question 6

What is “Police Legitimacy?”

Answer 6

Means people have trust and confidence in the police, accept police
authority and believe officers are fair.

Question 7

How do officers build “Public Confidence?”

Answer 7

Treating people with dignity and respect

Making decisions fairly, based on facts, not illegitimate factors such as race.

Giving people “voice,” a chance to tell their side of the story.

Acting in a way that encourages community members to believe that they will be
treated with goodwill in the future.

Question 8

What are the 4 Pillars of Procedural Justice?

Answer 8

1.) Fairness & Consistency
2.) Giving Voice to All Parties
3.) Transparency
4.) Impartiality

Question 9

What does “Fairness and Consistency” mean?

Answer 9

Perceptions of fairness are driven not only by outcomes but also by
the fairness and consistency of the processes used to reach those outcomes.

Question 10

What does it mean to “Give Voice to All Parties?”

Answer 10

All people want to be heard and involving people or groups in the decisions that affect them affects their assessment of a given situation.

Question 11

What does “Transparency” mean?

Answer 11

Transparency means that the processes by which decisions are made do not rely upon secrecy or deception. In other words, decisions unfold out in the open as much as possible as opposed to behind closed doors.

Question 12

What does “Impartiality” mean?

Answer 12

Impartial decisions are made based on relevant evidence or data rather than on personal opinion, speculation, or guesswork.

Question 13

What are the advantages of the “Professional Model for Law Enforcement?”

Answer 13

• Public better served.
• Quality of peace officers is improved.\
• Ethical conduct
• More effective problem-solving
• Stronger community support and respect
• Stronger role in the criminal justice system
• More effective innovations
  Financial rewards

Question 14

What are the disadvantages of the “Professional Model for Law Enforcement?”

Answer 14

-Cost of training and development
-Higher salaries or remuneration for job occupant
-Limited entry into the work force from poor because of limited opportunity for educational attainment

Question 15

What are “Partnerships?”

Answer 15

Refers to collaborative partnerships between law enforcement agencies and the individuals and organizations they serve to develop solutions to problems and increase trust.

Question 16

What are some examples of partners with law enforcement?

Answer 16

Partners with law enforcement may include local government
agencies or departments, community groups, SART, nonprofit organizations, social service providers, private businesses, and members of the media.

Question 17

What is “Problem-Solving?”

Answer 17

Refers to the process of engaging in the proactive and systematic examination of identified problems to develop and rigorously evaluate effective responses.

Question 18

What are the components of problem-solving?

Answer 18

Scanning: Identifying and prioritizing problems.

Analysis: Researching what is known about the problem.

Response: Developing solutions to bring about lasting reductions in the number and extent of problems.

Assessment: Evaluating the success of the responses.

Using the crime triangle to focus on immediate conditions
(victim/offender/location).

Question 19

What is “Organizational Transformation?”

Answer 19

Refers to the alignment of organizational management, structure, personnel, and information systems to support community partnerships and proactive problem solving. Community policing, like procedural justice, should permeate the agency at all levels

Question 20

What is the “Ethical Role?”

Answer 20

The ethical role is performed by being objective, impartial, neutral, and ethical in personal behavior and in functioning as a representative of the criminal justice system.

Question 21

What are the elements of the “Ethical Role?”

Answer 21

To act in a manner that reflects belief in the fundamental value of ethical behavior and in application of this value to your job.

To conduct daily activities in an objective manner striving to be uninfluenced by emotion, personal prejudice, or insufficient evidence.

To provide objective and constructive assistance or information to all persons, regardless of personal feelings.

To assist the public to understand how they can help in achieving objective and ethical behavior.

To embrace fairness and consistency, giving a voice to all parties, transparency and impartiality.

Question 22

What are the “6 pillars of Character?”

Answer 22

• Trustworthiness
  
  • Respect
  • Responsibility
  • Fairness
  • Caring
  • Citizenship

Question 23

What is motivation for Ethical Behavior?

Answer 23

• Inner Benefit: Virtue is its own reward.
• Personal Advantage: It is prudent to be ethical. It is good business.
• Approval: Being ethical leads to self-esteem, the admiration of loved ones and the respect of peers.
• Religion: Good behavior can please or help a deity.
• Habit: Ethical decisions can fit in with upbringing or training.

