Today my class and I were able to listen to Officer Daniel Duncan and his officer that he is training. Right off the bat Officer Duncan told us a little bit about his background and who he was when he was younger. From the stories he told, one could gather that he was a juvenile delinquent when he was younger but he did end up becoming a cop. I found some of his stories interesting and I also found some things that he said to be very true for example that building relationships with others will definitely help on the job. The officer in training also mentioned that being able to talk was also a good thing to have and I completely agree with that because officers can not use excessive or deadly force for every call they have. To be honest, overall I really did not find this experience with Officer Duncan that much of a positive experience. When we were first told about officers coming to talk to us, we were told that we would have two female officers and two male officers who were young but when it was just Officer Duncan who was 108 days until retirement I was kind of disappointed. We only got one side or one view when I was expecting to hear four different views from each gender. Going along with that, Duncan even mentioned how he did not want to have the female officers there because he would “cringe” at what they say but everyone has different views and I felt like those different looks into law enforcement should’ve been heard today. Another thing was that when Officer Duncan would talk about police work and the community he put a negative view on it that really did not help people want to be a police officer. One thing that stuck out to me was he kept pushing that those wanting kids should not go into law enforcement because the kids won't have a good relationship with the parent in the law enforcement. I understand where he came from when he said that your kids should come first but I think there can be a happy balance between kids and your job. I had a father in law enforcement and that never changed my bond with him so I did not like how he said those things. Not everyone will have a bad bond with their parents on the job so I felt like it was wrong to push those ideas. He also mentioned how the police culture is so bad and that he is so lucky to have not given into it but to me I feel there really is nothing wrong with the police culture and how officers look out for each other. Going along with this also it kind of rubbed the wrong way when he answered that not many officers he works with really get along with him when he was asked if many of the officers like his views on things. One last thing that I really did not think was really encouraging was how he was sort of gloating about how many collars he got compared to other people. Overall, it kind of just felt like he was all about him and did not really make any positive pushes to join into a law enforcement career. Like said before, I agree with some things he said but overall I was kind of disappointed with what I heard. -wags123
i agree with you officer Duncan seemed to have the attitude of someone about to retire. I was surprised at how kind of negative he seemed to talk about a lot of things. If he was the only officer ive listened to im not sure id want to be a police officer. I liked some of the things he said but a lot was surprisingly negative toward police culture -11b123
My understanding with officer Duncan, and knowing him personally, is that Officer duncan gives you real situations that are going to happen in life, whether it be on the job, your personal life, and other aspects of life. He gives you information that others would hide about being an officer. He stated that he did not bring other officers to the seminar because they would talk about how they are overly involved in the community as officers, and that was the part that made him “cringe”, not because they were female officers. -as123
I also agree with you that you can tell that Officer Duncan is getting ready to retire. I was also surprised when i only saw 2 of them and one of them I would not of even noticed was a police officer. He had a lot of negative comments about policing for someone being a police for a majority of his career.-smiley123
When you and I first discussed what we thought about officer Duncan and his rap to the class we had totally different views but still noticed most of the same things. The more I thought about what he said, I understood more and more on why you felt the way you did about it. I think it’s so important in criminal justice to try and understand where a person is coming from and not think we all must have the same opinion to get along. –coffeeplease123
I personally feel that Officer Duncan's comments about being an officer wasn't negative. I feel that with every job comes its flaws, not everybody is going to have a positive outlook about their job and especially with policing which is a very dangerous job and officers have to deal with the worst sides of humanity, not only when they are on duty but behind the scenes of their department I think he gave us a balanced and nuance of what policing is today. -Edw123
Listening to officer duncan was very interesting. Hearing his background and what he did before he became a police officer and how he became a police officer was interesting as well. He was engaging and interesting to listen to. His story and point of view was a little different from what I've heard from other law enforcement officers in the past. I was a little surprised at what he said. The way he was talking he definitely seemed like a man about to retire. I suppose I was he seemed like he did not like the way police culture was and that surprised me because he was in law enforcement for so long. I can see what he means and I get where the issues come from but the police bond and environment is one of the things I want. That was a big reason why I joined the Army because I needed to feel like I was capable of something not everyone can do and be a part of something big and important. It seems like the culture in the military and in law enforcement are very similar. So I can see where the faults are in that but I don't necessarily think it's all bad. Like any clique or group or job you build bonds over things and there will be certain divides with other people and groups. Esspecally in these careers where we hold them in such high regard and the jobs can be very dangerous the bond and brotherhood a big deal. What he said about the importance of fathers was interesting. He did make some good points and some things he said were good.
