Analyze how important cross-cultural knowledge is for police officers and civilian employees.

Examine cross-cultural contact that police officers and civilian employees have with citizens, victims, suspects, and coworkers.

Cultural differences may lead to erroneous conclusions about Asian/Pacific American behaviors. These misunderstandings can cause the entire system to become involved in a family’s life (courts, district attorneys, police, child protective services, etc.).

Include common stereotypes and communication styles that affect cross-cultural contact that police officers and civilian employees have with citizens, victims, suspects, and coworkers.

Analyze how important cross-cultural knowledge is for police officers and civilian employees.
Scenario 1

Seng Chang and Kaying Lor were glad to learn Monday afternoon that their family’s journey through the courts was over. Police took away the couple’s four children on April 30 after employees at Sherman Elementary School noticed marks on the youngsters’ bodies. The marks had been produced by a traditional Asian healing technique commonly called coining. The children were returned to their parents on May 3 but officially remained in state custody. Prosecutors Monday dropped the case against Chang and Lor after medical experts reviewed the case and determined that there was no evidence of child abuse… The family is Hmong, and ethnic group from the hills of Laos. Lor said he and his wife will continue using the coining remedy when their children are sick. The technique involves rubbing ointment into the skin with a coin or spoon. He said he hopes those who investigate abuse allegations have learned a lesson and will listen more carefully to what parents are saying before removing children from their homes. Six other children were taken from a Vietnamese couple in a separate but similar case. Prosecutors dismissed that case last week (Morton, 2002, p. B1).

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