Question 24

What are obstacles to Ethical Behavior?

Answer 24

Self-interest
Pursuit of happiness

Question 25

What are the components of “Consistent Ethical Behavior?”

Answer 25

Moral Sensitivity

Moral Judgment

Moral Motivation

Moral Character

Question 26

What is Moral Sensitivity?

Answer 26

The ability to recognize the presence and nature of ethical issues; the
awareness that a situation represents an ethical problem that requires an ethical decision.

Question 27

What is Moral Judgment?

Answer 27

The ability to make the right ethical decision; to determine the morally correct and wisest course of action. This requires the use of critical thinking skills and the ability to prioritize competing ethical principles and values.

Question 28

What is Moral Motivation?

Answer 28

The desire to do the right thing and to be a good and ethical person.

Question 29

What is Moral Character?

Answer 29

Possessing the maturity, courage, and discipline to follow through
and do what you know is right in situations of strong temptation and/or great pressure from others.

Question 30

What are the components of the “Ethical Decision-Making Model?”

Answer 30

• Is it legal?
  
  • Is it permitted by your organization’s code of conduct?
  • How would it be viewed by your organizations code of ethics and shared values?
  • Does your personal code of ethics approve?
  • Is it a true ethical dilemma? Do both choices appear to be right?
  • Can you apply the ethical decision-making model for your organization?

Question 31

What are the attitude stages an officer goes through in his career?

Answer 31

Idealistic

Frustrated

Defiant

Resigned

Aware

Decisive

Commitment

Question 32

What is the “Idealistic Stage?”

Answer 32

This stage is exemplified by new officers, confident of their values and ability to succeed. High expectations and goals, but confidence is naïve.

Question 33

What is the “Frustrated Stage?”

Answer 33

Begin to experience “the way things really are.” Idealism crashes into wall of reality. Present circumstances are a far cry from original goals and desires. Initial reactions are often dominated by fear, indecision, and anxiety. The world is not as simple as we had believed or hoped. Young officers at this stage might be susceptible to negative peer pressure.

Question 34

What is the “Defiant Stage?”

Answer 34

Fear and indecision are overcome as we realize that we take some responsibility in our own hands. However, actions taken at this stage are usually negative and destructive, especially when covert or hidden. Some people continue to live for years with this hidden, internal resentment before they lash out in defiant rage. This can pollute relationships with family, coworkers, supervisors, the community, and even society at large. (Consider Timothy McVeigh, Unabomber, 9/11 terrorists, etc.) You can see how officers might “go bad” at this stage, acting in ways that harm themselves, others, the agency, the community, and the profession.

Question 35

What is the “Resigned Stage?”

Answer 35

Some people who have harbored covert defiance eventually slip into resignation to the disappointment and aimlessness of their lives. The lights go out in their eyes. They may continue punching the clock to get to retirement, but they have lost all joy in their lives and their jobs. This stage and the defiant one are when officers are most vulnerable to making poor decisions that could cost them their
jobs and careers.

Question 36

What is the “Aware Stage?”

Answer 36

Hopefully, some self-analysis goes on and we eventually become aware of some of the damage that our defiance and resignation have caused to our own lives and other people we care about. This awareness is the first step toward developing a more positive outlook on life. We realize that we must change.

Question 37

What is the “Decisive Stage?”

Answer 37

We consciously do something different and positive, taking responsibility for our own lives and our happiness. These changes begin the process of making our lives more vital, creative, and meaningful.

Question 38

What is the “Commitment Stage?”

Answer 38

This is the final result of the positive life changes we made. We don’t expect perfection of ourselves or others, yet we are committed to attempt our best ideals, with our best abilities, while remaining realistic about our talents and results. This is not a fragile idealism, but a purposeful and prudent devotion – sincere, flexible, and open to learn and grow further.

Question 39

What is “Objective Behavior?”

Answer 39

For purposes of this training, objectivity involves the expression or use of facts without distortion by personal feelings or prejudices - neutrality.

Question 40

What are the different areas of bias?

Answer 40

Race/ethnicity

Behavior

Gender

Sexual Orientation

Religious

Question 41

What are potential gifts?