I do believe the culture within the army and the police are similar as well. I also agree when you stated that Duncan’s story is definitely different from the other speakers we have had in the past. He has been involved in both sides of poverty level and then on how to police it. -as123
I also found his view on fatherhood interesting, he has some good points but I did not agree with all his points on fatherhood. Like when he said that 99 percent of all crime is based on fatherhood I do not necessarily agree with that high of a percentage. It was also interesting to hear about his background before becoming a police officer. -wags123
What I really took away from Officer Duncan, was the aspect of community policing, and how phony it can be at times. Knowing duncan personally, he always explains how community policing can be a huge part of the job, and with community policing, a lot of time has to be put in outside of work. Whether it be volunteering at local churches, putting after school programs in place, and understanding the demographics of society. We also spoke about the strong police culture and how it collides with community policing. It can be very hard being an officer who is a warrior, and wants to have the most arrests, most tickets, to be recognized but also battling the guardian aspect of the job as well. The community does not understand that it is very difficult for a human being to change from a guardian to a warrior, or vise versa, within seconds. Some officers have the cynicism look when policing, and it is very hard to change that mindset or doing anything towards the community policing aspect of the job. I also enjoyed when officer Marcus spoke as well. I felt it was very real coming from him as he spoke about the difficulties of going through the FTO program with children. He started his police career late, so with him having kids that are so young, it has been difficult to be a father and a be an officer at the same time. He also spoke about being a native of the city he protects and serve, and one thing I pulled away from that was the fact that he has a lot more positive discretion on the people and the community, who seriously can not afford a ticket from the city, and that's because he was in their position at one point in time. -as123
That is really cool that you know Officer Duncan personally. I can see how community policing can be a huge role in policing. he seemed like he was bragging about how he topped dog for awhile with the top of giving tickets out. I'm glad he changed once he was watched by the FBI.-smiley123
Yes that is very cool that you know him on a personal level. I really liked how he explained that, yes being a cop is a great career, but if you already have a family it can be extremely hard to be there for them since you are working all of the time. I loved how honest he was with everything so we know what exactly happens and goes on. -Bears123
I feel Officer Duncan was very honest with all of us and really made in impact in one way or another with each one of us when he spoke. I especially enjoyed when he spoke about the fatherhood issues in society today and its effects on crime all over the city. -Blues123
Today my class and I had the option to tune in to Officer Daniel Duncan and the new officer that he is preparing. Directly off the bat Officer Duncan disclosed to us a tad about his experience and who he was the point at which he was more youthful. I discovered a portion of his accounts intriguing and I likewise saw a few things that he said as extremely valid for instance that building associations with others will help at work. Official Duncan was connecting with and fascinating to tune in to. His story and perspective were somewhat unique in relation to what I've gotten notification from other law implementation officials before. I was somewhat astonished at what he said. The manner in which he was talking he unquestionably appeared to be a man going to resign. I guess I was he appeared as though he didn't care for the manner in which police culture was and that astounded me since he was in law authorization for such a long time. He clarifies how network policing can be a gigantic piece of the activity, and a lot of time must be given off the clock to whether it be chipping in at neighborhood chapels, setting up after school projects, and understanding the socioeconomic of society. I appreciated when official Marcus talked too. I felt it was genuine originating from him as he talked about the troubles of experiencing the FTO program with youngsters. He began his police vocation late, so with him having children that are so youthful, it has been hard to be a dad and a be an official simultaneously. One thing I liked about Officer Duncan, is that he doesn’t talk to us like most Officers would and you could clearly tell he is retiring in 108 days. -smiley123
I really enjoyed how he told us personal stories of certain events he has encountered to show the connections you can have while in the force. It was really cool to hear from officer Marcus spoke as well, helps explain the things that happen right when you join. And to hear his story with the force and his family on how it affected him was extremely interesting and helpful. -Bears123
I agree with you on noticing how he definitely sounded like someone who was about to retire. I too also like how Officer Marcus talked, I liked what he had to say and I really liked his last remark about staying true to yourself when you get on the job. I also was astonished on some things he had said. I did agree with some of the things he said but he seemed to have a negative attitude about a lot of things. -wags123
Today my class had the opportunity to meet with Officer Duncan and the new officer he brought along with him. Officer Duncan talked to us about many things including his past history, his work with the police, how he did his police work, and many other things that were very good to hear and learn about. He started with telling us his story growing up and how he got into the police force, he grew up in southside Peoria on the streets. He told us this because he wanted to show us that no matter what background you come from you can be anything you want if you really push for it. He told us how when he was younger he did a lot of things not looked high upon but he quit those activities and now is an amazing officer. He has been a police officer for 22 years now and will be retiring in around 100 days or so. He holds a lot of records for the peoria police department. Some people do not like how he works because he thinks like a criminal. They might not be the most conventional methods but they show that they do work, he said in one month he wrote around 400 tickets. After that he realized that the relationships with the people was important because after he retires if he did nothing but give out tickets and not help people as much they could hate him once he is retired and no longer in the police. He currently has written two books based on some of his views. The one he talked more about was about fathers. He claims around 99 percent of crime is based on fatherhood, if the person did not have a good relationship or none at all with their father that can greatly affect your life and make you choose bad choices.-Bears123
I really would like to read the book that Officer Duncan spoke about publishing in regards to fatherhood and how much of an impact it has on a child's life. I think it is very important for the father figure or father to maintain a presence in the child's life in order to maintain a positive connection. -Blues123
I thought it was very interesting to hear Officer Duncan's perspective on policing. His takes on policing were a fresh perspective and definitely not directly out of a textbook. When he spoke about the call he had been to the other day where a single mother was mad because she was being disrespected by her daughter, I think it opened my eyes a little bit more to importance of a father figure in the household. I had not really thought of a presence like that being necessary for a good opportunity of outcomes. It makes me ponder about what steps as a community can we do to fix problems like that where according to Duncan leads directly into negative contact with local law enforcement. It was interesting to hear how Duncan told the woman that this was a problem the police just can not fix. That was probably important for us as a class to hear. It was different to hear how honest Duncan was when speaking of his beginnings with Peoria Police Department. He won all kinds of metals and awards for most tickets and arrest but now he looks back on that as almost a mistake or an improper form of policing. I learned that your department you work for has much control over who you police and the way you police them. I believe Duncan was absolutely correct when he spoke about how the only place someone can implement the change is from the top down. The bottom can only give suggestions to changes in policy and procedure for the department where the people in upper management can rewrite what they are seeking out of an officer in any give area. CP3123
Hey. Agree. Officer Duncan is an awesome guy and again, honest and direct. I also like the story about the little girl and how the mother admitted being in jail for a while. Also, I spoke about fatherhood. He seems very passionate about fathers not being around for their sons or their family in general. It destroys them and everyone around them! He said he’s releasing a book related to that, and I very interested in what more he has to say about that. - Canelo123
So, I am supposed to talk about Officers Duncan talking along with a new hire of the Peoria Police Department. I am going to do my best to explain what I got from the talk because there was so much being thrown at once, that I gave up on taking notes because I could keep up with everything. I also knew Officer Duncan for a while now, and I was really glad to see him that day. Officer Duncan and I go way back to the Peoria Police Department and he knows his stuff. I remember him speaking about in class, but I already heard him say the same thing when he was with the explorers, but it was that no officer within the department cannot match what he has done for the department. He also spoke about how he's done pretty much everything within the department from patrol all the way to vice a narcotics. One thing about Officer Duncan, he doesn't sugar coat things, he is honest and very direct. He spoke about the job that it's a job like any other job and you can get fired, just like working at Walmart, Target, and so on. He also inspired us to apply, but in a very honest way. He spoke about his life, and how it was for him growing up and talking about fatherhood and its relation to law enforcement. Officer Duncan admitted to many things that he has done in his past, but yet, he is still working for the police. It's inspiring because I feel like a lot of us can relate because all of us have some sketchy background and we think we won't be able to make it. Officer Duncan says that police officers are like counselors if we don't like counseling people we should be in the profession. He’s not wrong, the job takes people who actually want to make a difference in their community wherever thy work.
