Abstract:

Constantly changing global events impact local policing and emergency services personnel in their roles as guarantors of safety and security. This paper extends research originally completed in the United States and compares the results with findings from Kosovo police. Police in both Kosovo and Utah (in the United States) serve minority populations. In Utah, the population that was once homogeneous is now very diverse. The population in Kosovo is becoming more and more homogeneous, but with some unique challenges for police and other public safety agencies. In Utah, these population changes have occurred because the state has become a magnet for immigrants as well as refugees. As a new country, Kosovo emerged with a minority population which is antagonistic toward the government and its representatives. Minorities have brought challenges for police agencies in terms of dealing with new languages and cultures, client relationships, criminal activities, and other safety considerations. Information for this paper was drawn from interviews of educators and emergency services personnel in Kosovo. Conclusions were drawn which apply to both Utah and Kosovo. Education of public safety personnel is vital in meeting the new challenges of a diverse and multi-cultural population.

In Kosovo, over 100 police and other first responders were surveyed to discover the communication challenges they face in dealing with minorities and other nationalities. Ten police were chosen for follow-up interviews. The participants responded to questions, regarding the impact and challenges of serving a diverse population. What does your organization or agency do to help overcome the barriers that minority populations face in getting or receiving services? Do your people receive special training in language or cultural sensitivity? Are your people trained or are people brought in who understand the culture or the language? Does your organization have plans in place for working with minorities? What are they? This paper examines these questions and the lessons learned for public safety education.

Keywords:

Multi-culturalism, Population diversity, Public safety education, Effective Communication, Utah, Kosovo.