Running

head: COMMUNICATION STYLES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT 1

Communications Styles in Law Enforcement

Steven Shea

University of San Diego

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There are two basic means by which law enforcement can complete its mission: verbal

communication and use of force. Communication is the basis of working together within an

agency and to work with members of the community. Gathering information from witnesses

can hinge on the ability of an officer to effectively communicate. In a majority of situations,

arresting a suspect can easily be accomplished through verbal commands, but the presence of

an officers badge, firearm, and other accouterments also communicates authority. When

communication becomes ineffective, the law enforcement officer is left to use force to

accomplish an arrest, the most physical form of communication.

Arguably, the finest example of poor communication by a law enforcement agency

occurred in Ferguson, Missouri in August, 2014. After the death of Michael Brown, the

community began to protest perceived injustice. One of the communications blunders

occurred when the police department released video of Michael Brown committing a technical

robbery. The force used in the robbery amounted to shoving the store clerk (Culley, 2014). The

Department of Justice urged against releasing the video believing it would incite more violent

protests. The release of the video was almost immediately followed by a return to rioting in the

small Saint Louis suburb (Kosner, 2014).

The second, and most discussed, communication error in Ferguson occurred when

police officers pointed rifles and shotguns at protestors. SWAT units were called in to help

control crowds, a circumstance well outside the training of a typical SWAT team. Newscasts

ran several stories showing officers on top of military looking vehicles with rifles pointed at

crowds (Szoldra, 2014). One police lieutenant was filmed pointing a rifle at protesters yelling, I

will f**king kill you (Murdock & Jauregui, 2014).

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The communication to the community in both of the above examples showed poor

judgment on the part of police officials. The community received the video as some type of

justification for the death of Michael Brown, even though it was not intended. Using SWAT

teams and aiming rifles at protesters demonstrates a willingness to use force rather than

looking for common ground.

Contrast the events of Ferguson with those of North Charleston, S.C. A white police

officer shot an unarmed black man as he ran away and planted evidence in an attempt to cover

up his use of excessive force. There were no protests or riots. The swift actions of city and

prosecutorial officials to arrest the officer and offer the victims family solace calmed the

situation quickly (Fedde, 2015). The message communicated to the community clearly stated

that murderous use of force by police officers would not be tolerated.

Preventing unrest after a critical event, such as happened in Ferguson, should begin long

before any shots are fired. Engaging the community through outreach efforts and recruiting

police candidates who reflect the community served can help to build trust before a

controversial incident occurs. Agencies can build trust with diverse communities through

developing relationships, transparency, understanding the community, and fair and respectful

treatment (IACP, 2012).

Within the agency, clearly stated values communicated at all levels set the tone for

acceptable behavior. Interpersonal communication between employees must be respectful,

but field units must engage proactive communication during evolving scenes. Having

employees who feel comfortable being assertive to express ideas is essential to nurturing an

agency to learn. Finally, the nature of law enforcement tends to create a family atmosphere
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among employees. Relational communication will help to strengthen those familial bonds.

REFERENCES

Culley, V. (2014, August 15) Raw video: Surveillance video believed to show Michael Brown

robbing convenience store. Fox 2 Now, KTVI. Retrieved from

http://fox2now.com/2014/08/15/raw-video-surveillance-video-believed-to-show-

michael-brown-robbing-convenience-store/

Fedde, C. (2015, October 9) What cities can learn from one communitys handling of police

shooting. The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved from

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2015/1009/What-cities-can-learn-from-one-

community-s-handling-of-police-shooting

International Association of Chiefs of Police (2012) Community outreach and engagement

principles. IACP committee on terrorism: Countering violent extremism (CVE) working

group. Retrieved from http://www.theiacp.org/portals/0/pdfs/IACP-

COT_CommPolicingPrinciples__FINALAug12.pdf

Kosner, M. (2014, August 16) Feds urged police not to release Michael Brown Robbery video.

NBC News. Retrieved from http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-

shooting/feds-urged-police-not-release-michael-brown-robbery-video-n182346

Murdock, S. & Jauregui, A. (2014, August 20) Cop Ray Albers in Ferguson to protestors: I will

f**king kill you (video). Huffington Post. Retrieved from

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/20/ferguson-cop-i-will-kill-

you_n_5695748.html

Szoldra, P. (2014, August 13) SWAT team called on peaceful protesters in Ferguson police
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arrest journalists, fire tear gas and rubber bullets. Business Insider. Retrieved from

http://www.businessinsider.com/swat-ferguson-protest-2014-8