how did the role of the police officer change over the years, as many departments move from traditional to community policing models. what are some of the new expectations that the community has for law enforcement officers?
2007-07-31 15:25:04 · 6 answers · asked by Soldier'sWife 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
The roles changed because the people changed. In the past, there were fewer violent crimes and your policeman was also the plumber, Justice of the Peace, and your neighbor. Today the dynamics of crime are infinite. You have gangs, drug addicts, the privilege DUI, domestic violence that leads to death and not only are the criminals more violent, and their numbers increased ; now even you can be a victim. We now expect protection even when we are witnesses, protection of our properties and to know when criminal activity is polluting our neighborhoods.
2007-07-31 15:46:46 · answer #1 · answered by Debbi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree w/ Debbie. Police Departments have been moving towards professional civil service for quite some time. It used to be that Police Departments were patronage systems, often the leaders (sheriff's) were elected and they hired their political cronies or their cronies' buddys to become police. Now there is a push against that and the most large to medium-small forces have civil service style recruiting and management. This is professionalization, which has been good for all of us.
Police are very rarely found liable for their actions in the line of duty, contrary to the beliefs of some on this forum. On the rare cases where plaintiff criminals prevail, there is usually tremendous police wrongdoing, such as the Abner Louimer case in which police officers tortured him by sodomizing him with a broomstick. This is in fact a good thing though, in almost all cases that I have dealt with, especially deadly force cases, I have sided with the officer. I have often wanted them to not have proceeded exactly the way they have, but I was not in their shoes at the time of the incident, and that is why at the end of the day they usually prevail in duty related lawsuits.
2007-07-31 17:44:17 · answer #2 · answered by foxcurl 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
More involvement with the community and it's needs (community policing.) Officers are expected to solve problems in a way that would benefit the community as a whole, blah blah... I guess old school policing focused more on just busting criminals instead of making the community better and being involved with it...
2007-07-31 15:49:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Professionalism had been developed through the years and the present police officers already know how to enforce the laws.
2007-07-31 18:10:21 · answer #4 · answered by FRAGINAL, JTM 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
law enforcement has changed big time over the years. pretty much the criminals can sue the police over anything and get off with so much.
2007-07-31 23:27:03 · answer #5 · answered by Chad S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It used to be that cops could ambush and kill criminals with impunity. I wish it would go back to that.
2007-07-31 16:32:55 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