Rasmussen College School of Justice Studies

Presents a panel discussion entitled

Ethics in Criminal Justice

When: August 31, 2009 at 5:30

Where: Eden Prairie Campus

Moderator:  Jason R. Weber – Criminal Justice Instructor jason.weber@rasmussen.edu

This discussion panel will feature professionals from different areas of the justice system. They will discuss Ethics in Law Enforcement, Ethics in the courtroom, and Ethics in the Corrections Field.  Discussion panelists will include Shaun LaDue, Chief of Police for the Owatonna Police Department; Jason Hiveley, Attorney for Iverson/Reuvers Law Firm and Chris Jahnke, Agent for the Wright County Court Services.

The aim of the panel discussion will be to give students a better understanding of the justice system and the ethical dilemmas faced on a daily basis.

The Distinguished Panel includes:

Shaun LaDue: Shaun has been the Chief of Police for the Owatonna Police Department since 2004. Shaun began his career in Law Enforcement in 1989 as a Detention Deputy for the Hennepin County Sheriffs Office. In 1993, he was hired on with the Bloomington Police Department as a Police Officer. During his tenure with the Bloomington Police Department, Shaun served in various roles such as Investigator, School Resource Officer, Patrol / Traffic Unit Sergeant and Public Information Officer. Shaun finished his career with the Bloomington Police Department as the Commander of the patrol Division. In his time with the Owatonna Police Department, he has developed and initiated several hallmark programs such as National Night Out, Crime Free Multi-Housing, K-9, Evidence Technician Unit and Field Training Officer Program. Shaun holds his Bachelor’s Degree from Saint Cloud State University in Accounting and he also holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Minnesota State University – Mankato.

Chris Jahnke: Chris graduated from Moorhead State University in 1995 with a degree in Criminal Justice & Sociology. He initially worked at a Group Home for Adults with Developmental Disabilities that were involved in the Criminal Justice System. Chris worked one year as a Case Manager and Field Surveillance Officer with the Safe Streets First Program, a multiple DWI offender program, based out of the First Judicial District. I have been employed as a Probation Agent in Wright County since 1997. For the past five years I have supervised an Adult caseload. Prior to this, I supervised a Juvenile caseload and Juvenile Intensive Supervision caseload. I presently serve as President for the Minnesota Community Corrections Association (MCCA) and serve on the Board of Directors for PEPSA.

Jason Hiveley: Jason Hiveley is a partner with Iverson Reuvers, LLC in Bloomington, Minnesota. Jason practices in the defense of municipal liability claims, civil rights lawsuits, commercial litigation, general litigation and appeals. Jason has handled numerous jury trials in State and Federal Court and has argued several times before the Minnesota Court of Appeals and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Jason also conducts training seminars for law enforcement agencies across the state. Prior to attending law school, Jason served in the United States Navy for 4 years as an Intelligence Specialist at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska.

Seven essential requirements to obtain career opportunities in the field of J U S T I C E

Justice: Be law-abiding. Those who want to work in justice studies need to believe in the justice system. The best way to demonstrate your respect and dedication to the field of justice studies is to remain law-abiding, follow the laws and rules in your community!

Unpaid Assistance (i.e. volunteer): Part of working in the field of Justice Studies is helping others and your community. Whether you want to be a paralegal, a police officer, or a victim’s advocate the best way to get your foot in the door is to help out as an unpaid assistant. All it takes is a few hours a month to make an impact, so research agencies in your community that have volunteer opportunities and get involved.

Specialized: Show your difference to agencies; specialize in areas that will make you worthwhile to agencies above and beyond other applicants (certifications, licensing, etc).

Time: Whether you are requesting to do an informational interview with someone in the field, or asking for a tour, be sure you are respectful of authority and the time they are dedicating to your educational journey.

Interview: apply and interview for a variety of different jobs, many jobs are entry level with lots of opportunity for promotion, but you do not know unless you apply and interview.

Communicate: reading, writing and speaking is crucial in the justice field. Whether it is reading a clients disposition, or writing an arrest report, or speaking in court, the most important part of working in the justice field is effectively communicating.

Evidence: all systems and processes in the justice system are documented, whether you are a case manager documenting someone’s rehabilitation progress, or a probation officer filing a probation revocation, it does not happen unless the evidence can be documented. So be sure you are able to effectively write your facts and findings for evidence.

Criminal Justice Event--Guest Speaker:   U.S. Attorney Drew H. Wrigley

Rasmussen College - Fargo Campus- is honored to announce U.S. Attorney Drew H. Wrigley as the guest speaker for the quarterly Criminal Justice event. The on-campus event (Room 103/105) is scheduled for Monday, March 9, 2009, at 7:00PM. 

Attorney Wrigley is a North Dakota native and grew up in Fargo.  He has served since 2001 as North Dakota's 17th United States Attorney. 

Attorney Wrigley recently argued a death penalty case before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.  The defendant in the case is Alfonso Rodriguez who was convicted of kidnapping resulting in the death of Dru Sjodin. 

We are pleased to provide this unique opportunity to our students, staff, and community. 

For more information contact Patty.Laney@rasmussen.edu. 

Risks of the Job ---  A Reality Check

If you are a student studying criminal justice, you are probably learning about the dangers and risks that come with being a law enforcement officer, correctional officer or parole/probation officer. 

If you are a professional in the field of criminal justice, you already know the dangers and risks “of the job.”   Law enforcement is one of only a few careers where danger and even death are part of the job description.   Those of us in the Fargo-Moorhead area have been reminded of this fact following a recent shooting of a sheriff’s deputy. 

