MCCCD Program Description

The Police Function

Course: AJS230

First Term: 2025 Spring

Lecture 3.0 Credit(s) 3.0 Period(s) 3.0 Load
Subject Type: Occupational
Load Formula: S - Standard Load

Description: An examination of the history, organization, procedures, and methods of operation of public policing in the United States. Career opportunities and current challenges in law enforcement presented.

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Identify the history of policing from ancient times to the modern era in the United States. (I) 2. Describe the role, function and organization of police agencies found at the federal, state, and local levels of policing. (II) 3. Explain the role and function of the police as it relates to patrol, investigations and specialty assignments. (III) 4. Describe the nature of police discretion, its use, and criteria involved in the decision to arrest, investigate, and report. (IV) 5. Explain the major components of policing as a subculture. (V) 6. Describe significant job-related issues associated with policing, including community relations. (VI) 7. Explain the use of technology and its impact on police work. (VII) 8. Identify the major components of police officer selection, training, and career development programs, including AZ POST standards. (VIII) 9. Describe current trends in policing including career opportunities. (VI, VIII)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Historical overview of policing A. Police development in England B. Sir Robert Peel C. Policing in early America D. Early policing in the cities E. Historical eras in American policing 1. Political 2. Reform/professional 3. Community 4. Post 2001 II. Police in American society A. Government structure and policing 1. Constitutional government 2. Separation of powers 3. Principles of Federalism B. Roles and functions of police in modern society 1. Police and the law 2. Roles performed by police 3. Police activities C. Police organization and management 1. Principles of organization and management 2. Levels of organization D. Law enforcement agencies 1. Federal law enforcement 2. State law enforcement 3. Local law enforcement E. Models of police officers and policing 1. Types of departments 2. Types of officers III. Police operations/allocation of personnel A. Police patrol 1. Methods of patrol 2. Deployment of patrol personnel 3. Police patrol strategies 4. Response roll 5. Order maintenance and peacekeeping B. Criminal investigation 1. Historical overview 2. Preliminary 3. Follow-up 4. Forensics C. Traffic function 1. Enforcement 2. Special enforcement problems D. Crime prevention IV. Police and administrative discretion A. Pros and Cons of police discretion B. Decision to arrest, investigate and or report 1. Offender based criteria 2. Situation based criteria 3. System based criteria 4. Domestic violence 5. Drug crimes 6. Vice crimes C. Control of police discretion 1. Internal control mechanisms 2. External control mechanisms V. Police culture and behavior A. Police culture 1. Values 2. Norms 3. Behaviors B. Police as a subculture 1. World view 2. Ideology 3. Media’s influence C. Typology D. Job-related concerns 1. Stress 2. Fatigue 3. Use of force 4. Civil liability 5. Officer Safety E. Ethics 1. Professionalism 2. Corruption 3. Police Deviance 4. Racial profiling VI. Police in the modern community A. Public perceptions of police 1. Public attitude 2. Police-community relations 3. Impact of social media 4. Community policing B. Policing and special populations 1. Persons with disabilities 2. Homeless population 3. Persons with mental health conditions C. Terrorism D. Police use of social media E. Policing in a multicultural society F. Current trends VII. Technology and policing A. Changing roles and functions B. Impact of technology 1. Information management 2. Communication management 3. Field operations 4. Intelligence led policing 5. Crime mapping 6. Body worn cameras 7. Drones VIII. A career in policing A. Law enforcement selection 1. Establishing standards 2. AZPOST standards 3. Recruitment 4. Testing 5. Review boards B. Police training 1. Basic training 2. Field training officer programs 3. In-service training C. Officer career development D. Diversity in policing E. Women in policing F. Career opportunities

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: April 23, 2024

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.