Jonathan Parker

Law class

4-04-05

Law project paper

Law enforcement officer

The foundation of America is made up of laws, which were created many Centuries ago. These laws are enforced by a group of men and women called Law Enforcement Officers. Without the enforcement of such laws society and morals would no longer have the protection from criminals, murderers and terrorists. Without someone to enforce the laws, the laws will mean nothing. They would be an idle symbol of a society, which ceased to exist after they were no longer enforced. They would be recommendations with no repercussions. They would become a memory of a hope, peace, and justice that we would not be able to reach unless the laws were once again enforced by the men and women who pledged their life to do so.  Law enforcement officers risk their life every day to keep the peace and freedoms guaranteed by the United States Constitution, Federal statutes and state and local ordinances.

The Wichita Police Department’s mission is to provide professional and ethical public safety services in partnership with citizens to identify, prevent and solve the problems of crime, fear of crime, social disorder and neighborhood decay, thereby improving the quality of life in the community. The Wichita police department maintains the trust of the community through honesty, compassion and fairness. They enforce the laws daily through the protection of life and property. They follow the rules that they themselves are sent to enforce. The Wichita Police Department's Field Services Division is comprised of uniformed officers and is organized into four sections. Each section Patrol North, Patrol South, Patrol East, and Patrol West operates out of a patrol substation located in their assigned areas. This allows rapid response to emergency calls for services and provides easier citizen access to services. In addition each Patrol section is responsible for delivering law enforcement services through the community policing viewpoint.   Also assigned to the Field Services Division are four SCAT units that are the enforcement teams of community policing. The Field Services Division has twelve School Resource Officers assigned to area high schools and middle schools to work as contacts between the Board of Education and the Wichita Police Department. Because of the Field Services Division and the School Resource Officers, students and parents can both experience the protection and safety of a law enforcement officer. As the experience of a law enforcement officer broadens the community receives more efficient protection, and a feeling of calmness, knowing that they are always protected.

The training to become a law enforcement officer is rough and is very hard to get used to. As a Police Recruit you receive ample training from the professional instructors at the Wichita Sedgwick County Law Enforcement Training Center. The training you receive includes training in Legal Aspects of Law Enforcement, such as Constitutional Law, State statutes, City Ordinances. They also receive training in Defense Tactics & Control Techniques such as Use of firearms, Use of  the expandable baton, Unarmed defense, Emergency vehicle operation, Officer survival, and Aerosol weapons. A law enforcement officer must also train in Criminal Investigation; they must know Principles and techniques of interviewing suspects, witnesses, and other law enforcement officers to receive the maximum amount of information. They also need to know what crimes are against person or property and how to write a report about a crime or call. A law enforcement officer must also know how investigate a crime scene, collect evidence and determine a reasonable cause and/or motive behind a crime. Finally a cop must know how police are supposed to respond to community problems. An officer must know how to handle situations such as domestic violence, and child abuse, for this an officer must be trained in community policing and conflict resolution tactics that can help calm a situation. The most important thing an officer should know is the Patrol procedures and techniques, what they should do when they encounter situations like DUI enforcement, First Aid/CPR, and situations that involve Mental retardation or Mental illness. After graduation from the academy you will become a Police Officer and be assigned to work with an experienced Field Training Officer.  Your on-the-job training will equip you with the special skills and knowledge that are necessary in the law enforcement field.

            After graduation from the academy an officer will be assigned to first, second, third or fouth watch and have a 10 hour day 4-day work week. Their own ability and effort determine how far they advance.  Impartial and objective promotional opportunities are open to all eligible officers and are conducted on a regular basis. The usual pay for a Police Recruit during the academy is  $16.46 per hour. Although the average pay for a Police Officer is $17.24 an hour. While in the academy an officer will be eligible for health insurance and holiday pay. They will be issued Department uniforms, equipment and firearm. The Wichita Police Academy is also certified for "Veteran's Assistance Education Benefits".  Upon graduation from the academy They will be eligible for all City benefit programs, including a Vacation for 12 days per year, increasing after five years, Eleven paid holidays per year, Sick Leave which is earned at the rate of 1/2 day per month for the first five years, then one day per month, with no maximum accumulation.  An officer will also receive retirement benefits which are a paid retirement after 20 years service if at least age 50 at 50% of pay and health insurance, group life insurance, education pay, uniform allowance, credit union, Police Benefit Fund, injury leave, Worker's Compensation, disability income insurance, accidental death & dismemberment insurance.

            To be hired as a Law enforcement officer a person must,  meet all entrance requirements and minimum standards; file an application with the City's Personnel Office, pass the written aptitude test which you schedule with Personnel, First Contact Interview at the Training Academy, pass a physical agility test and polygraph examination, complete a personal history form, and background investigation, and partake in a Department Interview or a Board. Command Staff Interview. Passing all of the above steps will place them on the eligibility list.  If selected from the eligibility list for a job offer, they will then have to take a Psychological evaluation and a Physical examination. They will then have to run a Cooper's Run which is a  1 1/2 mile run that must be ran in a maximum of 14 minutes while wearing the full police uniform. They finally have Appointment at the Wichita Police Academy with the Chief of Police. After a person has completed all of the steps above they are then a certified Police officer.