BurrowM_HRMT600-Research Paper-CND0502YQ0
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Diversity Initiative in Law Enforcement
Mary Burrow
American Military University
HRMT600 Human Resource Management
Dr. Monica Galante
October 22, 2023
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Diversity Initiative in Law Enforcement
Introduction
Diversity and inclusiveness in law enforcement are critical in building trust and conformity within the community and allowing everyone to trust and respect those around them. Law enforcement diversity is the representation of people from different backgrounds, including race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status, within law enforcement agencies. A diverse police force is more likely to reflect the communities they serve and to build trust with those communities. This can lead to better policing outcomes, such as reduced crime and increased public safety. According to Wilson et al. (2016), In fact, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, in a report issued in 2000, referenced a previous report that indicated that the “serious underutilization of minorities and women in local police departments continues to hamper the ability of police departments to function effectively in, and earn the respect of, the communities they serve, thereby increasing the likelihood of tension and violence (p. 232). By actively recruiting and promoting officers from diverse backgrounds, law enforcement agencies can better understand and address their communities' unique needs and concerns, ultimately leading to improved relationships and increased trust between law enforcement and the public.
Law Enforcement History
Law enforcement has been scrutinized for many years about how they engage with the communities they have sworn to serve and protect. From the start of the police force in Boston
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during the 1930s to initializing militarizing the police force from the 1960s onward, in the 1890s,
every major city had a police force in the United States. Much history occurred during the 1900s,
including the U.S. government attacking white and black WW1 veterans in 1932 with tanks and tear gas. In 1941, A Rally Against Police Brutality happened in Washington D.C. In the year 1968, there was the Detroit People’s Tribunal, the Orangeburg Massacre, Bobby Hutton of the Black Panther Party was shot and killed by police; Writer Henry Dumas was shot and killed by police, and in 1969, the police and FBI agents in Chicago assassinated Black Panther Party members. Police kill an average of 1,000 Americans yearly within the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, causing the highest rates of people killed by the police, with 15.2 deaths per 1 million people. The United States police have killed sixty times the rate of the Police in England, and the U.S. police force killed more people in the first twenty-four days of 2015 than England and Wales have in the previous 24 years of their service and three times more than the Canadian police. The police in the United States have repeatedly shown negative statistics, but this also does not show the amazing things that have happened because of the police, with lives saved, dangerous drivers removed from the roads, and people rescued. Diversity Initiative
Diversity initiatives implemented within law enforcement agencies are essential for promoting inclusivity and equity within society. By actively seeking out officers from diverse backgrounds and promoting their success within the agency, law enforcement can better understand the unique needs and concerns of the communities they serve. One of the most common criticisms of diversity initiatives is that they can lead to reverse discrimination. This occurs when qualified candidates are passed over in favor of less qualified candidates who are
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members of a targeted group. Reverse discrimination can demoralize and alienate existing officers and erode public trust in law enforcement. Another concern is that diverse initiatives can
lower hiring standards
.
In order to meet diversity quotas, agencies may be tempted to hire candidates with different qualifications than their non-diverse counterparts. This can lead to a decline in the overall quality of the police force and put officers and the public at risk. While law
enforcement diversity initiatives can have positive advantages, being familiar with the potential negative consequences is vital. One way law enforcement can ensure proper hiring standards is by implementing programs to recruit and hire more officers from underrepresented groups. This may involve partnering with community organizations, offering targeted scholarships, or developing specialized training programs. They can also create mentorship and sponsorship programs to help officers from underrepresented groups succeed. These programs can provide officers with support, guidance, and opportunities for advancement. There are many opportunities to ensure that applicants can succeed, get the job they want, and avoid diversity issues within the force. Agencies should carefully consider the costs and benefits of these programs before implementing them, and they should take steps to mitigate the risks of reverse discrimination, lower hiring standards, and organizational disruption.
