Common Course Outline

Course discipline/number/title POFC 2121: Human Behavior and Ethics for Peace Officers

Catalog Description

Credits 3
Hours/Week 3
Prerequisites (Course discipline/number) POFC 1105 or POFC 1112, ENGL 1117
Other requirements None
MnTC Goals (if any) NA

Course Description

In this course the major focus deals with the types of reactions peace officers may encounter with people who are experiencing emotional or psychological difficulties. Police Ethics include definitions, perception, concerns, and the history of police deviance with the forging of an occupation. The working environment is discussed. The ideology and culture of police and the motive and justification for breaking normative bonds are covered. Police brutality, abuse of authority, police prejudice and discrimination are discussed. Drug-related police deviance, varieties of police deviance, internal and external controls influencing police deviance and corruption and prospects for controlling deviance are also included.

Date Last Revised (Month, year)

February, 2023

Outline of Major Content Areas

  1. Ethics
  2. Morality, ethics and human behavior
  3. Determining moral behavior
  4. Developing moral and ethical behavior
  5. Justice and the law
  6. Ethics and law enforcement
  7. Ethics and the courts
  8. The ethics of punishment and correction
  9. Policy, policy makers, and the management issues
  10. Professionalism, pride, and ethics for professional people
  11. Human Behavior
  12. The psychology of professional policing
  13. Dealing with mental illness
  14. Paranoia
  15. Psychosis
  16. Sociopaths
  17. Dealing with stress

Learning Outcomes (General)

The student will be able to:

  1. Describe the impact of human behavior on the interactions between peace officers and communities they serve.
  2. Explain police officers’ response strategies to mental health issues, persons in crisis and critical incident events.
  3. Describe the role of police officer as it relates, but not limited, to: victimization, survivors, stalking, predatory offenders, domestic abuse, sexual assault and hate/biased motivated crimes.
  4. Explain the role of professional policing when addressing issues of gangs, drugs, terrorism and homeland security.
  5. Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of ethics in professional policing.

Learning Outcomes (MnTC)

NA

Methods for Evaluation of Student Learning

Methods may include but are not limited to:

RCTC Core Outcome(s)

This course contributes to meeting the following RCTC Core Outcome(s):

Critical Thinking
Students will think systematically and explore information thoroughly before accepting or formulating a position or conclusion.

Special Information (if any)

None