Officer Duncan telling us that Police Officers are like councilors really hit home to me because I never really thought of it like that. I already knew that, but it had never really been worded in that way to make so much sense in my mind. It was really cool to hear him speak.-Legion123
Officer Duncan had an immense amount of knowledge he was able to give us young individuals and many of them stuck out from the others. One of the first things I can easily remember was the discussion of discretion before body cameras. I feel that these while they may positively help the world of law enforcement they do seem to detract from the use of discretion. Another thing that Officer Duncan spoke about was the shifts and what they can do to your family. We can already see the data from the trends of how high the divorce rates are for officers and this definitely helped show why. Being disconnected from your kids and wife due to the shift you work would most definitely be a very difficult thing to cope with over time, which explains why the divorce rate is so high. Being able to incorporate swing shifts as Officer Duncan said would really change a department around because they would all be able to have a chance to see their families which could in turn raise moral and positively change a department from night to day. Officer Smith was just starting out but as a single father, has a huge challenge in order to keep his presence around his kids while still trying to provide for them. One thing that he said that really stuck with me was when he spoke about making sure you don't let the badge change you. If you do, you will never be able to turn the officer side of your mind off, which can negatively effect your mental health. -Blues123
His views on family were really cool to hear about. His ideas on swing shifts was something I had never heard of. They sounded like a great idea, and a good way to make sure that officers still had time with their families. It was also interesting to hear him talk about discretion and body cameras.-Legion123
On Tuesday our class had the privilege of listening to a Peoria Police Officer talk about his experiences on the force. The officer was Officer Dunkin. He was been a police officer for twenty-two years. He brought along a new hire to also talk about his experience with being hired and what he was learned so far. A lot of what Officer Dunkin talked about surprised me. He talked about his life before being an officer. He failed his first polygraph test because they could indict him on different crimes. This is cool though because it shows that no matter your upbringing you can still do great things with your life. He talked about how he used to be a super aggressive police officer and still holds records in Peoria for different things. He talked about how an FBI investigation though changed his perspective on policing. He started to work on public relations, and everything he has done within that field. He talks about how other officers are weary of him because of his philosophy on locking people up. He then talked about his views on fatherhood. I agreed with him on his views of fatherhood. I liked how he brought up Biblical things and was not ashamed of that. I agree with him that having an active father and having a good father has a major impact on a child’s life. It can lead to crime, peer pressure, and other bad things when that fatherly figure is not present in a child’s life. It can be bad though if the father is not a good father. You can have an active father figure in the home, but if he is encouraging wrong behavior then that is just as bad. Officer Dunkin seemed really cool, and I am glad he is one of the police officers in the Peoria area.-Legion123
Officer Duncan from PPD gave an interesting presentation to watch and listen to the other day in Dr. Whites course. Stating things such as his disapproval of police culture, his beliefs on the connection of how fatherhood can decrease juvenile crimes, and of course, my favorite topic of community policing. Listing to Ofc. Duncan was almost like talking to the someone who passed the test with an “A” while you are sliding by with a “C-”. It appeared that he had all the answers, this may be due to his years of experience as an officer or just as his upbringing but it kept my attention the entire time. To hear an officer of one of the bigger agencies around my area, speak about how my college is doing a great job in teaching community policing unlike many other schools out there including the police academy was a shock to me. I figured community policing was a major topic in departments and schools all around the nation, but according to ofc. Duncan you’d be lucky to read a paragraph on the subject anywhere else. Along with the way ofc. Duncan spoke about community policing I could tell he felt very passionately about the issue of changing the social image of police in the Peoria area. These factors from hearing stories from Dr. White and Ofc. Duncan, to learning more about policing styles in class will help me figure out how to become a better officer in the near future. I predicurly liked ofc. Duncans program called “Breaking Boundaries” where inmates of a correctional facility and law enforcement officers simply just talk to one another. This creates bonds in the community that can wear down use of force and can even form a bond between both sides making an officers job easier in a sense due to the trust with the community. All and all the presentations from Ofc. Duncan could easily be turned into a ted talk on the issue of community policing. BikeMaker123
Officer Duncan was a pretty cool guy in my opinion. I could tell he was ready to retire by the way he spoke about a few things. I personally do not want to be a police officer but if I did, officer Duncan would be someone who I would go to for guidance regarding how to handle certain situations. A lot of what he said made sense to me and I think I would go about doing a lot of things the same way he did. He stated multiple times throughout the discussion the other day that basically everything he was saying was just his opinion. One thing I really agreed with him on that I myself think about often is that a lot of juvenile delinquent cases involve kids who don’t have a father living with them at home or don’t have a father around period. I know people my age who have had a hard childhood because of their father either being in prison or just choosing not to be around in general. Not every juvenile case involves a “bad” or absent father though. Towards the end of Officer Duncan’s rap, he said “if I don’t do anything to help them, I’m no better than anyone else.” Which is exactly what I tell myself daily; for as long as I can remember I have wanted to help people, specifically kids, who are in bad situations because of things they had no control over. I don’t believe in locking kids away and labeling them as bad people because of mistakes and poor decision making. Anyone can change their life around if they have the right people cheering them on and pushing them in the right direction. I think more officers should be willing to help the people in the community prosper and become better versions of themselves for the sake of the community and the next generations to come. –coffeeplease123
