Hazing/ Bullying

“Hazing” refers to any activity expected of someone joining a group or to maintain full status in a group that humiliates, degrades or risks emotional and/or physical harm, regardless of the person’s willingness to participate.

“Bullying” is unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose.

NERLEEA is committed to working with Cadets and staff to prevent bullying at all sponsored events and functions. As a training Academy, CPA prohibits bullying, physical or verbal assault, hazing, abuse, cruelty, or any sort of harassment (on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, class or disability), and regards such acts as serious discipline offenses. These rules pertain regardless of the medium, in direct personal interactions, in any electronic or voice communication, and on blogs, social networking sites, web forums or other online sites. In addition, the CPA will not tolerate retaliation against any person who reports bullying, provides information during an investigation of bullying, or witnesses or has reliable information about bullying.

This type of behavior will not be tolerated. It will not be viewed as a harmless prank and cadets will suffer discipline for engaging in such activity. This includes staff members and cadets. Our academy and programs are unique. The activities we are involved in, our forms of discipline and humor is different than other occupations. The actions of the staff members in our programs have been more than acceptable over the past few years. There have not been any complaints by the cadets or adults regarding our program’s staff. It will be our goal to continue to operate on the same level and give proper respect toward the cadets as we have in the past. Please keep in mind that we are working with young adults. If you choose to single them out and verbally knock them down a few levels in order to maintain discipline this will be acceptable. Be careful of how you handle the situation and do not take it to a level of hazing or bullying. Also, you must find ways to bring their confidence level back up.

Advisors and all staff are reminded of the Connecticut General Statute regarding Hazing:

Policy Concerning Hazing

Applicability.
This instruction applies to all members of NERLEEA, the Cadet Police Academy, all staff or otherwise.

Background.
Hazing is contrary to the Core Values of Honor, Courage and Commitment. Adherence to Core Values by our staff is central to the North East Regional Law Enforcement Education Association’s ability to meet its mission. These values have served the academy well and are our guiding principles for treating every academy member with dignity and respect and as a valued member of the team. Hazing degrades victims and diminishes the ability of NERLEEA to achieve its function. It destroys members’ confidence and trust in their leaders and is destructive to unit cohesion and learning. Every member of the NERLEEA must be afforded the opportunity to be a productive and contributing member free of hazing and its effects. Hazing is not part of our tradition and has no place in the academy. Hazing will not be tolerated.

Discussion.
a. Our cadets and explorers are our most valuable resource. NERLEEA leadership has a responsibility to create and maintain an environment free from hazing.
b. Customs and traditions are an integral part of our Cadet Police Academy. Although in the past, under the Explorer Police Academy model some hazing had occurred in conjunction with ceremonies, initiations or rites of passage; changes to those types of prohibited activities have resulted in a successful action model. When properly supervised, the new model when implemented properly, can be effective as leadership tools to instill esprit de corps, unit cohesion and respect for an accomplishment of another cadet or explorer. NERLEEA members must be able to work together, building–up, encouraging and supporting their peers. Hazing behavior that is degrading, embarrassing or injurious is unprofessional and may be illegal.

Definition.
a. Hazing is defined as any conduct whereby a NERLEEA member or members, staff or otherwise, regardless of position, without proper authority causes another NERLEEA member or members, regardless of position, to suffer or be exposed to any activity which is Soliciting or coercing another to perpetrate any such activity is also considered hazing. Hazing need not involve physical contact among or between persons; it can be verbal or psychological in nature. Actual or implied consent to acts of hazing does not eliminate the culpability of the perpetrator.
b. Hazing can include, but is not limited to, the following: playing abusive, humiliating or degrading tricks or pranks; threatening or offering violence or bodily harm to another; striking; branding; taping; tattooing; shaving; greasing; painting; requiring excessive physical exercise beyond what is required to meet goals; or forcing or requiring the consumption of food, alcohol, drugs, or any other substance.
c. Hazing does not include NERLEEA authorized operations or activities; administrative corrective measures; extra instruction; athletics events, authorized physical training, contests or competitions and other similar activities that are authorized by the NERLEEA Executive Staff. The requisite training to become a police officer requires a paramilitary atmosphere in which physical, emotional and educational demands are common. Demands made must be in line with realistic police academy training practices and training goals and not for the purpose of being cruel, abusive, humiliating, oppressive, demeaning, or harmful.

It is NERLEEA policy that:
a. Hazing is prohibited and will not be tolerated.
b. No NERLEEA member may engage in hazing or consent to acts of hazing being committed upon them.
c. No supervisor may, by act, word, deed, or omission, condone or ignore hazing if they know or reasonably should have known, that hazing may or did occur.
d. It is the responsibility of every academy member, staff or otherwise, to ensure that hazing does not occur at any level.
e. Directors or individuals in supervisory positions are responsible for ensuring that all ceremonies and initiations conducted within NERLEEA comply with this policy.
f. Supervisory personnel shall ensure that NERLEEA members participating in command authorized ceremonies, initiations and other activities are treated with dignity and respect during these events.
g. Reprisal actions against any victim or witness of hazing incidents are prohibited.