Personal Statement

Personal Statement

My initial college experience wasn’t the best or used as efficiently as it should have been. I was just out of high school and had no idea what I wanted to major in let alone a career choice in life. Ashamed to say, yet I don’t regret it because of the lessons I learned, I drifted through college for the first couple of years being completely undecided on what I want to do. I started as a business major, but due to lack of applying myself to my school work, failed numerous classes and was constantly switching my major around to whatever I felt suit to at the time. I had ambitions to own a business, be a physical therapist, join the military, and even fell back on one of my passions, that being music. Although not gaining knowledge as I should have been in school, I was however, growing as a person and experiencing life as it was being thrown at me. From heartbreak (from a previous relationship) to heartache from losing a family member, being low on funds and not having a job, getting kicked out of my mother’s house, to being depressed because I felt I had not accomplished anything in life up to a certain point. My perseverance and determination not to fail myself and those I cared about kept me going, and my trials and tribulations in life have shaped and molded me into the man I am today. I learned that in order to pursue your passions in life, you have to have a strong foundation to support those interests. So I began to consider a career as a police officer in Law Enforcement. I hadn’t fully considered it as much as I do now because it was previously only an option for me. However, the moment that significantly changed my decision was one of my worst fears that actually came to life. I don’t want to elaborate too much on it because it is a very delicate topic, but family members that are closest to me, and that I deeply care about, were put in harm’s way and I vividly remember it being one of the scariest experiences for me. The day it happened I had a mixture of emotions, I was scared yet extremely infuriated and full of anger that I seldom let come out unless necessary. This moment changed my life because it was the day I decided that in order to protect those I love; I would need to attain the knowledge and skills needed to do so. I’ve always felt that I wanted a career where I can assist others in need and acquire knowledge that would benefit me in the long run. What better way to do that than be a police officer…

Book Review

                                                                                                                                 Louis Cesena

                                                                                                        English-5

Book Review

            Cops by Mark Baker, contains a series of interviews depicting authentic accounts from police officers across the country from several different departments. The interviews were conducted with real cops ranging from street patrol officers to detectives. Interviewees recalled their experiences with stories of specific events that were significant to their career or situations that they remember the most. Some of these stories can be quite graphic at times, amusing, or even sad. In the book, there are officers who described murder scenes they have been to and even car accidents involving small children as young as infants, while others discuss senseless acts of crime performed by unintelligent criminals.

            A good portion of the interviews throughout the book entail how these experiences effect the officer psychologically such as post-traumatic stress. In Chapter 1, a policeman recalls an incident where he was with his partner and responding to a woman who called 911 because her husband was supposedly trying to commit suicide. When the officers arrived at the residence, the wife told them that the husband locked himself inside the bathroom and was threatening to kill himself. As they were trying to get the man to come out he slightly opens the door and the officers force their way in only to find that this man is extremely larger than them and engaging them wielding a screwdriver. One of the cops was stabbed in the arm while the other was scratched on the chest with the weapon but nothing critical. Another policeman arrives to assist them and finally handcuff the man with the screwdriver. The officer then describes having nightmares on several occasions about the large man with the screwdriver but pictures him attacking with a straight razor instead, thus suffering from post-traumatic stress due to the previous incident.

            Chapter 2, Crimebusters, is about the investigation and undercover point of view of law enforcement. It is an important aspect of solving crimes because it enables police officers to collect monumental evidence against the individuals who are being accused of these illegal acts but have not yet been caught in the process of doing it. For example, an officer cannot arrest someone based exclusively on their belief that this person is actually committing the crime, but rather, acquire incriminating evidence to do so.

            Mark Baker’s intentions are to give the reader an insight view of what cops go through on the job and provide a perspective that most people will never experience or understand. The book captures the reader’s attention with graphic details and first-hand accounts of different police officer experiences on the street. Baker implicitly gets his message across, which in my opinion is to allow people to understand what police officers go through despite whatever previous assumptions they may have about law enforcement, however, not necessarily wanting to attain any sympathy for cops, but rather empathy.

            I would recommend this book to anyone who does not fully understand how police officers do their job or what exactly their occupation is and how they do it. Regardless of their knowledge of law enforcement, it is always significant to comprehend someone else’s point of view on a specific topic so as not to obtain any misunderstanding or miscommunication of what it may be. Cops, is a prime example of what it is like to experience situations from another person’s perspective.