Answer 41

Any amount of money

An opportunity for sexual intercourse

A weekend at a resort hotel

A radio for your personal car

The use of a camper for a weekend

A pistol

Two tickets to a ball game

Use of a hunting lease

Bottle of liquor

Free meal

Half price meal

A cup of coffee and/or a doughnut

Question 42

What are the conditions associated with a gift?

Answer 42

Does it make a difference who offers the gift?
Does it make a difference when the gift is offered?
Does it make a difference why the gift is offered?
Does it make a difference where the gift is offered?

Question 43

What is “Courage?”

Answer 43

Courage is the state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger with self-possession, confidence, and resolution; bravery; valor. Moral courage is the courage to take action for moral reasons despite the risk of adverse consequences.

Question 44

What are examples of physical courage?

Answer 44

Facing barricaded, armed suspect
Duty to intervene.

Question 45

What are examples of Moral Courage?

Answer 45

Refusing gratuities
Refusing to participate in cover-up.
Refusing to participate in ethnic or gender-based humor or practical joking, etc.
Duty to intervene.

Question 46

What is 2.1387 of the Code of Criminal Procedure?

Answer 46

INTERVENTION REQUIRED FOR EXCESSIVE FORCE; REPORT REQUIRED. (a) A peace officer has a duty to intervene to stop or prevent another peace officer from using force against a person suspected of committing an offense if:

(1) the amount of force exceeds that which is reasonable under the circumstances; and

(2) the officer knows or should know that the other officer’s use of force:

(A) violates state or federal law;

(B) puts a person at risk of bodily injury, as that term is defined by Section 1.07, Penal Code, and is not immediately necessary to avoid imminent bodily injury to a peace officer or other person; and

(C) is not required to apprehend the person suspected of committing an offense.

(b) A peace officer who witnesses the use of excessive force by another peace officer shall promptly make a detailed report of the incident and deliver the report to the supervisor of the peace officer making the report.

Question 47

What criminal law relates to officer behavior?

Answer 47

Unethical conduct on the part of peace officers can result in federal prosecution.
There are specific statutes aimed at peace officers to prevent violations of civil rights.
The FBI has a special role to investigate those accusations.
Those investigations are controlled out of Washington, DC to prevent friendships and working relationships between locally stationed FBI agents and the peace officer being investigated from being compromised.

Question 48

What is 18 USC 241?

Answer 48

Conspiracy Against Rights:
If two or more persons conspire to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any inhabitant of any State, Territory, or District in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him by the Constitution or laws of the United States, or because of his having so exercised the same; or if two or more persons go in disguise on the highway, or on the premises of another, with intent to prevent or hinder his free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege so
secured –They shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results, they shall be subject to imprisonment for any term of years or for life.

Question 49

What is 18 USC 242?

Answer 49

Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law
Whoever, under color of any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom, willfully subjects any inhabitant of any State, Territory, or District to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or
immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States, or to different punishments, pains, or penalties, on account of such inhabitant being an alien, or by reason of his color, or race, than are prescribed for the punishment of citizens, shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if bodily injury results shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results shall be subject to imprisonment for any term of years or for life.
(As amended Apr. 11, 1968, Pub.L. 90-284, Title I, § 103(b), 82 Stat. 75; Nov. 18, 1988, Pub.L. 100-690, Title VII, § 7019, 102 Stat. 4396.)

Question 50

What are the civil penalties for inappropriate conduct?

Answer 50

• Sexual Harassment - EEOC definitions 42 USC 1983 Violation of
  Civil Rights
• Sexual Harassment - Penal Code Chapter39.03
  -Texas Commission on Human Rights - Sexual Harassment
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission-Sexual Harassment
• The definition of harassment as opposed to sexual harassment - EEOC.

Question 51

What concepts in policing are rooted in European Methods?

Answer 51

i. County
ii. Sheriff
iii. Common law
iv. English “bobby” foot patrol methods

Question 52

What was the Development of Policing From 1900 through the 1940s?

