Law enforcement leaders are tasked with many jobs and should have a critical

understanding of modern criminology and criminal justice issues facing their agency. New laws

are passed, case laws are deliberated and national events continue to change how law

enforcement operates. New technology is introduced to enhance criminal investigations and new

theories are created to increase effectiveness for deployment of resources and targeted problem

areas. These evolving areas in law enforcement can be challenging to understand but an

effective law enforcement leader should stay up to date on these issues and never accept current

practices as acceptable.

In Drug Control Policy, I discussed a hypothetical scenario where I am the newly

appointed National Drug Control Policy Director and I am tasked with creating a new policy. I

decided to take a three-pronged approach to the new policy and focused on education, treatment

and enforcement. I stated the purpose for each decision and outlined the goals in each section.

An effective law enforcement leader should take the time to research a new issue within their

community before making any conclusions. This will help the leader make an effective,

educated and meaningful decision on criminal justice issues within their community.

An effective law enforcement leader should always be attempting to create a more

effective agency with the use of technology and training. Incorporating newer equipment and

modern day training courses will allow employees to deploy the best tools in conjunction with

the best training. I wrote a mock letter, DUI Training, to my agency’s administrators

highlighting the department’s need for DUI training. I suggested the agency identify officers

who are eager to enforce DUIs and send them to updated training courses. The training courses

include updated laws, case laws and procedures to follow when investigating, documenting and
testifying to DUIs. DUIs laws are constantly changing; therefore, its important for officers to

remain abreast on these changes to effectively enforce these offenses. It is important for a police

leadership to remain up to date on these changes to demonstrate accountability and trust to their

community.

Law enforcement leaders should also have a firm understanding of criminal justice issues

on the national level. In Law Enforcement and Race, I discuss a Pew Research Center’s article

about a confidential survey of police across the United States and retired FBI Director James

Comey’s speech on relations between law enforcement and their community. Issues within a

community can evolve for better or worse and can change instantly which is why its important

for leaders to always remain focused on community issues. Societal expectations and issues are

woven into the fabric of how modern day law enforcement operates. These expectations and

views shared by communities across the United States shape how police operate. The most

recent and most notable law enforcement issue facing American police is race relations with

minority communities. An effective law enforcement leader should identify the historical

traditions, race related issues and minority concerns within their communities to increase trust

and police services. Law enforcement will always be changing as a result of issues at the

national level or within a local community. A good law enforcement leader should stay focused

on both and have a solid understanding as it relates to crime, community expectations and

technology. This will help an effective leader create an accountable agency respected and trusted

by the community.