102 lines
4.9 KiB
Plaintext
102 lines
4.9 KiB
Plaintext
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August 1991
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POLICE PRACTICES:
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MIAMI'S ETHNIC SHARING PROGRAM
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Over the past several years, Miami, Florida, has grown very
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rapidly and undergone numerous changes. As a result, Miami's
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population has also increased and now includes numerous ethnic
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groups. Unfortunately, one result of this new ethnic diversity
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has been increasing separatism and misunderstanding. Today,
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with the increasing threat of crime and violence, it is
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imperative that people of all races work to overcome division
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and mistrust. This goal is especially important for law
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enforcement officers.
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The Miami Police Department, which is comprised of officers
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from various ethnic backgrounds, has attempted to represent the
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ethnic diversity of the Miami area fairly and accurately and to
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meet the needs of the community. To this end, the department
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has conducted several training programs for police officers.
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One such program, developed by the American Jewish
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Committee, is called "Ethnic Sharing." The first "Ethnic
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Sharing" program was held December 8, 1989. And, after
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receiving positive feedback from the initial 31 participants,
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the department implemented two additional programs and scheduled
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future classes.
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Miami's "Ethnic Sharing" program is divided into four
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phases. The facilitator opens the first phase by explaining the
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nature of prejudice and ethnic stereotyping. This phase also
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includes a lecture and a quick association exercise where the
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facilitator calls out the names of ethnic groups and asks the
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participants to respond. These responses serve to illustrate
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various ethnic stereotypes and create the framework for the
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program.
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In the second phase, the facilitator establishes rapport
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with the group by sharing his/her ethnic background. The
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facilitator then discusses any personal experiences and
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difficulties encountered as a result of ethnic heritage.
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During the third phase, which lasts approximately 3 hours,
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the facilitator questions the participants about their own
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ethnic backgrounds. The facilitator then divides the class into
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two groups, creating a panel and an audience. The facilitator
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also chooses a representative of each ethnic group to sit on the
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panel so that it reflects the areas ethnic diversity.
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After this panel is formed, the facilitator poses the
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following three questions to each panel member:
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* What do you like about your ethnic heritage?
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* What do you dislike about your ethnic heritage?
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* What brought you to police work?
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The facilitator uses the responses to these questions to probe
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for further reactions. In addition, these responses not only
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provide the next panel member with a basis on which to develop
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responses, but they also help the other panel members to become
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accustomed to the process.
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Following the panel discussion, the facilitator encourages
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the audience to share any additional experiences and feelings.
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The ultimate goal in this third phase is to foster unity among
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the officers and to help them understand that although certain
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prejudices and ethnic stereotypes exist, there are numerous
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similarities among all people.
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In the fourth phase, the facilitator gives the participants
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informational materials, such as excerpts from news broadcasts,
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newspapers, periodicals, and textbooks. Each excerpt,
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concerning an ethnic group, contains statements that someone has
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found offensive. The participants are then asked to examine the
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information in each excerpt, to discuss why it caused a problem,
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and to decide whether they agree that the issue is offensive.
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During these discussions, the participants express many
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intense feelings and beliefs, which the facilitator attempts to
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integrate into a group understanding. Participants find this
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discussion very thought-provoking, and they usually come away
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from the program realizing that whatever a person's ethnic
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origin, everyone shares similar feelings and beliefs.
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Programs such as "Ethnic Sharing" have been of great
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benefit to the Miami Police Department and have helped promote
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unity among the officers. Today, a police department cannot
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serve its community effectively until all its members function
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as one. Even though the process toward ethnic understanding
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will be long and difficult, understanding and respect for
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various ethnic groups are attainable.
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_______________
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Information for this column was submitted by Officer Doreen
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Nash, Media Relations Unit, Miami Police Department, Miami,
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Florida.
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