Christopher Dewey, 26, a Mahnomen County (Minnesota) sheriff’s deputy, was shot in the abdomen and head while on duty Wednesday, February 18, 2009.  At the time of the shooting, Deputy Dewey was responding to a residence in Mahnomen to a call of someone knocking on the door.  According to a newspaper article:
 

Dewey arrived at that residence as the two males were still on the steps in front of the woman’s home. One of the individuals — later identified as Vernier — walked past Dewey. Dewey side stepped and the other male — later identified as Fairbanks — stepped forward and fired two rounds at Dewey, hitting him in the abdomen and right side of his head.

One minute after he arrived at the scene, a resident called in that someone had been shot. Peterson heard the shots and radioed Dewey to see if he had heard them. When there was no response, Peterson drove to the area and noticed Dewey’s squad car rolling backwards. He also saw the two suspects, one with a gun, run across the street to the trailer house.

Peterson put the car in park and radioed for backup.

Dewey was taken to Mahnomen Health Center and lifeflighted to MeritCare. His gunshot wounds caused damage to his liver and one bullet was still in his nasal cavity.

. . . .

Officers surrounded the West Washington Avenue residence to detain the two occupants, which turned into a standoff involving over 150 law enforcement agents. During that time, gunshots were fired inside the trailer house. Evidence showed later four shots were fired at a north wall in the general direction of law enforcement.

Vernier surrendered around 9:30 a.m. and Fairbanks surrendered around 4 p.m.

After two surgeries the day of the shooting, Deputy Dewey continues to improve.  He is being transferred to a hospital in Colorado for further rehabilitation.   You can read about Deputy Dewey’s progress at his CaringBridge website  at www.caringbridge.org/visit/chrisdewey.

Although the shooting happened in Minnesota, our law local enforcement community has been affected by the event.  Chris was a patient at MeritCare Hospital in Fargo.  From the time he arrived, our local law enforcement officers have stepped forward to offer any help needed.   Sheriff’s deputies, police officers, and state troopers from both Minnesota and North Dakota kept vigil with Emily and family the first few days.  Several North Dakota and Minnesota officers and deputies worked extra shifts helping to arrange hotel rooms, transportation, coordinate visits and calls from family members and friends, and also provided assistance in responding to numerous media inquiries.   These examples exemplify the "law enforcement family."  

So, what’s the reality check for all of us?
1.  Our law enforcement officers (at any level) face death and injury every day. 
Officers are willing to sacrifice their lives to keep us safe.  (Our beloved Military personnel and firemen fall into this category as well—God Bless them!).  Indeed, they run to the shots of gunfire while we run away.   How does a person develop this sense of sacrifice and bravery? 

2. The job has many challenges.  
The other deputies hearing of the shooting responded to the shooting as they had been trained by first helping their wounded partner and then by locating the suspects and taking them into custody without further incident. 

3. There truly is a law enforcement family.

The shooting of an officer resonates through the law enforcement profession.  Our local law enforcement community (Cass County, Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead, Clay County, etc.) as well as all emergency responders have been touched by this event.  Prayers, words of encouragement, financial assistance and various offers of help have been sent to the Dewey family from officers from around the United States and even other countries!   I am amazed to see the sense of family and support and am proud to be part of such camaraderie.    

4. The cliché is true:  “Life is precious!” 
Each of us can be affected at any moment by a life-changing event.   Let us be prepared and ready for such an event. 

Final thoughts:  Our confidence and hope for the future
Deputy Dewey has made it through the most critical phase of his injuries, but he has many months of rehabilitation.  Please keep Deputy Dewey and his wife Emily in your prayers and thoughts.  Also, please keep all law enforcement officers in your thoughts and prayers as well as they continue to serve bravely and with honor.   

If you are currently a law enforcement officer, thank you for your bravery, service and sense of sacrifice. 

If you are a student in criminal justice, continue your education and training toward a rewarding career.   We look forward to adding additional officers to the profession who demonstrate the highest levels of professionalism, bravery, and sacrifice.  You need only look to Deputy Chris Dewey for your role model. 

So, what is your dream job? Ever thought about?

Well, regardless of what program you are studying at Rasmussen College, it’s never too early to start looking for your dream job!!!! Even if you are a few quarters from graduating, you can learn valuable information by studying current job postings. For instance, the West Fargo Police Department has an opening for a patrol officer.

Reviewing current job postings and listed qualifications will give you information about the type of qualities that local law enforcement agencies are looking for in applicants. In addition, you can “practice” putting together you resume. Plus, when planning your future and your career, gathering information is never “a waste of time.” When it comes time to seriously looking for a job, you’ll already have experience doing so! You know the saying, "knowledge is power!"

If you don’t want to be a police officer, but you are still interested in a career in Criminal Justice, click here to read about a posting in Fargo for a Juvenile Court Officer. Again, researching current positions can give you guidance in planning your career and when choosing electives for your class schedules.

So, as we approach the holiday season and 2009, I encourage you to spend a few minutes reviewing current job postings. I think you will find the postings interesting and informative.

If you’d like to visit about careers in Criminal Justice or have any questions, email me at Patty.Laney@Rasmussen.edu or give me a call at 701-277-3889 and we’ll chat. Good luck as we approach finals week!

Sgt Joe Friday, a detective from Dragnet wore suits and trench coats in his daily pursuit of criminals in Los Angeles.  That was in the late 1960's however, today, in the age of "casual fridays" law enforcement detectives still believe the suit - "with extra material around the waist" (Hauser, 2008) to accomdate the host of tools necessarry to perform their jobs, is the essential attire to serve their communities.  Whether in the training academy wearing polyester patch uniforms to a patrol officer on the streets, law enforcment, requires wearing professional dress. 

Undercover work is a different scenario, requiring clothes that will make you fit in, or rather, not stand out.  But being a patrol officer or detective, wearing the uniform, including polished and shined shoes, or the suit and tie, are required when chasing down the bad guys.