Being able to listen to Officer Duncan speak about his experience as an officer of the Peoria Police Department meant a lot to me because Officer Duncan, myself and many others have similar backgrounds. I was glad he went into depth about his background because usually a lot of officer on the Peoria Police Department come from neighboring towns/cities but to know that not only was he from Peoria but he was from the southside of Peoria made me more willing and more interested in hearing his story because I am from Peoria and I was also raised in the southside of the city. I absolutely loved hearing his opinion on police culture as an officer with experience because it was authentic and probably ruffled a lot of feathers but it needed to be heard, I feel as though many want to disregard that the police are not susceptible to concepts like groupthink and mob mentality because they are supposed to be our “heroes” but they are not heroes, they are human beings and public servants who are here doing good work but that doesn't always mean that they are good people and I think a lot of people conflate the two and push away any kind of nuance and label critic against police as änti-police” which is very close-minded. Also his theory on high amounts of crime being that there is no father in the home kind of threw me for a loop but I understand where he trying to go with his theory like during Reagan Era and the war on drugs that was the foundation of mass incarnation of Black people in the 21st century but I would have liked if he expounded on that. Lastly, I appreciated his philosophy on policing and how he was not afraid to talk about the things many officers wouldn't dare talk about or admit, I also appreciated Marcus' story and the honesty he gave when talking about having children and being an officer because we don't see how being a police officer can take a toll on family so I liked that he brought that aspect. -Edw123
I too appreciated Duncan's pure honesty about how policing is in his view. The reality of how officers like to sugar coat what is really going on while in that class lecture he gave it to us straight up with no hesitation. I also, appreciated how Officer Smith (Marcus) told us how being a police officer can take a toll on family. It really can. I first hand experienced it, it seems worse on the police officer's end because their the one having to leave everyday and go to a job that limits their time with their family but at the end of the day, his family, his child, will respect and still love him.
On Tuesday, March 3 CRJ 112 got the chance to meet Officer Duncan and Officer Smith. This class lecture was an eye opener. The reality of what you are taught vs. what you will do, is off the charts. They both explained why community policing is so important to them, particularly in the South Side of Peoria. Both, officer Duncan and Smith said they both had a life before policing - street life, the "hard-knock" life, the choices and decisions they made ended up with them knowing the streets "by-ways and street names," in not the best ways any young boy and young man should. On the flip side, they got to know the families that are living there, the people's life stories and struggles. They got to experience how to handle situations with single motherhood and fatherhood situations. Knowing when to use discretion, when to ticket, and when to arrest. Officer Smith said being a single father and raising his child while being in his first full year has been challenging, emotional, and expensive in day care bills and all I wanted to say to him was, "It will be worth it. Your daughter will become the one first who thinks of you as her hero, forever will you have respect and honor from her," because I, myself am a cops daughter and I know how hard him working all those hours was, missing my games and band recitals, and not having the opportunity to have dinners or watch a movie with me. But, when he did have days off, even though he was tired and I could tell, he fought it and spent time with me and I always looked up at him and smiled knowing how strong and determined he was and today still is. So, Office Smith, if you read these, be optimistic it times of despair and depression. Office Duncan, you said, "You will never make changes from the bottom. You only make recommendations." I would ask you this question then: "Why in the world did you become a police officer in the first place if you didn't think you would make any significant change within the police system and in the community?" My dad, a retired police officer, speaks highly of you and so does his friends. The police department in Peoria, may seem VERY corrupt, but even you said there's a small change in the air and you hope people see how important the community policing is. I would say, "Hold on to the smallest changes you made. Hold on to the smallest amount of faith you have that change, good change, will come." One last thing I learned is from Officer Duncan and Smith is that not everyone needs to go to jail. Officer Smith told us about a single mother that he had the chance to write her a ticket, but he didn't. He realized she was a single mother, working, had back pay on bills, and by giving her a ticket it wouldn't help her life situation with herself and her child and it wouldn't solve the situation. He said he could tell she didn't mean to commit that crime, but she owned up to it and he used major discretion and decided to talk to her and explain the law and let her on her way. This was a perfect example of Community Policing - doing your job, explaining the law, using his discretion for that situation and making a decision based upon the law and helping the community. One last thing Officer Duncan said that I found very simple but it hits home with Community Policing is this, "Quick Conversation - Builds Trust - Let's You Ask Questions - Quick Conversation - Builds More Trust - Read Miranda - Finish the Task." Basically, I mean by this is what he taught us that sometimes going right into asking questions and reading Miranda Rights to every person you want to question and need to question can hinder that relationship opportunity you can build with that person based upon what? Trust.
