1. If you could revise COMPSTAT in anyway, what would the change(s) be and specifically why?
2. You are the chief of police of a major municipal police department. In the process of implementing Compstat, the question arises as to who should do the “tough questioning” of unit commanders during crime strategy meetings. With that in mind, would you choose an assistant chief of police to perform this role rather than do it yourself? Fully explain and support your answer.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Revising COMPSTAT for Enhanced Effectiveness and Accountability in Policing
Introduction
COMPSTAT (short for Computer Statistics) is a performance management system used by law enforcement agencies to track and analyze crime data, identify trends, and hold personnel accountable for their performance. In this essay, we will explore potential revisions to COMPSTAT to improve its effectiveness and discuss the importance of selecting the right individual to conduct tough questioning during crime strategy meetings within a major municipal police department.
Revisions to COMPSTAT
Enhanced Training and Support
One key revision to COMPSTAT would be to provide enhanced training and support to all personnel involved in the process. This includes not only law enforcement officers but also civilian staff who contribute to data analysis and reporting. By ensuring that all stakeholders understand the purpose of COMPSTAT, how to interpret data accurately, and how to implement strategies effectively, agencies can maximize the benefits of the system.
Incorporation of Community Input
Another important revision would be to incorporate community input into the COMPSTAT process. Community members and stakeholders should have a voice in identifying priorities, evaluating the effectiveness of crime reduction strategies, and holding the police department accountable for addressing their concerns. By fostering transparency and collaboration with the community, COMPSTAT can become a more inclusive and responsive tool for improving public safety.
Tough Questioning in Crime Strategy Meetings
Role of Assistant Chief of Police
When deciding who should conduct tough questioning of unit commanders during crime strategy meetings, the role of the assistant chief of police can be crucial. While the chief of police holds ultimate responsibility for departmental performance, delegating the task of tough questioning to an assistant chief can have several advantages.
Advantages of Delegating to Assistant Chief
Impartiality: An assistant chief may be perceived as more impartial and objective in their questioning, as they may have a broader view of departmental operations and performance.
Expertise: Assistant chiefs often have specialized knowledge in certain areas of policing, which can enable them to ask targeted and insightful questions that drive performance improvement.
Efficiency: Delegating tough questioning to an assistant chief allows the chief of police to focus on strategic leadership, decision-making, and overall departmental direction without getting bogged down in operational details.
Supporting the Decision
Delegating tough questioning to an assistant chief does not diminish the chief of police’s authority or involvement in COMPSTAT meetings. Rather, it leverages the expertise and leadership capabilities of the assistant chief to enhance the effectiveness of performance evaluations and accountability measures within the department.
Conclusion
In conclusion, revising COMPSTAT by enhancing training, incorporating community input, and delegating tough questioning to an assistant chief of police can strengthen accountability, improve decision-making, and foster collaboration within law enforcement agencies. By continuously refining and adapting performance management processes like COMPSTAT, police departments can better serve their communities and achieve their public safety objectives.
References:
Braga, A. A. (2001). The effects of hot spots policing on crime. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 578(1), 104-125.
