Cja 304- Verbal Communication

Verbal Communication
Nikkeya West
CJA 304
March 11, 2012
Clark Nissen
University Of Phoenix

Verbal Communication
“Information is giving out; communication is getting through.”
-John C. Maxwell
One may assume that the roles of officers are just to catch us when we’re speeding, write a ticket and move on to the next person breaking the law. It would appear that way too many of us, but there is more depth, in the way an officer presents himself. While we find it insulting for an officer to say “How you doing mam’” after catching us going 40 in a 20 school zone, we must think of how much more aggravated we’d be in this situation had the officer used sarcasm, or had a cruel tone. “Good Morning, Mam’” seems more respectable and when you begin to explore the pressure on an officer you begin to see why many of them try to stay positive and communicate effectively.
Verbal and nonverbal communication is reoccurring and a large part of the day in the life of a Law Enforcement Agent. On every single work day there is numerous face-to-face interactions between an officer and citizen, or a small group. These interactions may occur in traffic encounters, interviews, media briefings, or conversations formal and informal. (Pritchett, 1993) For this very reason verbal and nonverbal communication must evolve into a mastered skill; as it’s important for each officer to represent himself in a respectable manner whether it is in in public, in the court room, with peers, employees, inmates and more importantly citizens of the community. When it comes to training with an officer it is more than just the physical training, but also the mental training, one must do to be successful. A good law enforcement officer must be able to properly speak to the public, testify with confidence, and write a grammar free report. A respectable image will make for a better public view of the officer, their departments and general attitude to law enforcement all together. (Pritchett, 1993)... [continues]

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