Photo Courtesy of Laurie Pine
Discussing criminal justice requirements for use of force at Seton Hall University are, from left, Somerset County Police Academy Director Richard Celeste, student Rebecca Starner, professor John Paitakes and student Charles Tobias.
By Joshua Siegel, Correspondent
Seton Hall University took part Oct. 23 in an in-depth and interactive examination of police officer protocols for using force against assailants. Richard Celeste, the civilian director of the Somerset County Police Academy and author of a manual on police training used throughout New Jersey and the nation, led the session.
The recent cases of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and Freddie Gray have left society, police departments and communities grappling with the divisive issues of use of force and its application by police. These incidents motivated John Paitakes, a SHU criminal justice professor, to convene the seminar and interactive session. The session was geared toward the entire community, not only criminal justice majors. Paitakes opened up the program to the wider community, explaining that the information was of value to anyone who wants to actively contribute solutions to these recent deaths.
“There have been a number of controversial incidents by law enforcement during arrests,” Paitakes said. “The media when reporting on these incidents does not always have a complete set of facts and circumstances, and may not be aware of when force can be initiated.”
Celeste has 26 years of law enforcement experience, including more than 13 years as deputy chief at the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office. As a certified witness and consultant, Celeste reminded participants that it is important to be “fair and impartial to both parties in court, and determine whether the actions of the officers were reasonable.”
Celeste argued that officers should be judged with regard to how they respond the moment they use force based on the context of their environment and threats faced.
“Dr. Celeste explained the current laws and policies for the use of force excellently, including his knowledge of Supreme Court cases,” student Charles Tobias, who aspires to attend law school and pursue a career as a criminal prosecutor, said. “His passion for law enforcement was encouraging. At Seton Hall, I have had the opportunity to attend multiple lectures from leaders in the field of criminal justice, which provided me with knowledge and skills that I will take throughout my professional life.”
Celeste’s most poignant lessons came from his discussion of the consequences for improper use of force.
“The three deadliest and costliest riots in U.S. history emerged from miscommunication and unlawful practices, and misunderstanding between the police and public,” Celeste said.
Student Rebecca Starner shared that Celeste’s lesson in use of force, as well as his discussion of the conduct of leadership and personal conduct provided critical insight into police procedures. She is currently considering a career in either the military or federal law enforcement.
“I always believed in leading by example. I want to make a difference, to symbolize leadership, honor, integrity, discipline and everything that law enforcement stands for,” Starner said. “I want to save lives, and for people to be able to look at me and realize they are in good hands and the safety and security of each and every person will be upheld.”
Joshua Siegel is a student at Seton Hall University.