Law Enforcement Policies and Practices
Law enforcement follows many different rules, policies, and practices pertaining to body cameras, drones, social media, use-of-force, working with the mentally ill, active shooter response, racial profiling, search and seizure, and arrest procedures, to name a few. Law enforcement policies are typically developed by the police chief or other agency head and are often subject to public input and review. Once policies are in place, it is essential to ensure that
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they are adequately communicated to officers and enforced consistently. Law enforcement policies guarantee that law enforcement officers are held culpable for their actions and that the public's rights are protected. Well-written and implemented policies can help to reduce crime, improve public safety, and build trust between law enforcement and the community
. According to the U.S. Department of Justice Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (2016), both the Civil Rights Division and the EEOC are tasked with enforcing federal civil rights, but we are also well aware that enforcement efforts - which are critical tools in combating barriers, ensuring compliance, and advancing reforms - are most effective when paired with robust outreach, stakeholder engagement, and practical tools and resources (para. 2). There is no perfect way to measure the effectiveness, efficiency, fairness, and transparency of law enforcement processes and practices. However, by using various methods and data sources, it is possible to develop a comprehensive understanding of how law enforcement is functioning and identify areas for improvement.
Initiatives to Ensure a Safer Environment Law enforcement can ensure a safer, more friendly environment through community policing, crime prevention, fair and impartial policing, accountable policing, and problem-
oriented policing. Community policing is a philosophy of policing that emphasizes building relationships between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve and can reduce crime, improve public safety, and build trust between law enforcement and the community. This can be done through various programs and activities, such as community meetings, foot patrols,
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and school-based programs. Crime prevention is a proactive approach to public safety that focuses on preventing crimes from happening in the first place and can help reduce the number of crimes committed and the number of victims of crime-related incidents. This can be done through a variety of programs and initiatives, such as public safety campaigns, neighborhood watch programs, and targeted interventions for at-risk individuals and communities. Problem-
oriented policing is a systematic approach to policing that focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of crime and disorder; this can be done through data analysis, community input, and partnerships with other social service agencies. Problem-oriented policing can help to reduce
crime and improve public safety in the long term. Fair and impartial policing is essential for building trust between law enforcement and the community, which means that law enforcement officers must use force only proportionately and only when necessary. This means that law enforcement officers must treat all people respectfully, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status. Accountable policing is essential for ensuring that law enforcement officers are responsible for their doings, and it also means that law enforcement
agencies must be willing to adjust their policies and procedures in response to feedback from the community. This means there must be clear and transparent mechanisms for investigating and prosecuting complaints against law enforcement officers. When law enforcement ensures a safer environment, they make a place everyone would enjoy living, thriving, and visiting.
Conclusion
Diversity initiatives for law enforcement are essential for creating a more effective and fair police force and can also help to build trust between law enforcement and the community, which is essential for effective policing. When law enforcement can emulate the diversity of the communities they serve, they can better understand and address the needs of those communities.
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It is important to note that diversity initiatives are not a silver bullet for solving all the challenges
facing law enforcement; they are essential to creating a more fair, effective, and just police force.
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References
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Corsino, L., & Fuller, A. T. (2021). Educating for diversity, equity, and inclusion: A review of commonly used educational approaches.
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Jiang, Z. (2023). Cross-level effects of diversity climate on employee organizational identification: evidence from law enforcement units. public performance & management review, (ahead-of-print), 1–33. https://doi.org/10.1080/15309576.2023.2184401
Kmec, J. A., & Skaggs, S. L. (2014). The “State” of Equal Employment Opportunity Law and Managerial Gender Diversity.
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U.S. Department of Justice Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (2016). Advancing diversity in law enforcement. https://www.eeoc.gov/advancing-diversity-law-
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Wilson, C. P., Wilson, S. A., & Gwann, M. (2016). Identifying barriers to diversity in law enforcement agencies.
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(4), 231–253. https://doi-org.ezproxy1.apus.edu/10.1080/15377938.2016.1187234