CMRJ308

150 words reply agree or disagree to this 

This week, we were asked to review and speak on the matter of risk assessment and management as it relates to policing. Coming from a military back ground, I am very familiar with formulating and implementing the necessary risk mitigations. While the military application is similar, it also has great differences. While risk mitigation in the military is usually overseen by a leader, law enforcement officers are entrusted to take the proper steps with minimal oversight. In addition, there is usually a vast amount of time that goes into the planning process before an exercise or mission is put into motion. That is not always the case for law enforcement officers and officials when dealing with sensitive issues that require immediate or near immediate responses and action. For example, McEwan, Bateson, and Strand discussed an important obstacle officers must face when dealing with domestic related incidents. McEwan, Bateson, and Strand stated officers must be able to accurately categorize a case’s relatively by “low”, “moderate”, or “high” risk at the point of their intervention into the matter. They further state that this is the first step in determining the appropriate action and risk mitigation needed (2017). While proper risk assessment and management is needed, it can not be applied the same way as it is in other sectors. Law enforcement officers and officials do not always have the luxury of time. Too often are they forced to make the most reasonable and rash decision possible at that given moment. While risk assessment and management are necessary evils that need to be addressed, it can be a complicated topic with vast obstacles during implementation. To be successful with proper implementation of a desired mitigation, it all starts with training. With that said, training has to extend pass the classroom. Practical exercises and utilizing past experiences from officer BWC’s will assist in training. In addition, trainees should utilize their BWC to provide first person experience of the training.          

Resources:

McEwan, T. E., Bateson, S., & Strand, S. (2017). Improving police risk assessment and management of family violence through a collaboration between law enforcement, forensic mental health and academia. Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice, 3(2), 119-131. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy2.apus.edu/10.1108/JCRPP-01-2017-0004