            This book has allowed me to further comprehend the concept of what kind of mental mind state and preparatory knowledge I will need to have during my career as a police officer. I have gained a first-hand perspective of what I can expect to encounter in the field of law enforcement. It has also helped me understand the level of empathy and professionalism I must provide when handling delicate situations involving victims of crime. But most of all, what it means to be a police officer of law enforcement and what it stands for. 

Opinion Based Articles

All too often people complain about the problems with this nation’s criminal justice system. The words, “unfair, unreliable, racist, bias” seems to correlate with it more than what it actually stands for. But it only seems that way for the simple fact that we’ve done it to ourselves.

How can we as a nation fix this ongoing problem within our society? The answer lies within ourselves, as hatred and racism are a part of ones upbringing. It is taught to people at an early age that just because someone else is of another race or ethnicity, they should be treated differently from others.

The title of the first article is, Tyler and Trayvon, Continued… by Bill Keller. The main idea of the article is to inform the reader of the emphasis applied to a crime committed that is influenced by hate or bigotry compared to one of the same stature that is not influenced by either, but solely out of the intent to do so with no “valid” motive. Bill Keller believes that this is in no way beneficial but instead undermines the history of a specific race, hence the quote “But unless there’s some evidence that this actually works, it seems to be mainly a way to make a guilty society feel better about itself”. During the initial reading process, before the author clearly states his opinion, it would seem as if he already maintains a position of his own implicit bias. However, after progressing further in the article, Keller presents a highly valid reason as to why he holds his position on the subject as well as providing substantiating evidence that supports his argument. Hence, the first sentence of the article, “My discomfort with hate crime legislation — laws prescribing that a crime committed with a head full of bigotry can be punished more severely than the identical crime committed out of, say, predatory greed or plain old cruelty — has stimulated a lively discussion.”

            I would consider the author to have an eminently strong and compelling argument in regards to the issue being discussed in this particular article. Why should someone who has committed the same crime with no intentions of hatred being implemented towards the victim during the actual occurrence of the crime, be punished less than an individual who has done the same but with the intent of pure hatred caused by their own bias? There would be no common ground that lies within the explanation of this argument. For example, Trayvon Martin’s story is mainly recognized for the fact that he is of African-American descent, but if he was a Caucasian male there would not be as much attention as there was towards his case.  However, Keller states in his article that most readers would be in favor of the fact that the history of a specific race, gender, or sexual preference would be a basis for justifying the strenuous circumstances related to hate crime laws. Meaning that because of how that specific race was treated previously in history, they should be treated better now to make up for old times.

Realistically, a “justification” of circumstances can also be perceived as a mockery in regards to the negative aspect of the history of one’s gender, sexual preference, or race. How can a specific category of people be treated equally compared to everyone else, when a crime committed against them with a particular bias is not handled the same as without one? This can only mean an indication of a fallacy, placed surreptitiously behind hidden assumptions. Keller also states that those in favor of the concept of hate crime laws can be classified as closed minded. I would concur with this statement, for the simple fact that the gratification for commending the consequences of a “hate” crime, simply undermines an entire race of people.

            Article #2

            In the second article I analyzed, Reviewing Criminal Justice, the author discusses a brief summary of the criminal justice system and a bill proposed by Senator Jim Webb, a Democrat of Virginia, to review the entire establishment as well as what needs to be done to improve it. The author touches bases on several problems of the criminal justice system that need to be attended to and how the bill will affect those issues. According to the article, America’s prison system is significantly diminished and is in dire need of improvements.

            The very first sentence in the article sums up everything one can expect to be informed about if not already obvious enough about our criminal justice system, “America’s criminal justice needs repair” simply speaks for itself. Then again, what exactly needs to be repaired? According to the article, prisons are becoming overcrowded; sentences for crimes committed are also highly irrational, gang violence has yet to subside or minimize activity, and programs to assist convicted felons to assimilate back into normal society are clearly not functioning as they should be.

            The author states that the prison system keeping individuals imprisoned who do not need to remain there for a substantial amount of time, is highly “unjust” and extremely expensive for the state of California and also adds that “In the last two decades, state corrections spending soared 127 percent, while spending on higher education increased only 21 percent.” However, what he does not elaborate on the subject of is the fact that private prisons benefit entirely off of the incarceration of inmates. So a higher numbers of prisoners equal a higher amount of profit for the prisons. It would only make sense for the state not to utilize a larger amount of funds on the education system when the profit margin return is extensively favorable for the business of private prison systems. However, this is just from a business aspect rather than what is actually beneficial to the community.

