How would you respond to my peers discussion post in a meaningful and thoughtful way other than you agree or disagree with there response? and are there any questions that I should ask?

1. What should the relationship be between the police chief and the police union, and why? Find a news report that relates to your view on what this relationship should be. Describe how the events in the article support your view on the relationship between the police chief and the police union.

The relationship between the chief and the union needs to be a companionship in which the two work together to solve issues, not only in the department, but throughout the community as well. The police chief can communicate with the union if they have any concerns as well as concerns brought up by the officers they supervise. This should work the other way around too. The union should be able to communicate the concerns of the community with the chief. Another part of the relationship between the police chief is that the union oversees what the police chief does and how they behave within the department, holding them accountable when investigated and proven. This was the case in West Richland in Washington when the police chief, Thomas Grego, was accused by his subordinates of abuse and retaliation. They brought their concerns to the union and with two separate votes within the department, they voted no confidence with their chief. The union president then called upon the mayor to terminate Grego. In this situation, the union held this chief accountable for his unprofessional behavior.

2. Recruiting, hiring, training, and retaining quality police officers is always a challenge for law enforcement agencies. Discuss three primary considerations that should be taken into consideration when recruiting, hiring, training and retaining quality police officers.

1. Mental health: The police deal with many different and potentially traumatizing things. In order to keep the public safe, the officers protecting them must be safe, healthy, and of sound mind. Periodic check-ups and mental health programs that offer services such as therapy within the department should be in place in order to upkeep the quality of officers.
2. Continual advancement in training: Police officers need to be on the ball in every situation they are put into. It is not feasible that officers can be trained extensively for every single circumstance they are put into. However, they can be trained continuously, as well as advance with the times as new data, literacy, and curriculums come out.
3. Diversity and inclusion: According to the Bureau of Justice Assistance and Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, it is important for the topics of diversity, equality, and inclusion to be prioritized throughout an officer's career because they represent the values of the community. The officers need to be educated on these matters so, uncomfortable and difficult conversations should be discussed in order to eliminate any potential personal bias (BIA, 2023).