Effective Communication and Police Officers

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Communication is a vital tool in our society today because police officers could not serve the public effectively without good communication skills. A lack of the ability to listen or to speak effectively could result in a misunderstanding. Communication plays a very important role in the lives and jobs of police officers. Communication allows officers the ability to better manage evidence by interrogating witnesses and suspects and gathering information. This allows them to make quick and informed decisions. Police officers can only succeed if they master communication, both social and professional, so that they can be comfortable with the public and get their jobs done behind the scenes. Good communication is essential to how well police officers interact with the public because it influences how the public responds to officers. Listening, speaking, writing and focusing on what others say are all ways officers can affect the way the public views them. A lack of these vital communications skills results in poor understanding, an officer not knowing how to proceed, and people who need police assistance giving up. Officers must also consider how communication might affect a community’s reaction. It is obvious that these traits are very important for optimal police work. Experiences show that people react more calmly and cooperatively when police officers treat them well. Therefore, good communication is needed in order to make the jobs of police officers easier and more positive. Communication in social environments is necessary for police officers because they have to make fast decisions about interacting with victims, witnesses, and suspects. Specifically, the better communication that the officers ... ... middle of paper ... ...ultures, goes far in empowering officers in the successful performance of their duties. Mastering the various mediums of communication to include speaking, writing and presenting enhance a police officer’s optimal performance of duties in the law enforcement field. Works Cited Barker, V., Giles, H., Hajek, C., Ota, H., Noels, K., Lim, T-S., & Somera, L. (2008). Police communication: Why does it matter? Communication Currents, 3(3). Retrieved from https://www.natcom.org/CommCurrentsArticle.aspx?id=886 Effective Criminal Justice Communication. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://criminaljusticelaw.us/principles/leadership/communication- frustration/effective- criminal-justice-communication/ Guidelines for Issuing AMBER Alerts. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.amberalert.gov/guidelines.htm

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