            A commission of notable criminal justice experts would be appointed the responsibility of analyzing policies that have arisen throughout the nation in regards to the criminal justice system and will facilitate improvements for them as well. Although not precisely stated what needs improvement, it can be assumed that the panel of chosen “experts” will administer a course of action that would address the 3 main problems previously discussed in this article. The real question is, will this plan actually be effective? Or should the time and energy spent on this particular resolution be directed towards another

            Although I do not completely support the author’s argument on this subject, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, hence the basis of this article. I don’t believe a major problem such as the nation’s prison system defects can be resolved by simply patching it up here and there. A matter of this proportionate size should be addressed at the root of the problem, which is our educational system. If you want to fix something, start from the bottom.

Keller, Bill “Tyler and Trayvon, Continued…” The New York Times 03 April 2012

<http://keller.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/03/tyler-and-trayvon-continued/#more-425>

Editorial “Reviewing Criminal Justice” The New York Times 29 March 2009

<http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/30/opinion/30mon1.html?_r=0>

Open Letter

To Whom It May Concern,

My research over the course of the semester regarding this specific topic, has been quite interesting despite the fact that I would have never even considered a job in law enforcement, due to the fact that my previous run-ins with the law haven’t been the best of experiences. Although it’s not a complete passion of mine to be a police officer, it is a stepping stone and a solid foundation, as far as career wise, to further my knowledge and utilize my compassion to help others and protect those who are in need of it. I believe that in order to achieve success in whatever you do, one must understand each aspect and every angle of the particular subject that interests you. I take pride in how mentally strong I am, so I decided to research the psychological aspect of law enforcement and what it takes to be a police officer when faced with certain situations or accumulated stress from experiences on the job. I had actually begun my research long before I even enrolled in this critical thinking class. Around this time last year I was applying for the San Francisco Police Department and OPD as well. Unfortunately I still have not been successful in being accepted in a Police Department or Academy, due to unexpected circumstances. However, after speaking with my uncle, an Ex-Navy Seal, who had also been through the evaluation process of applying for a police department, he informed me of what I needed to do and what they’re looking for in a candidate as well as advice he had gotten from some of his friends who are police officers. He then let me borrow a book entitled, Cops by Mark Baker, which is a collection of interviews done with real police officers and gives the reader an in-depth view of what they have experienced on the street as an officer. Some of the stories are amusing and even exciting, while others can be quite graphic and disturbing at times. My research conducted about this topic has definitely given me a different perspective as far as what I need to be mentally prepared for out there as a police officer. To those of you who are planning on pursuing the same career or who are already in the process of doing so as I am, good luck to you, because it is definitely not an easy process.

            

Image Review

I believe this image portrays the misrepresentation and misinterpretation of what law enforcement and police officers actually stand for. According to the picture above, they are seen as, not to all but some, abusers of their power and by no means look to protect and improve the community but to diminish it with brutality and dishonest practices. However, that seems a little one-sided and a close-minded approach when pertaining to law enforcement. In no way should there be a matter of right or wrong, but rather ones perspective of it. We depend on the police to protect and serve our community because it is their job, and they do so as expected but previous reputations of crooked cops or “police brutality” cast an overshadow among the “good” police officers.

Introduction

My blog topic is about Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, as well as what is mentally required to be able to sustain the stressful situations or experiences that may occur on the job as a police officer. I’m interested in this particular topic because I plan on pursuing a career in Law Enforcement and would like to be prepared for what I may encounter out on the street or dealing with certain individuals. What makes my blog interesting is that I decided to review the psychological aspect of what officers go through without implementing any bias that one may have towards law enforcement due to their own experiences, but instead approached it with a neutral point of view which enabled me to understand it substantially better. My theory is that you should always comprehend both sides of the gate before you jump to conclusions or make irrational decisions before even understanding the other party’s point of view. So with that said, I hope whoever reads my blog, whether or not they are planning on having a career in Criminal Justice, appreciates the work I’ve done and have formulated into something enjoyable to read as well as informative and allows the reader to truly grasp the message I’m trying to elucidate.