Police subculture – The effect on community policing – William Courtice
Relationships between employer and employee can arguably have significant impact on the outcome of corporate goals and initiatives (Rousseau, Ho & Greenberg, 2006). The dynamics of the relationship between police services and police officers are similar to civilian corporations; therefore the outcome of police initiatives are impacted both positively and negatively by that relationship. For the past 30 years, a shift from traditional styles of policing to a community-oriented style of policing has been occurring (Liederbach, Fritsch, Carter & Bannister, 2008, p.272); however, according to Chappell (2007) an underlying resistance to change has existed through a subculture
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Policing subculture and its impact will be discussed at three levels; the police officer as an individual, police officers as a group and lastly, police services as a whole.
The definition of community policing has been greatly debated; however, common principles exist within the many definitions (Rosenbaum & Lurigio, 1994, p.302). Skogan (1990) as cited by Rosenbaum & Lurigio, highlights two common principles which are that police are to be ‘responsive to citizens demands’ and that they are committed to helping neighbourhoods help themselves’ (p.92).
Police subculture has also been discussed at length by academics; subsequently varied definitions have been formed as a result. According to Chan as cited by Crank (2004) police subculture “is an umbrella term for a range of negative values and practices among police” (p.14).
Police officer as an individual – training and discretion
Training is arguably the responsibility of the police service; however, for the purpose of this paper it has been included in this section to address how training gleaned by the officer might be interpreted
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Although many police services have instituted changes, a number of studies have shown that many have not fully committed to a change (Chappell, 2009, p.8). Changes in command structure which would result in a flattening of hierarchy thus affording officers some autonomy is required as it relates to community policing (Chappell, 2009, p.7). A resistance to change within the subculture of policing, in this instance, reluctance to changing what has been traditionally paramilitary in design, furthers the negative impact on the progression of community
Society in general have showed the distrust, protests and many questions for the like hood of the police profession. The reputation of the police profession is that of the 6 pillars of policing in the modern world as outlined by the President’s Task Force on the 21st Century Policing, which sought to recommend steps forward. Under the banners of ‘Building Trust and Legitimacy’, ‘Policy and Oversight’, ‘Technology and Social Media’, ‘Community Policing and Crime Reduction’, ‘Officer Training and Education’, and ‘Officer Safety and Wellness’ – here are concise definitions for each one and what they mean for American policing ("Final report of the resident’s task force on 21st century policing," 2015).
The one way that I think police subculture helps prevent police misconduct; is by showing all these things that officers can have the traits of, but knowing when to act in those ways and not to. Basically it is the officers own discretion when to use to name a few; suspicion, us vs. them, common sense, or maybe even secrecy. It comes down to a time to when to use those and when it is not right to use those techniques. It give the officers a wide variety of ways to handle different situations as well. One way police subculture encourages police misconduct is when they say to be, moral superiority; you should never think you are more than someone, because in that case you may feel it is ok to give them charges that they haven't even committed.
The field of police work is constantly being forced to develop and improve its protocols, procedures, and practices in an effort to keep pace with the ever-changing society in which it operates and criminal behavior it seeks to eradicate. While the history of policing has been marked by substantial changes throughout time, the work of modern-day police officers and officials demonstrate some of the most substantial adaptations to its surrounding environment that the field has ever seen. In order to understand where the future of policing is heading, it is important to first understand these current trends that are affecting the current landscape of the profession. By
This movement called for reform across a wide range of social problems. This reform included a change in corruption of police agencies. The reform led to the era of Professionalism which focused on crime control and a more centralized police department (Bond, 2016). The police’s relationship with the community shifted from intimate too distant in efforts to create a professional environment. Communities began to negatively change there perspectives on the police.
