NCJ Number
223500
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 35 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2008 Pages: 20,22,27
Date Published
June 2008
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article examines the role of law enforcement in promoting tolerance and preventing bias-related/hate crimes in schools across the United States.
Abstract
No matter what a department does to embrace diversity, whether it is community policing, a culturally diverse department or sensitivity training, efforts must be sincere. Removing the tarnish of bigotry does not happen overnight. However, through hard work agencies can shine the spotlight on tolerance and diversity before it spins into hate. Law enforcement officers, particularly university police, carry heightened responsibility to act as campus watchdogs, zealously monitoring the campus community for signs of bias. Police departments play a significant role in preventing hate crime and acts of hostility through proactive policing, mirroring the community (racial composition of the campus police agency to reflect the educational community), community policing, and training for diversity.