Understanding and Communicating Effectively to a Diverse Population in Law Enforcement

Abstract

In terms of police officers and their jobs they are expected to do on the street, communications skills are so critical that they can spell life or death for the officer or others involved. Some officers it is very difficult turning emotions on and off and police officers will never know what emotions and attitudes they will be presented with throughout a day’s work. The job of an officer is very difficult one and having sharp communications skills is a required skill to have and will mean the difference between a successful officer and an unsuccessful one. Effective communication is important so that the Officer understands what is going on in a situation and that the Officer is understood.

Introduction

Communication is important in a relationship. It is what sustains a relationship, pushes it forward and keeps it going. Without communication we would live our own complete separate lives, acting as if we were hermits. Communicating well and effectively is a major part in our everyday lives. Communicating to a diverse population is important to law enforcement and it’s equally important to the members of the community to know why law enforcement personnel communicate effectively to them.

Literature Review

Different types of people

If there is one occupation where communication skills are an absolutely essential that is the job of a police officer. In terms of police officers and the jobs they are expected to do on the street, communications skills are so critical that they can spell life or death for the officer or others involved. On the job officers are required to talk to all different types of people and those people are in sometimes the worse situation they have ever been in. Police Officers deal with people of all races, cultures, ages, ethnicities and background. Having to deal with all different types of people, officers must know what each person expects to hear and what each person expects not to hear. As the United States is...