A considerable number of research has been conducted over the past 40 years to understand police culture. A variety of terms have been used in reference to it including: ‘cop culture’ (Reiner, 2010:118), the ‘working personality’ of the police (Skolnick, 1966, 2010:15), the ‘police mind’ (Fielding & Fielding, 1991) and, ‘police sub-culture’ (Waddington, 1999). Research has shown that police culture influences officer’s attitudes, behaviors’ and work ethics (Scaramella et al., 2011); and the way officers perceive society and their role within it (Reiner, 2000). Schein (2004: 17) defines police culture as ‘A pattern of shared basic assumptions that was learned by a group as it solved its problems of external adaptation and internal integration, that has worked well enough to be considered valid and,
Although many may find community policing and problem-oriented policing to fall in the same category, there is (surprisingly) a difference between the two. For one, community policing has many definitions. For some, it means instituting foot and bicycle patrols and doing acts pertaining to the ideal bond between police officers and their community. While for others it means maintaining order and cleaning up neighborhoods in desperate need of repair (Dunham & Alpert, 2005). However, an idyllic definition of community policing is altering the traditional definition of crime control to community problem-solving and promising to transform the way police do their job. Within the past two decades, there has been much research on community
Well first and foremost we have the Political Era, this era which was from 1840s to the 1930s. Strengths of this era are common to what we strive for in community policing today, for example in this era the police sought out a very close relationship with the community. Because of the tith act, which required every male to enroll for police duty in a group of families within a community, the police had a lot of man power which was a tremendous benefit for the “wards” (Miller, L., Hess, K., & Orthmann, C. 2005). With the tithing system this established the principals of collective responsibility for maintaining local law and order within their community or “ward” (Miller & all). One of the most important strengths but also a weakness was that the police officers lived within the community in which they
The field of police work is constantly being forced to develop and improve its protocols, procedures, and practices in an effort to keep pace with the ever-changing society in which it operates and criminal behavior it seeks to eradicate. While the history of policing has been marked by substantial changes throughout time, the work of modern-day police officers and officials demonstrate some of the most substantial adaptations to its surrounding environment that the field has ever seen. In order to understand where the future of policing is heading, it is important to first understand these current trends that are affecting the current landscape of the profession. By
Police subculture is often a culture that is only known to police officers. It is an unwritten and an undocumented set of values and themes that all staff are aware of and can speak to (Jones, 2005). Because the subculture is so prevalent, and what the consequences entail if you defer from it, officers often do not make the proper moral or ethical decisions that should be made (Jones, 2005). The movie “Training Day” although it is dramatized it shines light on the reality of what happens behind the blue line.
This research project is an analysis of six scenarios. The scenarios are as follows: History and rolls of law enforcement in society, Levels of jurisdiction, Distinction among the multiple functions of Law enforcement agencies, Analysis of Historical events that have shaped modern policing practices, Ethical and professional behavior in the workplace, and Evaluation of how knowledge, skills, and attitude learned in this course apply to your chosen career. There will also be a summary of reactions on Ethical and professional behavior in the work place. Included in the second section, there will be six scenarios. The responses will incorporate knowledge of
Community-Oriented Policing involves giving the Community it serves a voice in how the Police Department a voice, a powerful voice in the daily operations. In the traditional model of Policing, the police drive policy and methodology while the community has few options if they are dissatisfied with the level of service aside from legal suits and political pressure. Recent police involved shootings and excessive force allegations across the United States involve various Police Departments claiming to have implemented Community-Oriented Policing have still resulted in public displeasure. I am going to compare three metropolitan police departments: Chicago, New York City and Houston who are all listed in our textbook Oliver, 2008 as having Community-Oriented Police programs and compare how they address Use of Force issues at the various departments and how effectively they involve the Communities they serve.
In his view, the subculture itself, characterizes the public as hostile, potentially violent, and not to be trusted; which requires mutual support, secrecy and unity from the police (Scaramella et al , 2010, 99). The same subculture of police will deteriorate the sense of community from officers in favor for views and beliefs within the police services. Soon after minority police officers are hired into the police services, they begin to shape around police culture. Minority police officers can adopt an attitude that complies with existing police culture in order to succeed in the job and detach themselves from the community in favor of "professionalism." (Ben-Porat, 2008, 16). Police efforts to recruit minorities to stop under-policing and over-policing are in fact diminished by police culture. Although the police services may seem like they are creating a better image for themselves, the police culture itself is hindering minorities from relating to and changing their minority groups. Police culture is the main reason behind police acting and viewing minorities the way they do. Furthermore, the changing of police culture doesn’t come from the hiring of minorities but rather the changing of police services themselves. Training the police to be
After reviewing the facts of the Rixton case study I assessed the primary issues were pertaining to the development of two distinct subcultures in the police department and lack of authority from the city’s police chief. Due to the police chief’s hands-off approach to leadership, officers are unaware of his policies and procedures, and they conducted police functions utilizing their own discretion (Cordner, 2016). Let us examine how the Rixton Police Department’s organizational dysfunction allowed for these actions to occur beginning with their chief of police.
The United States of America has evolved over time with its policing methods and bringing order to the society. The whole idea of policing has also evolved from political, economic, and social norms. In order to better understand the role of police officers and their place in society, we have learned about the history of policing in class. The history of policing has been already split into three different categories- The Political Era (1840- 1930), The Reform/Professional Era (1930-1980), and The Community Era (1980-Present). These three eras have shaped the history of policing to what it is now.
Community policing is a policy and a strategy aimed at achieving more effective and efficient crime control, reduced fear of crime, improved quality of life, improved police services and police legitimacy, through a proactive reliance on community resources that seeks to change crime causing conditions. This assumes a need for greater accountability of police, greater public share in decision-making and greater concern for civil rights and liberties.