Answer 52

i. The use of the automobile provided a more rapid response to police calls for service.
a. Many officers were reassigned from walking beats to radio cars.
ii. The advent of radio communications allowed calls for service to be dispatched to officers in the field.
a. The assignment of officers from walking beats initiated the distancing of the police from the individual citizens through increased mobility.
iii. The police performance level increased due to rapid response, while actual communications with citizens decreased.
iv. The absence of quality evaluation was prevalent throughout the period.
v. During this era, law enforcement personnel (especially the “beat officers”) were known by the citizens in the areas in which they worked.
a. This relationship created a bond that made the officer feel an ownership of his work area. The community also felt a more personal relationship with their officer(s).
vi. American policing went through a “reform” era marked by the contributions of such men as August Vollmer, whose goal was to bring professionalism to the
police. This age also saw the emergence of the present federal law enforcement system and the contributions of J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI.
vii. The National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement (Wickersham
Commission) reported in 1931 “the greatest promise for the future of policing is the college or university.”

Question 53

What was the Development of Policing From 1950 through the 1970s?

Answer 53

i. Technology continued to improve, with computers and communications gradually becoming commonplace.
ii. The use of automobiles improved response time to calls for service.
a. The increased use of automobile travel and technology created a fast paced service style, which further removed peace officers from constant citizen contact.

iii. The professional police model developed with emphasis on accountability and increased standards. Success measures such as response time, crime statistics, and citizen complaints became common indicators of police performance.

iv. Police professionalism was again an issue in the late 60s when the President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice stated in 1967 that, in their opinion, police personnel should have two or four years of college education. This Commission indicated that the ultimate aim of all police
departments was for personnel with general enforcement powers to have baccalaureate degrees.

v. The National Advisory Commission on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals (NAC) reported in 1973 that the police still had low educational requirements. The NAC cited the recommendations of the 1967 commission and established minimum entry-level requirements. The immediate educational standard was to
be one year of college. The educational standard increase was to continue by requiring two years of college by 1975, three years of college by 1978, and a baccalaureate degree by 1982. A study was done in 1986 of entry-level educational requirements to determine which of the NAC’s goals had been met. The responding 289 agencies reported that 0.9% had no minimum educational
requirement, 84.8% had a high school or G.E.D. requirement, and 0.6% required a four-year baccalaureate degree.

vi. Evaluation research became a tool for success measurement.

vii. The Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) funded numerous
projects to speed up the criminal justice process.

viii. The development and use of numerous specialized units resulted in the removal of patrol officers from most follow-up activities.

ix. The patrol system became an incident-driven approach in which police officers often became little more than report takers in most communities.

x. During this era, the police became controlled by the radio system. As a result of officers being required to answer calls for police services in a larger area, the peace officer lost much of the positive relationship and communications with the community.

Question 54

What was the Development of Policing From 1980 through the Present?

Answer 54

i. Technology continues to improve with computers, mobile devices, and weapons.

ii. There is increased interest in evaluation research. Interest in other styles of police service led to considerable interest in new methods and experimentations.

iii. The development of community- or problem-oriented policing has opened new potential for progressive policing in agencies using both the traditional model and the problem-oriented model.

iv. The implementation of community or problem-oriented policing projects. Ironically, professionalization of policing has resulted, very often, in emphasis on walking beats and citizens interaction.

Question 55

Describe the Evolution of Policing in Texas:

Answer 55

A. During Texas’ 100 years as a province of Mexico, Mexican governors reigned over the territory that would later become Texas. Policing was handled by the Spanish military. This ended when Texas became a free and independent republic after the Battle of San
Jacinto in 1836.

    i. Texas Rangers
                 a. Stephen F. Austin employed a militia group to protect the settlers from Indian and bandit raids. This group later became known as the Texas Rangers. The watch/ward system of police did not evolve in Texas because of its large territory and absence of large cities/urban areas.
     ii. Elected County Law Enforcement
                 a. Constables: Texas Constitution Article 5, Section 18
                 b. Sheriffs: Texas Constitution Article 5, Section 23
     iii. Municipal Law Enforcement
                  a. Police Force of a Type A General-law Municipality: Local Government Code 341.001
                  b. Police Force of a Type C General-law Municipality: Local Government Code 341.002
                  c. Police Force of Home-Rule Municipality: Local Government Code 341.003

Question 56

What are the concepts of the “Traditional Police Service Model?”

Answer 56

A. Reactive Response
Most of the workload of patrol officers and detectives consists of handling
crimes that have already been committed, disturbances in progress, traffic violations, and such. Exceptions include crime prevention and narcotics investigations.

