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Northern Essex Community College

Module 9 Writing Assignment

Review the assignment overview, learning objectives, directions, and submission expectations before submitting your work.

Overview

One of the best ways to understand policing is to hear directly from law enforcement professionals who perform the job every day. Police officers face a variety of responsibilities, challenges, and stressors that are often difficult to fully appreciate through textbooks and classroom discussions alone. Their experiences provide valuable insight into the realities of police work, organizational culture, career satisfaction, stress management, and the impact policing can have on personal and family life.

In this assignment, you will conduct an interview with a sworn law enforcement officer and analyze the information gathered. The goal is not simply to record answers, but to reflect on what the interview reveals about the profession and connect those insights to concepts discussed throughout the course.

Student Learning Objectives

(These objectives support the assignment and are not the questions to be answered.)

  • LO1: Analyze the day-to-day responsibilities, challenges, and realities of modern policing. (SLO6)
  • LO2: Evaluate how police work affects officer well-being, stress management, decision-making, and personal life. (SLO5)
Assignment Topic

Contact the Public Information Office, Public Relations Office, or another appropriate representative of a local, county, or state law enforcement agency and arrange an interview with a sworn police officer.

Interviews may be conducted using one of the following methods:

  • Telephone Interview
  • Zoom Interview
  • Other approved virtual format

If using Zoom or another video platform, you may record the interview with the officer’s permission. After the interview concludes, you may continue recording your own observations, reflections, and analysis.

At a minimum, your interview must address the following topics:

  • Day-to-day responsibilities of the position.
  • Career-related challenges.
  • Stress management techniques.
  • The impact policing has had on the officer’s personal and family life.
  • Areas of the profession the officer would like to see changed or improved.

You are encouraged to ask additional questions that help you better understand the realities of modern policing, including topics such as community relations, technology, training, officer wellness, recruitment, retention, public perceptions of policing, and future challenges facing law enforcement.

After completing the interview, provide a written analysis discussing what you learned and how the officer’s experiences relate to concepts examined throughout this course.

Acceptable and Ethical Use of AI
  • You may use AI tools to help organize interview questions, summarize themes from your interview, or assist with formatting your transcript and analysis.
  • Your interview responses, observations, and reflections must be based on your actual interview. AI may not be used to create fictional responses or substitute for the required interview.
Directions

Please read all instructions carefully before submitting your assignment.

  • Your submission should be 2-3 pages of analysis, using APA style, including 12-point font and 1-inch margins.
  • A minimum of at least two (2) sources, with proper APA citations in a Reference Page and proper in-text citations.
  • Abstract NOT needed.
  • Your submission must include a Question and Answer (Q&A) Transcript of the interview.
  • Include the officer’s rank, agency, and years of service (if the officer agrees to provide this information).
  • Provide a summary and analysis of the interview findings.
  • Discuss how the officer’s responses relate to concepts covered throughout the course.
  • Reflect on whether the interview changed your perceptions of policing and explain why.
  • Submissions are checked against a Plagiarism Checker and AI Detector.
    • Direct quotes should not exceed 15% of the total paper.
    • AI Usage – you must use AI ethically. Papers written by an AI is cheating.
Submission Guidelines
  • Submit your assignment through the designated submission area.
  • Ensure your file is in Microsoft Word (.docx) or PDF format.
  • You may also submit a video recording of the interview as a supplemental attachment if available.
  • Review the grading rubric before submitting your work.
Important Reminder

Important: This assignment requires an actual interview with a sworn law enforcement officer. Fabricated interviews, fictional responses, or AI-generated interview content constitute academic dishonesty and will be handled in accordance with college policy.