NCJ Number
220678
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 76 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2007 Pages: 8-17
Date Published
November 2007
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This article argues the link between spirituality and law enforcement to enable its embrace within the profession.
Abstract
Just as DNA is the building block of human existence, spirituality is the DNA of law enforcement practice. It is seen as incumbent upon police managers and leaders to reflect the dedication and devotion to duty by accepting that the mental and emotional well-being of officers is vitally important to the organization, the community, and most importantly, the officers themselves. Acknowledging the spiritual genesis of the police profession provides a promising framework for collaborative multidisciplinary approaches to many of law enforcement’s critical concerns. While the subject of spirituality may be perceived as controversial in relation to the first amendment, society must become aware of the inherent spiritual nature of law enforcement, recognizing the humanness of officers and the tragic consequences that can occur when the toxicity they face daily overtakes them. This article discusses how to understand the connection between spirituality and law enforcement and the results of an exploratory study on the feasibility of developing and initiating the spirit of the law into training academies and seminaries. 2 tables, 27 endnotes