Officer Daniel Duncan came to our class to talk about his life and his experience on the police department for the city. Off the bat he offered his personal information to contact anytime on any questions we may have. I thought that was extremely cool because you know he truly cares and whats to help you with your career in Law Enforcement. Right away I felt a connection with him because he was just like us. He started off exactly how we are in this same class. What I like the best is that he came from a past, he is not perfect. He grew up in the streets of Peoria doing things he shouldn't be doing, yet he overcame it and became an officer and worked his way to top. I thought if he can overcome what he grew up around and changed his ways to better himself and others, then anyone can accomplish their goals if they just put in the effort. Another part that I liked was that he talked about community policing and his use of voice. Yes, I said use of voice, not use of force. Since he grew up in the community, he already knew the community, he connected with them and knew how to talk to them. That is key, it is key to be connected with the community because we are all one. If we know the people and can understand their situation then that's when the use of voice will go a long way. You will know how to talk to them and calm a situation down. If you don't know the community and how to talk to them, then your natural reaction will to be scared and use the use of force in situations. Not saying that you should never use the use of force because there are times that you will have no choice, but only using the use of force will only turn the community against you. Like officer Duncan said " be the counselor," listen, think, and evaluate the situation so you can use your words properly, then if that still doesn't work then use the use of force. -Brianna123
Today my class and I were able to listen to Officer Daniel Duncan and his officer that he is training. Right off the bat Officer Duncan told us a little bit about his background and who he was when he was younger. From the stories he told, one could gather that he was a juvenile delinquent when he was younger but he did end up becoming a cop. I found some of his stories interesting and I also found some things that he said to be very true for example that building relationships with others will definitely help on the job. The officer in training also mentioned that being able to talk was also a good thing to have and I completely agree with that because officers can not use excessive or deadly force for every call they have. To be honest, overall I really did not find this experience with Officer Duncan that much of a positive experience. When we were first told about officers coming to talk to us, we were told that we would have two female officers and two male officers who were young but when it was just Officer Duncan who was 108 days until retirement I was kind of disappointed. We only got one side or one view when I was expecting to hear four different views from each gender. Going along with that, Duncan even mentioned how he did not want to have the female officers there because he would “cringe” at what they say but everyone has different views and I felt like those different looks into law enforcement should’ve been heard today. Another thing was that when Officer Duncan would talk about police work and the community he put a negative view on it that really did not help people want to be a police officer. One thing that stuck out to me was he kept pushing that those wanting kids should not go into law enforcement because the kids won't have a good relationship with the parent in the law enforcement. I understand where he came from when he said that your kids should come first but I think there can be a happy balance between kids and your job. I had a father in law enforcement and that never changed my bond with him so I did not like how he said those things. Not everyone will have a bad bond with their parents on the job so I felt like it was wrong to push those ideas. He also mentioned how the police culture is so bad and that he is so lucky to have not given into it but to me I feel there really is nothing wrong with the police culture and how officers look out for each other. Going along with this also it kind of rubbed the wrong way when he answered that not many officers he works with really get along with him when he was asked if many of the officers like his views on things. One last thing that I really did not think was really encouraging was how he was sort of gloating about how many collars he got compared to other people. Overall, it kind of just felt like he was all about him and did not really make any positive pushes to join into a law enforcement career. Like said before, I agree with some things he said but overall I was kind of disappointed with what I heard. -wags123
ReplyDeletei agree with you officer Duncan seemed to have the attitude of someone about to retire. I was surprised at how kind of negative he seemed to talk about a lot of things. If he was the only officer ive listened to im not sure id want to be a police officer. I liked some of the things he said but a lot was surprisingly negative toward police culture -11b123
DeleteMy understanding with officer Duncan, and knowing him personally, is that Officer duncan gives you real situations that are going to happen in life, whether it be on the job, your personal life, and other aspects of life. He gives you information that others would hide about being an officer. He stated that he did not bring other officers to the seminar because they would talk about how they are overly involved in the community as officers, and that was the part that made him “cringe”, not because they were female officers. -as123
DeleteI also agree with you that you can tell that Officer Duncan is getting ready to retire. I was also surprised when i only saw 2 of them and one of them I would not of even noticed was a police officer. He had a lot of negative comments about policing for someone being a police for a majority of his career.-smiley123
DeleteWhen you and I first discussed what we thought about officer Duncan and his rap to the class we had totally different views but still noticed most of the same things. The more I thought about what he said, I understood more and more on why you felt the way you did about it. I think it’s so important in criminal justice to try and understand where a person is coming from and not think we all must have the same opinion to get along. –coffeeplease123
DeleteI personally feel that Officer Duncan's comments about being an officer wasn't negative. I feel that with every job comes its flaws, not everybody is going to have a positive outlook about their job and especially with policing which is a very dangerous job and officers have to deal with the worst sides of humanity, not only when they are on duty but behind the scenes of their department I think he gave us a balanced and nuance of what policing is today. -Edw123
DeleteListening to officer duncan was very interesting. Hearing his background and what he did before he became a police officer and how he became a police officer was interesting as well. He was engaging and interesting to listen to. His story and point of view was a little different from what I've heard from other law enforcement officers in the past. I was a little surprised at what he said. The way he was talking he definitely seemed like a man about to retire. I suppose I was he seemed like he did not like the way police culture was and that surprised me because he was in law enforcement for so long. I can see what he means and I get where the issues come from but the police bond and environment is one of the things I want. That was a big reason why I joined the Army because I needed to feel like I was capable of something not everyone can do and be a part of something big and important. It seems like the culture in the military and in law enforcement are very similar. So I can see where the faults are in that but I don't necessarily think it's all bad. Like any clique or group or job you build bonds over things and there will be certain divides with other people and groups. Esspecally in these careers where we hold them in such high regard and the jobs can be very dangerous the bond and brotherhood a big deal. What he said about the importance of fathers was interesting. He did make some good points and some things he said were good.
