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Traditional Police Roles Which officer is the main link between the Department and the Community? – The Patrol Officer! Most cops say they want to help others, but how is this accomplished? – Many are idealistic and altruistic but may expect or demand conformity Mundane realities of police work may not live up to anticipated excitement/action
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AJ 58 – Community and Human Relations
Chapter 12 –Toward a New Breed of Police Officer
Images of Police
How would you describe a typical police officer? Answers vary greatly based upon…
– Family values/beliefs– Personal contacts/experiences– News/Entertainment media portrayals
People look at cops with a mixture of respect, appreciation, and fear
– Help in time of need– Legal authority to arrest– Legal authority to use force, take life
Traditional Police Roles
Which officer is the main link between the Department and the Community?– The Patrol Officer!
Most cops say they want to help others, but how is this accomplished?– Many are idealistic and altruistic but may expect
or demand conformity Mundane realities of police work may not live
up to anticipated excitement/action
Traditional Patrol Responsibilities
Patrol time loosely structured– Driving around awaiting the next dispatch call – Looking around for violations or suspicious
activity– Hesitating to get too involved in something for
fear of missing “the big one”– Having to handle complaints, disputes, other
non-criminal calls for service Potential dangers of the job outweigh the
actual injuries experienced Officers may feel separated/isolated from
community and band together for support
Self-Isolation
Officers may self-isolate from society– Protection from real & perceived dangers– Loss of personal & professional autonomy– Social rejection
Tend to rely on each other for validity and support
Cops see a grisly world not seen by others– Accidents, death, rapes, molestations, etc.– Humanity at its worst
Paramilitary Bureaucracy
Focus on structure, discipline May stifle innovative thinking, creativity
– Frustrating for those officers– May actually be reprimanded for taking initiative
May become cynical, feel like a mere pawn being used by superiors
Resistance to Community Policing
General reluctance to embrace change, even if positive change
Honest belief that traditional methods work best
Accepting change = perceived rejection of long-standing system and culture
Change = Risk– What if it doesn’t work?
Community Policing Approach
Chief can no longer blame underlying social problems for inappropriate actions of officers
More autonomy, responsibility, and decision-making authority given to CPO’s– May be threat to supervisors, managers– May be resented by peers
Flexible scheduling for CPO’s to deal with responsibilities as they arise
Changes to Traditional Police Culture
Increasing percentage of officers by race, ethnicity, gender
Increasing number of officers with higher education– Less authoritarian, more innovative– Professionalism
Expectations for greater autonomy and flexibility Shift from crime-fighting to problem-solving as
primary police function Recognition of “gray areas” in complex, real-world
situations
New Breed of Officer
Must address community concerns– Crime, fear-of-crime, social conditions
Able to look at “big picture”– Creative and innovative solutions
Superior communication skills– Talking, writing, public speaking– One-on-one, group settings, minorities
Broad educational background – CJ, Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology,
Economics
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