Law Enforcement & the “I Care” Parental Engagement Character Curriculum Model
When the Center for Law Enforcement Ethics was established in the 1950’s, they recognized that “the quality of policing in a democratic society must rely on the quality of the poeple doing the work. Providing officers with an educational experience that enhances ethical consciousness with the tools to make ethical decisions is an essential part” of preparing both leadership and frontline law enforcement. Today, their recommended course for ethics training includes the basic pillars of character and processes of effective decision-making on which the “I Care” Curriculum is based. Being part of the “I Care” Community will provide law enforcement agencies and individuals with new opportunities to put this training into practice.
Role of Law Enforcement
- Acquaint yourselves with strategies and activities you can adopt to support the character efforts of the schools as described in the “I Care” Community Partnership Manual, and include:
- Posting the “I Care” Character Poster corresponding to the trait of the month being practiced in the school and at home
- Have discussions of the monthly character traits in employee meetings
- Provide incentives to employees who model the character traits
- Provide "I Care" training for employees on character development and the “I Care” Model
- Set up an “I Care” Partnership Organization that provides volunteer time, money, or materials to the schools, for instance:
- Speak to children and youth about the importance of character and how many lives are destroyed without it
- Conduct site visits of jails and detention centers to show what life is like for some of the people who make unethical choices
Benefits to Law Enforcement
- Reinforces the importance of ethics for law enforcement leadership and frontline
- Provides additional opportunities for law enforcement to emphasize crime prevention through character building
- Increases respect for law enforcement as they model the character they enforce