ReplyDeleteI do believe the culture within the army and the police are similar as well. I also agree when you stated that Duncan’s story is definitely different from the other speakers we have had in the past. He has been involved in both sides of poverty level and then on how to police it. -as123
DeleteI also found his view on fatherhood interesting, he has some good points but I did not agree with all his points on fatherhood. Like when he said that 99 percent of all crime is based on fatherhood I do not necessarily agree with that high of a percentage. It was also interesting to hear about his background before becoming a police officer. -wags123
DeleteWhat I really took away from Officer Duncan, was the aspect of community policing, and how phony it can be at times. Knowing duncan personally, he always explains how community policing can be a huge part of the job, and with community policing, a lot of time has to be put in outside of work. Whether it be volunteering at local churches, putting after school programs in place, and understanding the demographics of society. We also spoke about the strong police culture and how it collides with community policing. It can be very hard being an officer who is a warrior, and wants to have the most arrests, most tickets, to be recognized but also battling the guardian aspect of the job as well. The community does not understand that it is very difficult for a human being to change from a guardian to a warrior, or vise versa, within seconds. Some officers have the cynicism look when policing, and it is very hard to change that mindset or doing anything towards the community policing aspect of the job. I also enjoyed when officer Marcus spoke as well. I felt it was very real coming from him as he spoke about the difficulties of going through the FTO program with children. He started his police career late, so with him having kids that are so young, it has been difficult to be a father and a be an officer at the same time. He also spoke about being a native of the city he protects and serve, and one thing I pulled away from that was the fact that he has a lot more positive discretion on the people and the community, who seriously can not afford a ticket from the city, and that's because he was in their position at one point in time. -as123
ReplyDeleteThat is really cool that you know Officer Duncan personally. I can see how community policing can be a huge role in policing. he seemed like he was bragging about how he topped dog for awhile with the top of giving tickets out. I'm glad he changed once he was watched by the FBI.-smiley123
DeleteYes that is very cool that you know him on a personal level. I really liked how he explained that, yes being a cop is a great career, but if you already have a family it can be extremely hard to be there for them since you are working all of the time. I loved how honest he was with everything so we know what exactly happens and goes on. -Bears123
DeleteI feel Officer Duncan was very honest with all of us and really made in impact in one way or another with each one of us when he spoke. I especially enjoyed when he spoke about the fatherhood issues in society today and its effects on crime all over the city. -Blues123
DeleteToday my class and I had the option to tune in to Officer Daniel Duncan and the new officer that he is preparing. Directly off the bat Officer Duncan disclosed to us a tad about his experience and who he was the point at which he was more youthful. I discovered a portion of his accounts intriguing and I likewise saw a few things that he said as extremely valid for instance that building associations with others will help at work. Official Duncan was connecting with and fascinating to tune in to. His story and perspective were somewhat unique in relation to what I've gotten notification from other law implementation officials before. I was somewhat astonished at what he said. The manner in which he was talking he unquestionably appeared to be a man going to resign. I guess I was he appeared as though he didn't care for the manner in which police culture was and that astounded me since he was in law authorization for such a long time. He clarifies how network policing can be a gigantic piece of the activity, and a lot of time must be given off the clock to whether it be chipping in at neighborhood chapels, setting up after school projects, and understanding the socioeconomic of society. I appreciated when official Marcus talked too. I felt it was genuine originating from him as he talked about the troubles of experiencing the FTO program with youngsters. He began his police vocation late, so with him having children that are so youthful, it has been hard to be a dad and a be an official simultaneously. One thing I liked about Officer Duncan, is that he doesn’t talk to us like most Officers would and you could clearly tell he is retiring in 108 days. -smiley123
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed how he told us personal stories of certain events he has encountered to show the connections you can have while in the force. It was really cool to hear from officer Marcus spoke as well, helps explain the things that happen right when you join. And to hear his story with the force and his family on how it affected him was extremely interesting and helpful. -Bears123
DeleteI agree with you on noticing how he definitely sounded like someone who was about to retire. I too also like how Officer Marcus talked, I liked what he had to say and I really liked his last remark about staying true to yourself when you get on the job. I also was astonished on some things he had said. I did agree with some of the things he said but he seemed to have a negative attitude about a lot of things. -wags123
DeleteToday my class had the opportunity to meet with Officer Duncan and the new officer he brought along with him. Officer Duncan talked to us about many things including his past history, his work with the police, how he did his police work, and many other things that were very good to hear and learn about. He started with telling us his story growing up and how he got into the police force, he grew up in southside Peoria on the streets. He told us this because he wanted to show us that no matter what background you come from you can be anything you want if you really push for it. He told us how when he was younger he did a lot of things not looked high upon but he quit those activities and now is an amazing officer. He has been a police officer for 22 years now and will be retiring in around 100 days or so. He holds a lot of records for the peoria police department. Some people do not like how he works because he thinks like a criminal. They might not be the most conventional methods but they show that they do work, he said in one month he wrote around 400 tickets. After that he realized that the relationships with the people was important because after he retires if he did nothing but give out tickets and not help people as much they could hate him once he is retired and no longer in the police. He currently has written two books based on some of his views. The one he talked more about was about fathers. He claims around 99 percent of crime is based on fatherhood, if the person did not have a good relationship or none at all with their father that can greatly affect your life and make you choose bad choices.-Bears123
ReplyDeleteI really would like to read the book that Officer Duncan spoke about publishing in regards to fatherhood and how much of an impact it has on a child's life. I think it is very important for the father figure or father to maintain a presence in the child's life in order to maintain a positive connection. -Blues123
DeleteI thought it was very interesting to hear Officer Duncan's perspective on policing. His takes on policing were a fresh perspective and definitely not directly out of a textbook. When he spoke about the call he had been to the other day where a single mother was mad because she was being disrespected by her daughter, I think it opened my eyes a little bit more to importance of a father figure in the household. I had not really thought of a presence like that being necessary for a good opportunity of outcomes. It makes me ponder about what steps as a community can we do to fix problems like that where according to Duncan leads directly into negative contact with local law enforcement. It was interesting to hear how Duncan told the woman that this was a problem the police just can not fix. That was probably important for us as a class to hear. It was different to hear how honest Duncan was when speaking of his beginnings with Peoria Police Department. He won all kinds of metals and awards for most tickets and arrest but now he looks back on that as almost a mistake or an improper form of policing. I learned that your department you work for has much control over who you police and the way you police them. I believe Duncan was absolutely correct when he spoke about how the only place someone can implement the change is from the top down. The bottom can only give suggestions to changes in policy and procedure for the department where the people in upper management can rewrite what they are seeking out of an officer in any give area. CP3123
ReplyDeleteHey. Agree. Officer Duncan is an awesome guy and again, honest and direct. I also like the story about the little girl and how the mother admitted being in jail for a while. Also, I spoke about fatherhood. He seems very passionate about fathers not being around for their sons or their family in general. It destroys them and everyone around them! He said he’s releasing a book related to that, and I very interested in what more he has to say about that. - Canelo123
DeleteSo, I am supposed to talk about Officers Duncan talking along with a new hire of the Peoria Police Department. I am going to do my best to explain what I got from the talk because there was so much being thrown at once, that I gave up on taking notes because I could keep up with everything. I also knew Officer Duncan for a while now, and I was really glad to see him that day. Officer Duncan and I go way back to the Peoria Police Department and he knows his stuff. I remember him speaking about in class, but I already heard him say the same thing when he was with the explorers, but it was that no officer within the department cannot match what he has done for the department. He also spoke about how he's done pretty much everything within the department from patrol all the way to vice a narcotics. One thing about Officer Duncan, he doesn't sugar coat things, he is honest and very direct. He spoke about the job that it's a job like any other job and you can get fired, just like working at Walmart, Target, and so on. He also inspired us to apply, but in a very honest way. He spoke about his life, and how it was for him growing up and talking about fatherhood and its relation to law enforcement. Officer Duncan admitted to many things that he has done in his past, but yet, he is still working for the police. It's inspiring because I feel like a lot of us can relate because all of us have some sketchy background and we think we won't be able to make it. Officer Duncan says that police officers are like counselors if we don't like counseling people we should be in the profession. He’s not wrong, the job takes people who actually want to make a difference in their community wherever thy work.
