Police agencies play a critical role in a democratic society. While seeking to maintain order, enforce the law and deliver services effectively, police agencies are held accountable to a wide-variety of values by a number of powerful stakeholders. Police leaders, managers, and other personnel must understand the complexities of the police role in society, the political and legal constraints placed on them in addition to being experts in effective, evidence-based approaches to dealing with crime problems in the community. By applying theory, policy, and evaluation literature to the cutting-edge practices in the field, this course provides students with an advanced understanding in the field of police leadership, management, strategy, and accountability within a democratic society.

Students completing this course will be able to: 

• Demonstrate an understanding of the critical issues in policing including use of force, management and organization, subculture, discretion, accountability, use of new technologies, evaluations of success, legitimacy, ethic, accountability, and professionalism.
• Identify and explain a variety of contemporary approaches used by the police to control and reduce crimes with evidence-based practices.
• Describe the role and function of police in a society and the impact of law enforcement on crime and public support.
• Explain and discuss the importance of diversity, ethical considerations and statutory requirements that police and law enforcement professionals encounter as community care takers and providers of public safety that impacts the level of crime and quality of life within the communities they serve.
• Apply theoretical knowledge of policing strategies to real life scenarios.