Explain how training enforces ideas about authority and rank structure.


Discussion: Training and Authority

Your superior shuts down an investigation that you’ve been building for some time. Another colleague is allowed to act with impunity on the street, and superiors ignore any requests for guidance on how to address working in that circumstance. Political pressure at the highest chain of command has resulted in impractical rules. As a new law enforcement officer, what is your role in these issues? How do you ethically solve problems without getting “stuck” in the chain of command? In this Discussion, you explore how training and authority structures are related.

To prepare:

  • Imagine that you are a newly hired officer. Part of your training is to learn about the organizational structure of the police force and how it applies to decision-making on the job.

Post a response to the following:

  • Explain how training enforces ideas about authority and rank structure.
  • Explain why it is important to establish and maintain this type of authority in modern law enforcement.
  • Recommend ways in which training could create more adaptability in law enforcement.