One of the program learning outcomes for the Law Enforcement and Public Safety
Leadership program is the critical understanding of modern criminal justice issues. This is an
important development of law enforcement leadership program because the program focused
on a wide variety of topics, “from unmanned aerial vehicles to crisis communication, social
media to recruitment and retention, biometric technology to the changing landscape of use of
force.”1 The three papers I chose to reflect on in this module are a budgetary argument for the
investment in body worn cameras for all deputy sheriffs, the participative management
approach of Retired Chief Laura Farinella and her impact on the Laguna Beach Police
Department, and a paper on mindfulness, the mental health of law enforcement in the modern
era.
The first paper I chose to reflect on in the critical understanding of modern criminal
justice issues is my paper on body worn cameras for law enforcement. This paper focuses not
only on the benefits of the body worn cameras, but argues to the board of supervisors why they
need to be included in the annual budget for $500,000. This accompanies a twelve month trial
period in accordance with the department’s strategic goals. With an emphasis on a
performance based budget, the body worn cameras will be evaluated as to their effectiveness.
The cameras would be evaluated in three areas: ability to capture effective high definition
video, reduction in litigation to the department, and deputy’s reactiveness and effectiveness
with the new technology. Looking forward into the 21st century body worn cameras for law
enforcement is not only a want, but it is a must for protection of not only the officers, but the
public as well.
1
LEPSL 599: Integrative Capstone. Module 5: Critical Understanding of Modern Criminal Justice Issues. University
of San Diego.
Modern criminal justice Issues require forward thinking, ethically drive, modern criminal
justice leaders like Retired Chief Laura Farinella of the Laguna Beach Police Department. She
stated, “We always have to be open to new ideas and new ways of policing.” 2 She was
continuously open to new ideas and ways to improve her department. I would describe her as a
“participatory leader” who genuinely cared about the opinions and ideas of everyone in her
organization. She would regularly sit down not only with the command staff, but with every
member of her organization to talk to them about their experience and to see if they have any
ideas for the growth and betterment of the department. An example of this implementation
was the creation of the School Resource Officer (SRO) in her city based off patrol officers telling
her the implementation would be effective in reducing crime.
“The day you become a police officer is the day you agree to your lifespan being
reduced by seven to ten years.” The culmination of stress and the impact on law enforcement
officers leads to many officers experiencing depression and even suicide. I recommended in the
modern era at the very least annual training should be offered by the department in the area of
mindfulness. In an article on mindful policing, police lieutenant Richard Goerling stated many
law enforcement officers are clinically depressed and undiagnosed. Mindfulness, meditation,
and a focus on law enforcement officers mental health will not only improve the lives of the
officers, but in turn their families lives, and the community in which we serve.
2
Chief Laura Farinella. Presentation 3.1: Leading and Managing a Progressive Police Agency. University of San
Diego. LEPSL 540 – Organizational Leadership.
