CERT in the Community: Examination of Community Policing, Essay Example

Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT’s) were formed in order to advise communities how best to prepare for disaster situations.  They provided people with the necessary skills to deal with both emergencies and hazards.  The training was initially provided by way of simulations in a classroom situation and then conducted as exercises in the field.  (CERT, 2009) These emergency response teams had similar training to that of paramedics and community policing. FEMA the Emergency Management Institute provides numerous training courses .

“Introduction to Community Emergency Response Teams”, IS- 317, is an independent study course that serves as an introduction to CERT for those wanting to complete training or as a refresher for current team members. It has six modules with topics that include an Introduction to CERT, Fire Safety, Hazardous Material and Terrorist Incidents, Disaster Medical Operations, and Search and Rescue. It takes between six and eight hours to complete the course. Those successfully finishing it will receive a certification of completion from Citizen Corps.”  (FEMA, 2009)

Community Policing is based on the notion that people are empowered by working as a team in order to assist local police authorities.  By appropriate planning, vigilance and awareness they are able to reduce crime in their neighbourhoods.  The concept is that they are a citizens help group to the police force and not a separate vigilante force working outside of the law.  The imperative being that the police approve community plans and oversee the actions of such groups to ensure that they remain within the official bounds of the law.  There is a trend across North America to move towards this joint action approach.

The police are seriously stretched in terms of manpower and resources; as such they need to optimise the approach of policing and gain more collaboration with the public.  This is never more prevalent than in the large Cities with sprawling urban conurbations. One such example being Chicago IL, where the police use “beat teams” to patrol the neighbourhoods.  The objective being to build better community spirit and understanding by using people that dwell in these areas. Line Officers are expected to ” work autonomously, completing investigations, solving problems and informing the public by shedding layers of beurocracy” (Wesley G. Skogan, 1997)

It is useful to put “Community Policing” into proper context and Sir Robert Peel defined it as.. “To maintain at all times a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and that the public are the police. The police being the only members of the public who are paid to give full time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interest of Community welfare and existence.”  (Peel, 2007)

The Winnipeg Police Department in Canada have defined the four corners of community policing as:

• Community consultation
• Problem analysis
• Problem solving
• Call management

In Canada the aboriginal people ( termed First Nations ) essentially are bands of people living in remote areas on their own land.  Owing to geographical remoteness it has not always been possible to provide formal policing and emergency services on a regular basis.  This resulted in the RCMP providing training for community policing in order to provide a regular and ongoing presence in the communities.  ” The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has traditionally policed First Nations communities pursuant to provincial policing agreements. Services were further enhanced by the former Indian Special Constable Program ” (Police, 2009)

The Kentucky Regional Community Police force at Richmond have stressed the vital need for citizen input into the administrative process.  They compiled a citizen checklist…

• Agency Advisory Boards: groups of citizens who meet regularly with the chief/sheriff and other top commanders to provide input and advice on overall agency policies, priorities, and issues.
• Unit Advisory Boards : groups of citizens who meet regularly with unit commanders and related personnel to provide input and advice on unit policies, priorities, and issues (e.g., precinct advisory boards, victims/witness advisory councils, family abuse advisory boards, etc.)
• Beat Advisory Boards : groups of citizens who meet regularly with their beat officer or beat team to provide input and advice on priorities and issues.
• Special Advisory Boards : groups of citizens with special interests who meet regularly with the chief/sheriff, top commanders, or related personnel to provide input and advice on policies, priorities, and issues related to their special interests (e.g., ministry alliance, business council, mental health council, etc.)
• Community Surveys : surveys conducted in various ways (telephone, mail, in-person, in the newspaper, etc.) to obtain citizen views on policies, priorities, and issues.
• Electronic Mail/Home page : use of the Internet, on-line services, computer bulletin boards, etc. to obtain citizen views on policies, priorities, and issues.
• Radio/Television Call-In Shows : use of radio and TV call-in shows to obtain citizen views on policies, priorities, and issues.
• Town Meetings : public meetings to which citizens are invited in order to provide input and advice on policies, priorities, and issues. (Institute, 2008)

What undoubtedly will lead to controversy is the arming of community police, consider ” They carry batons, wear badges, make arrests, protect and serve. But for the first time this fall, Oakton Community College’s campus police will carry guns. Arming Oakton’s “peace” officers is part of an overhaul of the college’s security measures. Oakton’s college board of trustees voted in January to arm the 11 sworn officers between the Des Plaines and Skokie campus” (Krishnamurthy, 2009).

Works Cited

CERT. (2009). Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT). Retrieved 10 15, 2009, from CERT: http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/

FEMA. (2009). IS-317 Introduction to Community Emergency Response Teams. Retrieved 10 15, 2009, from Emergency Management Institute: http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/Is/is317.asp

Institute, K. R. (2008). Kentucky Regional Community Policing Institute. Retrieved October 14, 2009, from Community Policing: Principles and Elements : http://www.kycops.org/whatIs.htm

Krishnamurthy, M. (2009, 7 3). Oakton Community College arming campus police this fall. Retrieved 10 14, 2009, from Daily Herald: http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=304624

Peel, S. R. (2007, October 31). Winnipeg. Retrieved October 15, 2009, from Community Policing: http://www.winnipeg.ca/police/AboutTheService/community_policing.stm

Police, R. C. (2009). Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Retrieved October 14, 2009, from RCMP First Nations Community Policing Service : http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/pubs/abo-aut/fncps-spcpn-eng.htm

Wesley G. Skogan, S. M. (1997). Community Policing Chicago style. In S. M. Wesley G. Skogan, Community Policing Chicago style (p. 236). New York : Oxford University Press.