Self-Awareness Assists Law Enforcement Officers.

Law enforcement officers are responsible for keeping communities safe and maintaining law and order. To do this, they need to be able to relate to the people they serve. However, in recent years, there has been a growing awareness that law enforcement needs to develop greater self-awareness to build positive relationships with the communities they serve.

Self-awareness is the ability to understand one's own thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It is an important trait for law enforcement officers because it allows them to be more effective in their job, as well as in their personal lives. Here are three aspects of self-awareness that can make law enforcement officers more successful:

1. Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize and manage one's own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. It is an essential skill for law enforcement officers, who often deal with individuals who are experiencing trauma, stress, or anger.

Being emotionally intelligent allows law enforcement officers to remain calm in high-pressure situations, de-escalate conflicts, and build trust with the community. As Travis Howerton, a retired police officer, noted in an interview with Police1, "It’s not just about knowing the law, it’s about understanding people and being able to relate to them."

2. Cultural Competence

Cultural competence is the ability to understand and appreciate cultural differences. In a diverse society like the United States, cultural competence is essential for law enforcement officers who serve communities with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.

Law enforcement officers who are culturally competent are better able to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds, understand their needs and concerns, and build relationships based on trust and mutual respect. As former NYPD Commissioner William Bratton noted in an interview with NBC News, "The key is building relationships, developing that understanding of the different communities and cultures that we serve."

3. Resilience

Resilience is the ability to adapt and recover from setbacks and challenges. In law enforcement, officers are constantly exposed to traumatic events, which can take a toll on their mental health and well-being.

Resilience is essential for law enforcement officers to maintain their physical and mental health, as well as to continue to serve their communities effectively. By developing resilience, law enforcement officers can bounce back from demanding situations, learn from their experiences, and become stronger and more effective in their roles.

In conclusion, law enforcement officers need to develop self-awareness to relate to the communities they serve. Emotional intelligence, cultural competence, and resilience are three essential aspects of self-awareness that can make law enforcement officers more successful in both their professional and personal lives. As former Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper noted in an interview with NPR, "We need to develop the mindset that whatever decision we make, we have to be ready to justify it to a jury of our peers, and to our own conscience."

References:

1. Howerton, T. (2017). Emotional intelligence in law enforcement: Why it matters. Police1. Retrieved from https://www.police1.com/police-products/training/articles/emotional-intelligence-in-law-enforcement-why-it-matters-4i4Q1NggyLzDJbVW/
2. Lee, M. (2016). Policing the USA. NBC News. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/policing-usa-former-nypd-commissioner-william-bratton-n603431
3. Stamper, N. (2016). Ex-Seattle police chief: Cops need to be aware of their biases. NPR. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2016/09/28/495674058/ex-seattle-police-chief-cops-need-to-be-aware-of-their-biases