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Officer Duncan telling us that Police Officers are like councilors really hit home to me because I never really thought of it like that. I already knew that, but it had never really been worded in that way to make so much sense in my mind. It was really cool to hear him speak.-Legion123
DeleteOfficer Duncan had an immense amount of knowledge he was able to give us young individuals and many of them stuck out from the others. One of the first things I can easily remember was the discussion of discretion before body cameras. I feel that these while they may positively help the world of law enforcement they do seem to detract from the use of discretion. Another thing that Officer Duncan spoke about was the shifts and what they can do to your family. We can already see the data from the trends of how high the divorce rates are for officers and this definitely helped show why. Being disconnected from your kids and wife due to the shift you work would most definitely be a very difficult thing to cope with over time, which explains why the divorce rate is so high. Being able to incorporate swing shifts as Officer Duncan said would really change a department around because they would all be able to have a chance to see their families which could in turn raise moral and positively change a department from night to day. Officer Smith was just starting out but as a single father, has a huge challenge in order to keep his presence around his kids while still trying to provide for them. One thing that he said that really stuck with me was when he spoke about making sure you don't let the badge change you. If you do, you will never be able to turn the officer side of your mind off, which can negatively effect your mental health. -Blues123
ReplyDeleteHis views on family were really cool to hear about. His ideas on swing shifts was something I had never heard of. They sounded like a great idea, and a good way to make sure that officers still had time with their families. It was also interesting to hear him talk about discretion and body cameras.-Legion123
DeleteOn Tuesday our class had the privilege of listening to a Peoria Police Officer talk about his experiences on the force. The officer was Officer Dunkin. He was been a police officer for twenty-two years. He brought along a new hire to also talk about his experience with being hired and what he was learned so far. A lot of what Officer Dunkin talked about surprised me. He talked about his life before being an officer. He failed his first polygraph test because they could indict him on different crimes. This is cool though because it shows that no matter your upbringing you can still do great things with your life. He talked about how he used to be a super aggressive police officer and still holds records in Peoria for different things. He talked about how an FBI investigation though changed his perspective on policing. He started to work on public relations, and everything he has done within that field. He talks about how other officers are weary of him because of his philosophy on locking people up. He then talked about his views on fatherhood. I agreed with him on his views of fatherhood. I liked how he brought up Biblical things and was not ashamed of that. I agree with him that having an active father and having a good father has a major impact on a child’s life. It can lead to crime, peer pressure, and other bad things when that fatherly figure is not present in a child’s life. It can be bad though if the father is not a good father. You can have an active father figure in the home, but if he is encouraging wrong behavior then that is just as bad. Officer Dunkin seemed really cool, and I am glad he is one of the police officers in the Peoria area.-Legion123
ReplyDeleteOfficer Duncan from PPD gave an interesting presentation to watch and listen to the other day in Dr. Whites course. Stating things such as his disapproval of police culture, his beliefs on the connection of how fatherhood can decrease juvenile crimes, and of course, my favorite topic of community policing. Listing to Ofc. Duncan was almost like talking to the someone who passed the test with an “A” while you are sliding by with a “C-”. It appeared that he had all the answers, this may be due to his years of experience as an officer or just as his upbringing but it kept my attention the entire time. To hear an officer of one of the bigger agencies around my area, speak about how my college is doing a great job in teaching community policing unlike many other schools out there including the police academy was a shock to me. I figured community policing was a major topic in departments and schools all around the nation, but according to ofc. Duncan you’d be lucky to read a paragraph on the subject anywhere else. Along with the way ofc. Duncan spoke about community policing I could tell he felt very passionately about the issue of changing the social image of police in the Peoria area. These factors from hearing stories from Dr. White and Ofc. Duncan, to learning more about policing styles in class will help me figure out how to become a better officer in the near future. I predicurly liked ofc. Duncans program called “Breaking Boundaries” where inmates of a correctional facility and law enforcement officers simply just talk to one another. This creates bonds in the community that can wear down use of force and can even form a bond between both sides making an officers job easier in a sense due to the trust with the community. All and all the presentations from Ofc. Duncan could easily be turned into a ted talk on the issue of community policing.
