Life can be immensely satisfying when your actions serve a greater good. Under the criminal justice system, I have worked as a police and security officer for a very long time. According to the federal government, a law enforcement officer is an employee responsible for the prevention, investigation, apprehension, and detention of individuals suspected to have committed a crime (Donovan & Klahm, 2015). As a law enforcement and security officer, I have investigated crimes, preserved evidence, written reports, apprehended fugitives, and testified in courts of law. While the job of a police officer can be disturbing and dangerous, service to humanity is my greatest motivation.
My interest in policing began more than 18 years ago when I opted to work as a loss prevention officer. In this role, my major duties were theft prevention and security assessment of premises under my jurisdiction. Working as a loss prevention officer, I observed surveillance footage for any criminal misconduct and operated undercover to nab shoplifters. Working with clients, both managerial and customers, requires strong interpersonal skills, especially when handling criminal misconduct such as shoplifting, switching price tags, and hiding merchandise. As such, I have developed essential interpersonal skills, such as assertiveness, negotiation, decision-making, and listening skills, that have taken my career to greater heights.
Use your promo and get a custom paper on
"Director of Security".
Apart from working as a loss prevention officer, I have worked as a law enforcement officer with the New York City Police Department (NYPD). I have also worked in private practice for more than 12 years. Established more than 170 years ago, the NYPD is one of the largest and oldest municipal policing departments in the United States. Serving in the NYPD, I was one of the vigilant officers responsible for policing an 8.5 million-person city through law enforcement, counterterror prevention, and emergency response services. In the past 25 years, the New York City has achieved a steady decline in violent and property crimes. The reduction in crime is one of the accomplishments I am proud of in my former role in the NYPD. With the extensive experience, both in private and public practice, and necessary certifications, I will achieve my future professional goal of becoming Director of Security.
The media portrayal of police officers has been negative in the past due to cases of unwarranted police shootings of unarmed civilians. In particular, the U.S. has seen escalating cases of police brutality and use of excessive force by the police, especially when handling matters that do not require the use of additional force. The fatal shooting of Michael Brown, Philando Castile, and Walter Scott are some of the cases that have caused public uproar and outrage about the conduct and professionalism of police officers (Blow, 2018). Lobby groups have gone as far as questioning the validity and the competency of police officers to handle delicate situations. As a result of the negative media representation, the public began videotaping various encounters they have with the police as a way of proving innocence and reducing police brutality (Donovan & Klahm, 2015). While such actions are not considered criminal, the videos in circulation indicate a suspicious police-civilian relationship.
While no amount of persuasion can justify police brutality, various constructs have begun questioning the police-media nexus. For instance, McGovern and Philips (2017) describe the police-media relationship as complex, multidimensional, and contingent. With the advancements in contemporary policing, the police and media interact in some form or shape; a relationship often described as symbiotic and informed by power dynamics. More precisely, the media presents a compelling opportunity for the police to communicate with the public about various issues such as ideals, criminal threats, and police successes (The National Institute of Justice: Office of Justice Programs, 2014). Equally, for the media, crime events present significant content for news and commentary, which in turn increases ratings and digital footprint. However, the exchange relationship can be frivolous and suspicious. McGovern and Philips (2017) explain that such a relationship is inevitably enduring yet also necessarily unstable. With such type of relationship, media, under some circumstances give biased report of police operations. In so doing, they give a negative and an exaggerated perception of the police to the public.
With the fraught relationship between the media and law enforcement agencies, ensuring accountability for operations is one of the challenges I will have to deal with as Director of Security. Institutions for the common good must be seen as legitimate by the people they serve. According to Callanan and Rosenberger (2009), for institutions that can use coercive force, accountability and transparency in operations are the pillars of public approval. For example, public assurance is essential for confidence in the services of the law enforcement agencies, especially for community policing that relies heavily on local input. The concept of procedural justice assumes that when citizens believe in fair treatment by the law enforcement agencies, they increase their confidence in the institution. As such, I will have to deal with the already fragile relationship between law enforcement officers and civilians.
Having worked as a police officer, and with the educational knowledge, I am confident that I will serve with dignity, respect for human rights, and competency as Director of Security. Equally, with 12 years in public and private practice, I have gained experiential knowledge required in this profession. In addition, strong interpersonal skills will be essential in my interactions with the public and other colleagues when handling various forms of conflict. I have confidence in becoming a security director.
- Blow, C. (2018). Stephon Clark: Rhythms of Tragedy. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com
- Callanan, V. J., & Rosenberger, J. S. (2011). Media and public perceptions of the police: Examining the impact of race and personal experience. Policing & Society, 21(2), 167-189
- Donovan, K. M., & Klahm IV, C. F. (2015). The role of entertainment media in perceptions of police use of force. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 42(12), 1261-1281. Retrieved from https://fisherpub.sjfc.edu
- McGovern, A., & Philips, N. (2017). Police, Media, and Popular Culture. University of Oxford Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice.
- The National Institute of Justice: Office of Justice Programs. (2014). Perceptions of Treatment by Police. Retrieved from https://www.nij.gov/
