How to Make a Proper Arrest

Most people do not know how a proper arrest is made by police, and I too am one of those people. This week I based my research around how (by law) a police officer is to properly make an arrest. There are 5 key fundamentals that are involved:


Immobilize: First you must stop all of the person's movements. Whether this is done through verbal commands, forceful options such as TASERs or OC, or by some other means. You can't move onto the next step, Control, without first stopping the person from making any movements.

A police officer arresting a suspect.

Control: An officer must gain control of the person(s) and situation before handcuffing someone. Tasers and OC spray help if the situation becomes too unruly.


Handcuffing: Handcuff everyone, no matter what the suspect's size, gender, or shape. When handcuffing a suspect police officers will always do it behind his or hers back. Handcuffing someone in front gives the suspect too much mobility, allowing him or her too much freedom of movement, giving them the opportunity of being able to reach a concealed firearm or other weapon. When handcuffing someone behind their back, be sure to place the backs of their hands together. This will prevent some of the more flexible suspects from being able to slip the handcuffs from around their backs under their legs. Handcuffed suspects are responsible for stealing more than 100 police vehicles each year and fleeing.


Search: A police officer must always conduct a proper search of the person being handcuffed. Cuff first, then search. Never search first, and then handcuff. You have to have the mindset that everyone, no matter the person's size, race, gender, or age, poses a possible threat.


Transport: Never let your guard down until the transport to the police station is complete, and the person has been turned over to someone else or incarcerated. When doing a transport, we have a tendency to let our guard down the closer we get to our destination. The opposite is true of the suspect in the backseat. The closer we get to the facility, the higher his or her stress and anxiety level becomes. Often the end of the transport is one of the most dangerous times because the bad guy knows that's the end of the road.








"What Procedures Must the Police Follow While Making an Arrest? - FindLaw." Findlaw. Web. 24 Apr. 2015.

Everyday Duties

As a police officer your job is to enforce the law upon civilians that are located in the district for which you serve. Though, many people do not know what an officers duties are on a daily basis. I too am one of those people. This week I based my research around learning what I, as an officer, would do while I was on the front line. Here are just a few key things I found that I did not know prior to my developing research: 

Police Officer on the job.

• Patrols a specified district or beat on foot, motorcycle, patrol vehicle (marked or unmarked).
• Gives information to pedestrians and motorists; Checks for any law violations; Writes citations; directs traffic and escorts convoys.
• Responds to radio calls and investigates complaints, disturbances, collisions, administers first aid in emergencies
• Watches for suspicious cars, curfew violators and wanted persons; make arrests for violations of laws and ordinances.
• Serves warrants and subpoenas; transports prisoners and assists in booking and jailing prisoners; appears in court
• Investigates conditions hazardous to life or property; conducts initial investigations of crime and crime scenes; may assist detectives in criminal investigation work. Collect and preserve evidence.
• Writes reports, reads bulletins, reports, orders and implements indicated changes as appropriate. Testify in Court as required.

The list of things required of this job seem as though they could go on and on and are quite exhausting. Most people are in this job field because of the rewards whether it is saving an innocent child, stopping an unanticipated deathly wreck, or catching the bad guys. I believe the mental satisfaction of this job is much greater than any thing else that could branch off of this amazing job.

Sources:
"San Jose Police Department." San Jose Police. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2015.

"Police Officer Duties." Police Officer Duties. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2015.

Education Requirements

As I began my conquest into researching about my career, becoming a police officer, I discovered something quite interesting. To be a police officer one essentially does not even have to attend college. Mind blowing right? Education requirements range from a high school diploma to a college, or higher, degree. It is common for agencies to require only a high school diploma/GED and for one to graduate from their agency's academy before completing a period of on-the-job training. Then proceed to be placed out into the field as a badged police officer.

Although it is not required at any of my local police departments/agencies, many agencies and some police departments require some college coursework or a college degree. Receiving college education in criminology immensely increases ones chances of landing a job at the department/agency of choice. Criminology is the scientific study of crime as a social phenomenon, of criminals, and of penal treatment. A clearer version of that definition would read the study of crime and criminals. 

The top five Criminal Justice schools read as the following: University of Maryland College Park, University of Albany SUNY, University of Cincinnati, University of Missouri St Louis, and Pennsylvania State University University Park.