Discussion Post and Responses

There are two discussions here that need to be responded to thoroughly. Responses must be on APA format 150+words 1-2 legitimate verifiable sources per response. Due by 11 PM EST Wednesday September 25, 2019. 25 hours.

Discussion #1

Visga,

One of the biggest issues that the public safety field is facing that was also identified in the UMUC course module is the budget challenge. Federal funding has been increasing at a steady rate as more new public safety problems arise (UMUC., n.d.). According to UMUC, the emergence of technology has brought a plethora of issues regarding cybersecurity which is a whole different realm of funding. The creation of the Department of Homeland Security has cost the government a lot of money. From 2001 to 2011, the government has gone from 16 billion dollars in funds towards Homeland Security to 67 billion in 2011 (UMUC., n.d.). With issues such as international terrorism, domestic terrorism, illegal immigration, cyberthreats, etc. the Department of Homeland Security is requiring more funding. The budget challenge has resulted in budget cuts to the nation’s most critical organizations (Brock, E., 2010). Due to the increasing funding demands in a wide variety of public organizations, it has caused others to suffer from budget cuts. Budget cuts means cuts to staff and services.  “In July, Oakland, Calif., cut 80 officers from its police force, which equated to a more than 10 percent reduction of the department, says Holly” (Brock, E., 2010, para. 3). With the emerging issues of our country, we can not afford to cut back on public safety services. So what should be done? My suggestion is planning ahead for budget cuts. Public safety units should always have a plan for budget cuts. They should determine what their organization can live without and what they absolutely need (Stelter, L., n.d.). So when the time comes, the budget cut will not affect them nearly as much as it would if it took them by surprise. The problems that are developing in our country as well as cutting budgets is something that public safety organizations can not control. However, they can control how well they are prepared for such situations.

References:

Brock, E. (2010, September 01). Budget problems force cuts to public safety.  Retrieved from https://www.americancityandcounty.com/2010/09/01/budget-problems-force-cuts-to-public-safety/

Stelter, L. (n.d.). Public safety concerns: How to be prepared for budget cuts - in public safety. Retrieved from https://inpublicsafety.com/2014/05/public-safety-concerns-be-prepared-for-budget-cuts/

UMUC. (n.d.). Module 3 Leadership Challenges in the Public Safety Environment. Retrieved from https://learn.umuc.edu/d2l/le/content/416250/viewContent/16445052/View

Response #1

Discussion #2

Lowe,

Unfair Hiring Practices

Issue: The wrong people are getting hired; underqualified, lacking needed skills.

Cause: Hiring managers are selecting new employees who they know, or in some cases, related to instead of based on merit and qualifications.

Result: Reduced organizational efficiency and production.

Proposed Solution: Develop fair and unbiased hiring practices and include an experienced HR employee in the process that is there to ensure that the best candidates are hired for every position.

There is a real issue in my organization with unfair hiring practices.  Guam is a small island, far out in the middle of the Pacific, where nepotism is a constant issue.  People who are not qualified are being hired all over the place in this organization and across the civil service sector.  I understand that it is cheaper to hire locally, but it is not always the smartest choice.  Additionally, there are funds set aside in the annual budget to hire people from off island when needed.  The result of this unfair and unethical hiring practice is a staff of inert, underqualified, family members who are not motivated or skilled to perform their duties at a high level.  We are essentially a slug of an organization that needs to increase the tempo throughout.

The solution is very simple.  Presently, the hiring boards and the hiring process is comprised of only the hiring supervisor in charge of the open position and whomever he/she decides to include.  There needs to be an unbiased person with no skin in the game who is there to ensure that the process is legal, ethical, and sound, and that the best possible candidate is selected.  I have been bringing this up for years, but I am an outsider (not from Guam), so my concerns are always ignored.  I wholeheartedly believe that if this process is upgraded and implemented, we will become the operational, strategic warfighting machine that we want to evolve into over the next 10 years.

Response#2