Engaging in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Institutional Assessment and Change
The above picture captures the essence of this section; the water is the tool to illustrate reflection and assessment, and just like trees change colors with the seasons, every organization must change and adapt with the times.- Dennis Nayor
My Personal Reflection:
Engaging in law enforcement and public safety institutional assessment and change is a vital undertaking for all 21st century policing leaders because as the world continues to evolve, so must our collective practices and policies. Frequent agency assessment ensures that we not only meet community needs and expectations, but that we remain compliant with the ever-changing legal standards and court rulings which guide our actions. In an era of national police reform, our philosophies relating to organizational leadership, technology utilization, and use of force must remain fluid, and an adaptability-based approach must exist within every agency.
I authored three graduate papers which connect directly to institutional assessment and change. The first examines how organizations can be viewed metaphorically as a means to readily identify and understand their fundamental nature, the second is an executive summary concerning key issues regarding use of force, and the third is a legal analysis of a hypothetical new technology called Super Body Worn Cameras. Each paper illustrates the value of assessment, in accordance with the way in which the findings can result in positive changes.
In my paper entitled, “Organizations as Brains,” I affirm that there are many metaphorical ways in which to view an organization, however, the brain analogy is the most powerful. This is because the brain represents an ability to process information and make decisions, while also providing for a pathway towards growth. An organization that functions as a brain engages in a practice known as double loop learning, thus allowing for adaptation to the many environmental and ecological challenges that continually arise. Since organizations are comprised of people, the brain metaphor also connects to the psychology behind what motivates individuals to become fully engaged and productive, which leads not only to success, but more importantly, to survival.
In my paper entitled, “The 2019 National Use of Force Committee Executive Summary,” I cite the United States Supreme Court case of Graham vs. Connor as the standard by which our justice system has evaluated use of force incidents since 1989. The established foundation of objective reasonableness must remain intact; however, we must endeavor to do more to limit the use of force whenever possible. I advocate for de-escalation training, compassion-based training, implicit bias training, and a revised defensive tactics system based upon the principles of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Additionally, I specify that there must be continual dialogue between the police and their respective communities on the topics of policy design, resource deployment, and use of force. A mentality towards de-escalation, compassion, and revised training, coupled with community engagement will be key elements towards creating renewed support for the Graham ruling while helping to re-establish a positive narrative for the law enforcement profession.
In my third paper (memo format), I analyze a hypothetical new technology called Super Body Worn Cameras in context with constitutional law. These devices can employ facial recognition technology, voice recognition technology, and DNA collection capabilities, all through an officer’s interactions with a citizen. I argue that we must employ an appreciation of a person’s reasonable expectation of privacy and protect individuals from unlawful government intrusion. I support the facial recognition technology if it is used in a public place where no reasonable expectation of privacy exists. However, I object to the use of this device to secretly record a person’s voice and I also do not support their usage for warrantless DNA collection. Although this device is impressive, I recommend using a less intrusive tool for public safety.
This reflection and the related papers illustrate the need for continual introspection into the organizations we lead, the tactics we employ, and the technologies we support. Assessing their correlation to best practices and legal standards will have a large impact upon our approval levels and equally, community trust. Harnessing the value of institutional assessment will provide the platform to make changes when needed, which is ultimately the path to progress and evolution.
Engaging in law enforcement and public safety institutional assessment and change is a vital undertaking for all 21st century policing leaders because as the world continues to evolve, so must our collective practices and policies. Frequent agency assessment ensures that we not only meet community needs and expectations, but that we remain compliant with the ever-changing legal standards and court rulings which guide our actions. In an era of national police reform, our philosophies relating to organizational leadership, technology utilization, and use of force must remain fluid, and an adaptability-based approach must exist within every agency.
I authored three graduate papers which connect directly to institutional assessment and change. The first examines how organizations can be viewed metaphorically as a means to readily identify and understand their fundamental nature, the second is an executive summary concerning key issues regarding use of force, and the third is a legal analysis of a hypothetical new technology called Super Body Worn Cameras. Each paper illustrates the value of assessment, in accordance with the way in which the findings can result in positive changes.
In my paper entitled, “Organizations as Brains,” I affirm that there are many metaphorical ways in which to view an organization, however, the brain analogy is the most powerful. This is because the brain represents an ability to process information and make decisions, while also providing for a pathway towards growth. An organization that functions as a brain engages in a practice known as double loop learning, thus allowing for adaptation to the many environmental and ecological challenges that continually arise. Since organizations are comprised of people, the brain metaphor also connects to the psychology behind what motivates individuals to become fully engaged and productive, which leads not only to success, but more importantly, to survival.
In my paper entitled, “The 2019 National Use of Force Committee Executive Summary,” I cite the United States Supreme Court case of Graham vs. Connor as the standard by which our justice system has evaluated use of force incidents since 1989. The established foundation of objective reasonableness must remain intact; however, we must endeavor to do more to limit the use of force whenever possible. I advocate for de-escalation training, compassion-based training, implicit bias training, and a revised defensive tactics system based upon the principles of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Additionally, I specify that there must be continual dialogue between the police and their respective communities on the topics of policy design, resource deployment, and use of force. A mentality towards de-escalation, compassion, and revised training, coupled with community engagement will be key elements towards creating renewed support for the Graham ruling while helping to re-establish a positive narrative for the law enforcement profession.
In my third paper (memo format), I analyze a hypothetical new technology called Super Body Worn Cameras in context with constitutional law. These devices can employ facial recognition technology, voice recognition technology, and DNA collection capabilities, all through an officer’s interactions with a citizen. I argue that we must employ an appreciation of a person’s reasonable expectation of privacy and protect individuals from unlawful government intrusion. I support the facial recognition technology if it is used in a public place where no reasonable expectation of privacy exists. However, I object to the use of this device to secretly record a person’s voice and I also do not support their usage for warrantless DNA collection. Although this device is impressive, I recommend using a less intrusive tool for public safety.
This reflection and the related papers illustrate the need for continual introspection into the organizations we lead, the tactics we employ, and the technologies we support. Assessing their correlation to best practices and legal standards will have a large impact upon our approval levels and equally, community trust. Harnessing the value of institutional assessment will provide the platform to make changes when needed, which is ultimately the path to progress and evolution.
Authored works as described above:
![](http://www.weebly.com/weebly/images/file_icons/pdf.png)
Organizations as Brains by Dennis R Nayor.pdf |
![](http://www.weebly.com/weebly/images/file_icons/pdf.png)
The 2019 National Law Enforcement Use of Force Committee Executive Summary by Dennis R Nayor.pdf |
![](http://www.weebly.com/weebly/images/file_icons/pdf.png)
Super Body worn Camera Legal Analysis by Dennis R Nayor.pdf |