B. Incident Driven
This relies on limited information, mostly from victims, witnesses, and suspects. Focus tends to be on one “incident” which is resolved before moving to the next “incident.”

C. Use of the criminal justice system
The primary means of resolving incidents is to involve the criminal justice process. It is critical to consider and utilize all elements of the criminal justice system, both sworn and civilian personnel.

D. Use of aggregate statistics
The department’s performance is largely measured by statistical comparisons. The department is doing a good job when the citywide crime rate is low, or the citywide arrest rate is high. The best officers are those who make many arrests or service many calls. Statistics can be affected by a number of factors.

E. Lack of community and employee involvement in the decision-making process
Most decisions are made at the management and mid-management level with little citizen involvement.

F. Citizen and employee expectations
The expectations of both the community and agency employees are often not met due to the expectation that peace officers will have a high impact on crime in the community.

G. The use of specialized units
The traditional model has used specialized units with a high degree of effectiveness. Directed patrol, traffic, investigative, and other related approaches have had a large degree of success in many police agencies.

Question 57

What is the definition of “Community Policing?”

Answer 57

A new philosophy of policing, based on the concept that police officers and private citizens working together in creative ways can help solve contemporary community problems related to crime, fear of crime, social and physical disorder, and neighborhood decay.

Question 58

What is “Community Policing?”

Answer 58

ii. The philosophy is expressed in a new organizational strategy that allows police departments to put theory into practice.
a. This requires freeing some patrol officers from the isolation of the patrol car and the incessant demands of the police radio, so that these officers can maintain direct, face-to-face contact with people in the same defined geographic area (beat) every day.
b. This new “community policing officer” (CPO) serves as a generalist: an officer whose mission includes developing imaginative, new ways to address the broad spectrum of community concerns embraced by the community policing philosophy.
c. The goal is to allow CPOs to own their beat areas, so that they can develop the rapport and trust that is vital in encouraging people to become involved in efforts to address the problems in their
neighborhoods. The CPO acts as the police department’s outreach to the community, serving as the people’s link to other public and private agencies that can help. The CPO not only enforces the law but supports and supervises community-based efforts aimed at local concerns. The CPO allows people direct input in setting day-to-day, local police priorities in exchange for their cooperation and participation in efforts to police themselves.

iii. Community policing requires both a philosophical shift in the way that police departments think about their mission and a commitment to the structural changes this new form of policing demands. Community policing provides a new way for the police to provide decentralized and personalized police service that offers every law-abiding citizen an opportunity to become active in the police process.

Question 59

What are professionals in the community that Police rely on?

Answer 59

i. Private Attorneys/ Bail Bondsmen
ii. Legal Services
iii. Social Services
iv. Texas Department of Health and Human Services
v. Local Crisis Centers
vi. Sexual Assault Response Teams (SART)
vii. Multidisciplinary Teams (MDTs)
viii. Domestic Violence High Risk Teams (DVHRTs)
ix. Care Coordination Teams – Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth (CSEY)
x. Child Fatality Review Teams

Question 60

What is the importance of involving the community in all policing activities that directly affect the quality of community life?

Answer 60

a. Reducing fear by addressing problem of crime in the community.
b. Establishing trust and harmony between the community residents and the peace officer.
c. Exchanging information to strengthen rapport and enhance community safety.
d. Assisting in identifying and resolving community problems.
e. Clarifying responsibilities on behalf of citizens and peace officers.
f. Helping define service needs.

Question 61

What are the philosophical differences between community-based policing and traditional approaches?

Answer 61

a. Traditional model is incident driven, i.e., reactive.
b. Officer activity is based on calls for service (CFS).
c. CPOs are pro-active and co-active.
d. New role is more complex:
i. Law Enforcer - CFS, incident driven and reactive
ii. Planner - information gatherer and analyst
iii. Problem Solver - strategist, critical thinker
iv. Community organizer - co-active role in resolving community problems through joint efforts

Question 62

For whom do we work?

Answer 62

The peace officer works for and services the citizen of the community in which (s) they are employed. It is the police officer’s duty to protect and serve their community even to the point of placing their life at risk.

Question 63

To whom are we responsible?

Answer 63

The peace officer is responsible to the citizens of the community through the chain of command in the organization.

Question 68

The three learned professions

Answer 68

divinity,
law, and
medicine;
also the military profession.