Running

Head: INSTITUTIONAL ASSESSMENT AND CHANGE 1

Law Enforcement Institutional Assessment and Change

Steven Shea

University of San Diego

INSTITUTIONAL ASSESSMENT AND CHANGE 2

In examining papers prepared for the Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership

program, four stand out as exemplifying law enforcement institutional assessment and change.

Plas Gang Task Force Proposal provides specific data regarding a problem in the community.

Communications Styles in Law Enforcement contrasts poor and positive communications styles

from which agencies can learn. Rebuilding Trust examines a breakdown of leadership and sets

a design to rebuild that trust internally and externally. Defective Body Worn Cameras shows

how to resolve a conflict within the agency and how to best meet the needs of the community.

The gang task force proposal provided a data driven examination of the problem and

provided an extensive opportunity for students to work as a team, both are need traits when

looking at and trying to transform a modern agency. Looking at the construction of the gang

utilizing a gang expert, Sgt. Gloe, provided the framework to respond to the gang problem

(2016). Analysis provided tools, and the efficacy of the tools, for dealing with the gang.

Internal and external data and resources were considered for the response to the gang

problem. Stakeholders ranged from law enforcement agencies to schools and other community

members. The examination of the gang problem resulted in a cohesive and expansive response

to the problem. The data driven approach, along with the team input, provided a framework to

assess the problem and change within the agency for an effective response.

Communication Styles in Law Enforcement examines two recent tragedies and the

communications exemplified by each involved agency. In Ferguson, Missouri the agency

showed poor judgment by releasing a video with an inferred message that the video justified

the death of Michael Brown (Kosner, 2014). The other major communication error was the

response to protests with SWAT members pointing rifles at crowds (Szoldra, 2014). In contrast,
INSTITUTIONAL ASSESSMENT AND CHANGE 3

the City of North Charleston, South Carolina demonstrated positive communication skills in its

response to the death of an unarmed black man by working with the family and the community

(Fedde, 2015).

Rebuilding Trust examines the internal and external results of a lack leadership within a

law enforcement agency. When a chief of police failed to act in the wake of an employee acting

in a criminal manner, the community became outraged (Ho, 2015) and the chief was forced to

resign (Associated Press, 2016). The paper analyzes the need to rebuild trust and to reestablish

leadership within, and outside, the agency. These changes are needed for the agency to move

forward with effective relationships in the community.

Defective Body Worn Cameras considers how to resolve conflict within the agency in

order to provide transparency to the community. In order to resolve conflict, one must draw

out the true root of the conflict, respond respectfully and nondefensively, and separate

positions from interests (Cloke & Goldsmith, 2011).

These four papers work to assess problems within law enforcement agencies and to

provide a framework for change. Using data and collaboration to solve a crime problem,

assessing how agencies handle critical incidents, assessing a lack of leadership, and learning to

address conflict within the agency will help to provide positive change for law enforcement

agencies.

For additional information, please click: http://shea167.weebly.com/

INSTITUTIONAL ASSESSMENT AND CHANGE 4

REFERENCE

Gloe, A., Placentia PD, Court Certified Expert of the PLAS Criminal Street Gang [Personal

interview]. (2016, October 27)

Kosner, M. (2014, August 16) Feds urged police not to release Michael Brown Robbery video.

NBC News. Retrieved from http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-

shooting/feds-urged-police-not-release-michael-brown-robbery-video-n182346

Szoldra, P. (2014, August 13) SWAT team called on peaceful protesters in Ferguson police

arrest journalists, fire tear gas and rubber bullets. Business Insider. Retrieved from

http://www.businessinsider.com/swat-ferguson-protest-2014-8

Fedde, C. (2015, October 9) What cities can learn from one communitys handling of police

shooting. The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved from

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2015/1009/What-cities-can-learn-from-one-

community-s-handling-of-police-shooting

Ho, S. (2015, December 7) Boulder City animal control supervisor was licensed to kill despite

noted conduct. Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved from

http://lasvegassun.com/news/2015/dec/07/boulder-city-animal-supervisor-was-

licensed-to-kil/

Associated Press (2016, April 8) Ex-Boulder City police chief facing misdemeanor in animal

shelter case. Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved from

http://lasvegassun.com/news/2016/apr/08/ex-boulder-city-police-chief-facing-

misdemeanor-i/
INSTITUTIONAL ASSESSMENT AND CHANGE 5

Cloke, K. & Goldsmith, J. (2011) Resolving conflicts at work: Ten strategies for everyone on the

job. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.