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