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An article from a Lodge 7 Magazine sponsor
Education Spotlight
Some insight on career development
American Military University offers ever-advancing knowl- edge necessary for law enforcement officers to effectively fur- ther their careers through education. Online courses fit with demanding work schedules and offer expert know-how to give the competitive edge in policing.
Real-world examples taught by faculty with years of law en- forcement experience ensure that education will be relevant, accredited and applicable to a changing law enforcement workforce. AMU offers educational resources to officers on an ongoing basis through its website.
Here is some of the information AMU makes available to law enforcement officers:
How police officers can foster officer commitment
A national survey by the Center for State and Local Gov- ernment Excellence found that governments are having more difficulty filling police positions than any other category of gov- ernment personnel. Police de- partments nationwide are having difficulty filling vacancies. The study found that organizations reported having difficulty filling 27 percent of policing posi-
tions.
However, supervisors can help aid this national epidemic.
Not only do they make a difference in officer retention, su- pervisors also affect other officers’ perceptions of policing. By having fair higher-ups who recognize employees’ strengths, they become valuable resources to officers. Additional ways for supervisors to be assets to their employees include dis- playing empathy in difficult situations, assisting on calls and being transparent about interagency problems.
Officers who believe they have the support of their supe- riors, even when they face allegations or unfair scrutiny, are much more likely to remain committed to the job, especially in cases when officers followed department policies and pro- cedures. If supervisors take on participatory leadership roles, they can subsequently foster officer commitment.
Tips to handling stress for female police recruits
Sisters in blue sometimes have a more difficult time adapt- ing to the force. As a female officer, expressing emotion, stress or trauma can very often be dismissed on account of gender. However, bottling these things up can be hugely detrimental to mental health. Some advice for coping with these tough is- sues includes:
• Share your failures.
• Embrace fear and vulnerability.
• Practice resilience.
• Find your tribe.
Resilience is born from failure; we only grow from adver- sity and discomfort. Resilient people share their failures, ar- en’t afraid to admit mistakes and don’t hide behind a veil of perfection. Sharing and expecting inevitable failure allows growth – resiliency is preparing for, coping with and growing from adversity.
Courage doesn’t mean you won’t experience fear, but the idea is to not be paralyzed by it. Fear can be debilitating, but it can also be a motivating factor. It’s not a weakness to feel uncomfortable. The most important part of discomfort is learning how to grow from negativity. Women have a different experience as police officers, and these differences are what make a better, stronger department.
Are you suffering from burnout?
Health and wellness have not been a popular topic, but re- cent conferences and information have quickly been trying to rectify the lack of awareness about mental health.
A serious and dangerous health issue is burnout – when someone reaches physical or emotional exhaustion due to prolonged stress or frustration. Aside from emotional exhaus- tion, some symptoms of burnout include depersonalization, which is when one begins to withdraw from others and is short-tempered with loved ones. Diminished efficacy – believ- ing one’s work no longer has an impact – and even impaired insight, which mentally convinces individuals they’re not ill, also play huge roles as negative consequences of burnout.
But all is not lost. Some methods of improving outlook to prevent burnout are easily accessible. These include realiz- ing you only have so much to give, improving your attitude, practicing self-kindness, savoring your experiences, leverag- ing your relationships and, of course, speaking with a licensed professional.
By identifying the symptoms of burnout and implementing these preventative measures, it is possible to avoid this ex- tremely dangerous mental health issue.
Law enforcement’s fight against fake news and cybercrime
Are you becoming skeptical about who or what to believe? You are not alone. Technology has advanced so quickly that it is relatively easy for anyone with basic software to make something that never happened look real, otherwise known as “deep fakes.”
As with all social issues, law enforcement plays a significant role on the front lines of addressing potential threats posed by the spread of false information and the connection to cyber- crime. However, many agencies and officers are not properly equipped to tackle these problems.
Improving the ability to investigate cybercrimes comes from building awareness, enhancing cyber training and edu- cation, enhancing the police and citizen bond and providing technological innovations for officers.
By improving officers’ computer proficiency skills, work- ing closely with national resources to track cybercrimes and conducting outreach efforts to help citizens identify fake news and potential cybercrimes, law enforcement agencies will do a better job of combating the fastest growing and increasingly harmful world of cybercrime.
For more information about degree programs and other re- sources for Chicago Lodge 7 members to advance their careers, go to AMUonline.com/FOPChicago.
54 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ MARCH 2020