NCJ Number
52979
Journal
Schriftenreihe der Polizei-Fuehrungsakademie Volume: 5 Issue: 4 Dated: (1978) Pages: 338-343
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
SUGGESTIONS FOR TRAINING YOUNG POLICE OFFICERS FORMULATED AT A SEMINAR FOR POLICE CHAPLAINS, POLICE COMMANDERS, AND DIVISION DIRECTORS FROM POLICE TRAINING SCHOOLS IN WEST GERMANY ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
BASIC ASSUMPTIONS ARE THAT THE PERFECT SOLUTIONS OF MOST LECTURE COURSES MAKE YOUNG OFFICERS UNEASY; THAT DUTY AND REPRESENTATIVE FUNCTION, AS WELL AS RESPONSIBILITY AND DECISION ARE THE BASIC PRINCIPLES PROMOTED IN TRAINING; THAT EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES WITH YOUNG OFFICERS AND THEIR FAMILIES AID IN RESOLVING PERSONAL DIFFICULTIES; THAT SUBCULTURAL POLICE STRUCTURES ARE BOTH ESSENTIAL AND HARMFUL TO YOUNG OFFICERS; THAT SEPARATION OF THEORY AND PRACTICE PRODUCES BOTH FEAR OF FAILURE AND ARROGANCE; AND THAT TRAINING OFFICERS NOT TO SEEK SIMPLER PROBLEMS IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS INCREASES THEIR STABILITY. PROBLEMS GENERALLY ACKNOWLEDGED DESPITE WIDE VARIATIONS IN DEMANDS OF SEMINAR PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE SUPPRESSION OF DIFFICULTIES ASSOCIATED WITH POLICE SERVICE (E.G., FACING DEATH; SERVING SOCIETY AS A PROTECTOR, NOT A SOCIAL WORKER), AND ISOLATION AND PSYCHOLOGICAL STRAIN DURING SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS. SUCH PROBLEMS, AS WELL AS THOSE RELATING TO PROFESSIONAL ETHICS, CAN BE SUCCESSFULLY HANDLED BY POLICE CHAPLAINS; REGULAR INSTRUCTION IN PROFESSIONAL ETHICS CAN MAKE YOUNG OFFICERS AWARE OF BASIC VALUES OPERATIVE IN THE STATE AND OF BOTH LEGAL AND ETHICAL ASPECTS OF RESPONSIBLE POLICE BEHAVIOR. RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE CONTINUOUS REVIEW OF ROLES IN THE POLICE SUBCULTURE, READY ACCESS OF YOUNG OFFICERS TO SOCIAL CONTACTS OUTSIDE POLICE SERVICE, MONITORING OF OFFICERS' CONDUCT TO ASCERTAIN THE LEVEL OF THEIR STANDARDS AND SELF-CONTROL, DUE CONSIDERATION TO PROBLEMS OF YOUNG OFFICERS, EDUCATION OF OFFICERS ABOUT THE ETHICAL VALUES BEHIND THEIR BEHAVIOR, AND PROMOTION OF PUBLIC RECOGNITION FOR THE POLICE THROUGH PUBLIC RELATIONS EFFORTS. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)