Police Perception Research Paper

As a police officer, the major objectives are to maintain order, enforce the law, protect one’s property, and to save lives. In addition, police are divided into two roles based on how they perform their duties. The two roles of a police officer are a public servant and a crime fighter. A police officer whose role as a public servant is to serve all types of people, as well as criminals. Public servants regularly provide advice and make judgments as to the degree of risk they should take with the public. Many decisions involving risk are relatively easy to make, but others are complex and significant consequences (Kernaghan and Langford, 2016). These risks may involve using force and the consequences could be media backlash or a potential termination. Public servants abide by the oath and uphold the integrity and honor of the organization as an officer. Also, public servant officers like to play it safe because they like to be known as ordinary citizens who like to go home to their

Some people argue that police officers in our communities abuse their authority and power over citizens. Nowadays police officers seem to be more aggressive and end up being looked at as criminals. Some cops are even using their power to do bad things, and this has had a major effect on society that is making everyone afraid of cops. But, some people, too, argue the point if a cop did misuse his power was it justified. People in our communities are even beginning to feel as if cops aren't here to protect us anymore. Our laws have allowed criminals that good police officers arrest to slip through the system untouched, and this makes officers feel as if they have to bring matters of justice into their own hands. Police brutality has turned into somewhat of a myth because of our court system not punishing them as according.

The police are our nation’s most visible law enforcement entity. We see them driving and walking our streets every day. They are responsible for the safety and well-being of the people. In some instances, they have to make life altering decisions in a blink of an eye. Because circumstances are always changing, police officers are given a decision-making power called police discretion. It is up to the officer to use this given power for right or wrong.

Working in law enforcement can bring in all types of characteristics. From a rookie to a veteran there are attitude changes and different ways things are looked at. Something that doesn’t change or at least shouldn’t change is the police personality. This paper will take a look at the police personalities and how it has effects on other parts of the police like the subculture.

The above study, proves that police officers show different characteristics, then they would to someone who was Caucasian. As mentioned formerly, it is almost as it is in the police officials ‘nature’; just like women may hold their purse a bit tighter when passing a man of colour on the street. It is set into our culture to be cautious of some individuals of a minority group, just like it is part of the police culture to use “extensive force”. Much like how it is part of the African American’s culture to be more cautious around police officers. Following the same point, African Americans may not feel safe in the hands of police officers, which may cause the distaste. “The internalization of negative Black stereotypes may be outside of his or her conscious awareness, the individual seeks to as simulate and be accepted by Whites, and actively or passively distances him/herself from other blacks.” (James, 2001, p.18) This statement shows evidence that it is hard-wired into minority groups inner brain to be cautious around people who are of high authority; especially if they are Caucasian. Based off of the on-going discrimination that is being brought upon them.

Cochran, J. C., & Warren, P. Y. (2012, May). Racial, Ethnic, and Gender Differences in Perceptions of the Police. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 28(2), 206-227.

The topic of police brutality has been an issue in America for many years, especially among minorities. When referring to ethnicity, most American citizens are white with European background. Therefore, the minorities include American citizens that include African, Hispanic, Asian, Arab, Indian, or native background. Although the amount of racism among citizens has decreased over years, prejudice, racial profiling, and stereotypes still exist. Hence it is a privilege to live in any society and be a part of the majority, which in the case of American citizens is to be white. Many police officers are also white, and most of the residents that live in inner cities are minorities, which has led to controversy, even in recent years. A common stereotype

Every time a police officers puts on his/her uniform his/her life becomes dangerous. They put their lives in harm’s way to protect the citizens of their town/city. Unfortunately, not every Officer lives to tell their story. Some of them die heroic deaths while others do not. These officers are a symbol of hope for some people, and a symbol of control and tyranny to others. Some honor their code, while others abuse their power, entirely. We all owe a great debt to those who die in the line of duty. In this paper I will be telling you about Chief of police, Steven Eric DiSario. Steven DiSario, was born in Salem, Ohio on February 2, 1979 and died Friday, May 12, 2017. The 38 year old was the Chief of Police in Kirkersville. Eric was married and had a

