CJUS 500

Presentation: Police (Part 1) Transcript

Slide 1

The role of law enforcement and police is to enforce the law and to provide community assistance.

Policing has had a rich and interesting history.

Vigilantism was represented as groups of residents whom were essentially authorized by the community, to enforce the law.

As vigilantism grew, members became a little bit better organized.

Vigilantes did take the law into their own hands by punishing and killing individuals suspected of crimes.

In the early 1700s, slave patrols represented the first publicly funded city police departments in the United States.

Their objective was to keep slaves from running away.

There were various slave codes in place that prohibited slaves from educating themselves and running away from their owners.

Sir Robert Peel was the first to establish an organized police department in England.

This was in response to the growing crime problem in London, which eventually led to the establishment of The London Metropolitan Police Department in 1829.

Policing developed in England and the United States followed suit shortly thereafter, with departments being increasingly controlled by government.

The United States adopted London’s Police Department objectives by stopping crime through preventative patrols (patrolling the streets and keeping general order).

This idea of preventative patrol remains consistent in police activity today.

During the Political era of the 1840s through the1920s, the US began to see an influx of organized police departments.

The police’s role was to control order, provide various social services, and assist those in need.

Notwithstanding however, training was not commonplace.

During the Professional era beginning in the 1920s and extending through the 1970s, policing began to undergo major reform at all levels of government.

The objective was to encourage the police to be free from political influence.

The availability of new technology such as the telephone, also impacted policing.

During this time, the US began to see the implementation of the Uniform Crime Report (UCR), which allowed police departments to provide annual reports on the extent of crime in America.

We also saw the development of the 911 system during this era.

This was an avenue for citizens to begin to report crime more efficiently.

The Community Policing era began in the 1970s and has extended through to today.

Community policing focuses on summoning community members in assisting with the solving of crime.

The objective of community policing is preventative, in that the attempt is to stop crimes before they occur.

This requires that police officers build positive relationships with community members.

Police departments are made up of sworn personnel and non-sworn personnel.

Sworn personnel are known as peace officers, while non-sworn personnel are regarded as civilians.

There are various agencies for law enforcement.

Most notably, there are Sheriff’s offices and Police departments.

Sheriff offices generally respond to larger rural, unincorporated areas, whereas police departments service urban areas.

There are also distinguishing state and federal law enforcement agencies.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is a cabinet department created by the federal government following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

The aim of DHS is to provide the American people security and to deter and thwart terrorist attacks.

The department is made up of 22 different federal agencies including: The United States Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Slide 2

Recruiting officers can be difficult because there is a need for individuals who are psychologically and physically prepared to tackle on the role of a peace officer.

Traditionally, there tends to be better paying jobs outside of law enforcement.

We also begin to find higher attrition rates, as prior generations begin to retire out of law enforcement.

As a result, most departments find themselves have insufficient staffing.

Needless to say, there continues to be a demand for officers.

There is also a police subculture.

There are both occupational subcultures and organizational subcultures.

Police officers begin to develop specific values, beliefs, and attitudes resulting from participation in police academies and intensive training.

This can also influence behavior.

Occupational subculture recognizes the collective perception of danger in police work among all officers.

Organizational subculture is specific to any given individual department.

The blue code of silence emphasizes the need for loyalty among officers.

Officers can count on their fellow officers to have their back regardless of anything else.

This is especially emphasized when there are questionable actions about police officer behaviors that are raised.

Slide 3

Criminal justice practitioners exercise discretion in all levels of the criminal justice system however, police officers perhaps have the highest degree of discretion in their every day activities.

They can make the decision whether someone enters into the criminal justice system or not.

There are both positive and negative effects of discretion.

Positive benefits of police discretion permit officers to engage ethically given a specific scenario or situation.

In some instances, officer discretion can fulfill the “spirit of the law by not following the letter of the law”.

Disadvantages of police discretion are that specific decisions can certainly be influenced by prejudice and stereotypes.

The Constitution demands that officers treat individuals equally, even while exercising discretion. However, discrimination still permeates throughout the justice system.

Police misconduct is certainly a consideration because misconduct damages how the community views policing and police officers.

It also jeopardizes the safety and security of citizens.

There have been instances in which police officers have abused authority.

Corruption can also occur when law enforcement officers are motivated by their own personal agendas.

Slide 4

There have been challenges in policing.

Some of these challenges draw their attention to issues concerning racism and discrimination.

Most notably, the concept of racial profiling has spawned a contentious debate.

Racial profiling is defined as the discriminatory practice of targeting individuals based on their race, as opposed to information concerning the actual crime and circumstances of the crime itself.

We understand that law enforcement officers do have the authority to maintain the peace but also, to be of service to the community.

Scripture states in Matthew 5:9 (ESV) “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God”.

Therefore, it is Godly to be peacemakers and so it is incumbent upon law enforcement to embrace these practices.

Scripture also says in Psalm 82: 3-4 “Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked”.

With respect to race and racism, evil and sin are colorblind. We have to embrace that everyone has issues.

That being said, Scripture warns against favoritism and makes clear in the Old Testament that the stranger must be treated fairly.

Scripture also warns against favoring the rich and powerful.

Law enforcement must embrace integrity, values, and loyalty.

Proverbs 28:18 states “Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered, but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall”.

Scripture also indicates that in Proverbs 18:24 “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother”.

This further emphasis why a loyal subculture of brotherhood, is favored among law enforcement officers.

Lastly, Scripture states in Luke 6:31 “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them”.

This really sums up the importance and the role of law enforcement as stewards of the community.

Reference

Masters, R.E., Way, L.B., Gerstenfeld, P. B., Muscat, B.T., Hopper, M., Dusch, J, P., Pincu., L.,

& Skrapec, C. A. (2013). CJ realities and challenges (2nd. ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.