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Officer Duncan was a pretty cool guy in my opinion. I could tell he was ready to retire by the way he spoke about a few things. I personally do not want to be a police officer but if I did, officer Duncan would be someone who I would go to for guidance regarding how to handle certain situations. A lot of what he said made sense to me and I think I would go about doing a lot of things the same way he did. He stated multiple times throughout the discussion the other day that basically everything he was saying was just his opinion. One thing I really agreed with him on that I myself think about often is that a lot of juvenile delinquent cases involve kids who don’t have a father living with them at home or don’t have a father around period. I know people my age who have had a hard childhood because of their father either being in prison or just choosing not to be around in general. Not every juvenile case involves a “bad” or absent father though. Towards the end of Officer Duncan’s rap, he said “if I don’t do anything to help them, I’m no better than anyone else.” Which is exactly what I tell myself daily; for as long as I can remember I have wanted to help people, specifically kids, who are in bad situations because of things they had no control over. I don’t believe in locking kids away and labeling them as bad people because of mistakes and poor decision making. Anyone can change their life around if they have the right people cheering them on and pushing them in the right direction. I think more officers should be willing to help the people in the community prosper and become better versions of themselves for the sake of the community and the next generations to come. –coffeeplease123
ReplyDeleteBeing able to listen to Officer Duncan speak about his experience as an officer of the Peoria Police Department meant a lot to me because Officer Duncan, myself and many others have similar backgrounds. I was glad he went into depth about his background because usually a lot of officer on the Peoria Police Department come from neighboring towns/cities but to know that not only was he from Peoria but he was from the southside of Peoria made me more willing and more interested in hearing his story because I am from Peoria and I was also raised in the southside of the city. I absolutely loved hearing his opinion on police culture as an officer with experience because it was authentic and probably ruffled a lot of feathers but it needed to be heard, I feel as though many want to disregard that the police are not susceptible to concepts like groupthink and mob mentality because they are supposed to be our “heroes” but they are not heroes, they are human beings and public servants who are here doing good work but that doesn't always mean that they are good people and I think a lot of people conflate the two and push away any kind of nuance and label critic against police as änti-police” which is very close-minded. Also his theory on high amounts of crime being that there is no father in the home kind of threw me for a loop but I understand where he trying to go with his theory like during Reagan Era and the war on drugs that was the foundation of mass incarnation of Black people in the 21st century but I would have liked if he expounded on that. Lastly, I appreciated his philosophy on policing and how he was not afraid to talk about the things many officers wouldn't dare talk about or admit, I also appreciated Marcus' story and the honesty he gave when talking about having children and being an officer because we don't see how being a police officer can take a toll on family so I liked that he brought that aspect. -Edw123
ReplyDeleteI too appreciated Duncan's pure honesty about how policing is in his view. The reality of how officers like to sugar coat what is really going on while in that class lecture he gave it to us straight up with no hesitation. I also, appreciated how Officer Smith (Marcus) told us how being a police officer can take a toll on family. It really can. I first hand experienced it, it seems worse on the police officer's end because their the one having to leave everyday and go to a job that limits their time with their family but at the end of the day, his family, his child, will respect and still love him.
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On Tuesday, March 3 CRJ 112 got the chance to meet Officer Duncan and Officer Smith. This class lecture was an eye opener. The reality of what you are taught vs. what you will do, is off the charts. They both explained why community policing is so important to them, particularly in the South Side of Peoria. Both, officer Duncan and Smith said they both had a life before policing - street life, the "hard-knock" life, the choices and decisions they made ended up with them knowing the streets "by-ways and street names," in not the best ways any young boy and young man should. On the flip side, they got to know the families that are living there, the people's life stories and struggles. They got to experience how to handle situations with single motherhood and fatherhood situations. Knowing when to use discretion, when to ticket, and when to arrest. Officer Smith said being a single father and raising his child while being in his first full year has been challenging, emotional, and expensive in day care bills and all I wanted to say to him was, "It will be worth it. Your daughter will become the one first who thinks of you as her hero, forever will you have respect and honor from her," because I, myself am a cops daughter and I know how hard him working all those hours was, missing my games and band recitals, and not having the opportunity to have dinners or watch a movie with me. But, when he did have days off, even though he was tired and I could tell, he fought it and spent time with me and I always looked up at him and smiled knowing how strong and determined he was and today still is. So, Office Smith, if you read these, be optimistic it times of despair and depression. Office Duncan, you said, "You will never make changes from the bottom. You only make recommendations." I would ask you this question then: "Why in the world did you become a police officer in the first place if you didn't think you would make any significant change within the police system and in the community?" My dad, a retired police officer, speaks highly of you and so does his friends. The police department in Peoria, may seem VERY corrupt, but even you said there's a small change in the air and you hope people see how important the community policing is. I would say, "Hold on to the smallest changes you made. Hold on to the smallest amount of faith you have that change, good change, will come." One last thing I learned is from Officer Duncan and Smith is that not everyone needs to go to jail. Officer Smith told us about a single mother that he had the chance to write her a ticket, but he didn't. He realized she was a single mother, working, had back pay on bills, and by giving her a ticket it wouldn't help her life situation with herself and her child and it wouldn't solve the situation. He said he could tell she didn't mean to commit that crime, but she owned up to it and he used major discretion and decided to talk to her and explain the law and let her on her way. This was a perfect example of Community Policing - doing your job, explaining the law, using his discretion for that situation and making a decision based upon the law and helping the community. One last thing Officer Duncan said that I found very simple but it hits home with Community Policing is this, "Quick Conversation - Builds Trust - Let's You Ask Questions - Quick Conversation - Builds More Trust - Read Miranda - Finish the Task." Basically, I mean by this is what he taught us that sometimes going right into asking questions and reading Miranda Rights to every person you want to question and need to question can hinder that relationship opportunity you can build with that person based upon what? Trust.
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Officer Daniel Duncan came to our class to talk about his life and his experience on the police department for the city. Off the bat he offered his personal information to contact anytime on any questions we may have. I thought that was extremely cool because you know he truly cares and whats to help you with your career in Law Enforcement. Right away I felt a connection with him because he was just like us. He started off exactly how we are in this same class. What I like the best is that he came from a past, he is not perfect. He grew up in the streets of Peoria doing things he shouldn't be doing, yet he overcame it and became an officer and worked his way to top. I thought if he can overcome what he grew up around and changed his ways to better himself and others, then anyone can accomplish their goals if they just put in the effort. Another part that I liked was that he talked about community policing and his use of voice. Yes, I said use of voice, not use of force. Since he grew up in the community, he already knew the community, he connected with them and knew how to talk to them. That is key, it is key to be connected with the community because we are all one. If we know the people and can understand their situation then that's when the use of voice will go a long way. You will know how to talk to them and calm a situation down. If you don't know the community and how to talk to them, then your natural reaction will to be scared and use the use of force in situations. Not saying that you should never use the use of force because there are times that you will have no choice, but only using the use of force will only turn the community against you. Like officer Duncan said " be the counselor," listen, think, and evaluate the situation so you can use your words properly, then if that still doesn't work then use the use of force. -Brianna123
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