“I’m tired physically and emotionally. I swear to God I love this city, but I wonder if this city loves me. In uniform, I get nasty, hateful looks, and out of uniform some consider me as a threat (Grinberg, 2016).” Those were the words posted by on Facebook by Montrell Jackson, an African-American police officer in Louisiana a few days before his assassination. CNN, a popular news sources released actual photos of the screenshot of his Facebook post. Jackson was murdered in an ambush by a shooter on July 17, 2016. Gavin Long, the suspect, was also an African-American male. Evidence suggests that long was furious, outraged, and disappointed in the Criminal Justice system (Grinberg, 2016). As a result, Long decided to take matters into his own hands. This incident is proof that police officers are faced with hardships daily and they must always expect the unexpected. It is also proof that the Criminal Justice system could use improvement, but violence is not the answer. Saying that, police officers understand that the moment they put on their badge, their duty is to serve and protect. Many police departments are currently working on reconstructing their public image and public perceptions so that they can become more appealing (McNeeley & Grothoff, 2015). Although police officers may be often misunderstood and judged improperly, the correlation between racial

“According to The United States Department of Justice, the word identity theft means if someone were to wrongfully obtain and use another person’s personal information, for economic gain (USDOJ).” This is the literal definition, but the metaphorical type of identity theft is about judging or claiming a person for something they are not. Everyone has experienced this at some point in their life and has at least attempted to change the stereotype they were given.

Police sub-cultures are defined as a blue wall so to speak. It is an unspoken rule between law enforcement officers and their loyalty to each other. It is a bond that law enforcement officers form after working together for a long period of time. When the bond has been formed between law enforcement officers, their loyalty to each other is stronger than the sworn oath taken to become a police officer. This does not affect their agency’s code of ethics, but it affects their own morals.

When I think of issues concerning the police force, one of the first things that comes to mind is the distrust between police and the community. Another topic of concern deals with issues of racism. The media seems to constantly have a story concerning a police officer and a suspect of a minority. If I were a police chief, these would be the issues I tried to correct first. In order to correct these issues, I would focus on education and training of the police force. I believe that by focusing on these two aspects the most, legal risk can be minimized and public trust can be raised.

In recent years, society has heard cases of police brutality at an increasingly shocking rate, thus creating a sense of distrust among communities towards police officers and other authority figures. As the first line of defense against crimes such as home invasions or crimes against persons, police officers are expected to be an ally towards victims; however, it seems that society is now viewing officers as the perpetrators of crimes as opposed to the protectors. This has already posed an issue because community members are choosing not to seek police help when needed, and when they do decide to seek help, forgoing police assistance results in being uncertain of where else to go.

In every police department, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors are strongly influenced by its culture. This culture is primarily developed through a process of socialization, or beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors learned in interactions with peers and on the job experiences. Socialization has led to both an executive and police officer culture, each with its own perspective of the dilemma of means and ends. Police executives must, by necessity, be as concerned with the means of getting the job done as with the end results; police officers by contrast, tend to be more concerned with reality of the streets and the ends. Therefore, police executives must heed organizational priorities, policies, and procedures; that is doing the right thing in accordance with the rules. On the other hand, police officers may do the job according to the wisdom of the street, often acquired not from the organization 's view of reality but experiences and survival. Through this wisdom of the street, vocational subcultures and major characteristics evolve. A.B. Hollingshead provided the basic definition of a vocational subculture; "a group of specialists recognized by society, as well as by themselves, who possess an identifiable complex common culture, values, communication devices, techniques, and appropriate behavior patterns (Thibault, Lynch, & McBride, p.19, 2011). The major aspects of the police subculture are the three S 's; secrecy, solidarity, and social isolation. Characteristics

Attitudes, which are beliefs, feelings and behavioral tendencies towards groups (Hogg & Vaughn, 2012), are used to understand attitudes toward police. Understanding attitudes toward police contributes not only to an understanding of race relations in the U.S. but also to better understand citizens willingness to participate in community policing initiatives, which are designed to help residents and police officers put their differences aside to come together to help identify problems and come up with possible solutions to improve crime . Racial predispositions, social class, and intersectionality are theories that have been used in determining Americans’ attitudes toward the police (Schuck et al., 2008; Weitzer & Tuch, 2005; Cochran & Warren,