Law Enforcement and Hiring Laws
Types of Policing
Community policing primarily consists of law enforcement through police patrol and presence. Problem oriented policing is very similar to community policing, except that instead of merely patrols actions are directed to address a specific problem. A problem oriented policing response is exemplified by increased patrols at problem traffic intersections or enforcement of pedestrian crossing from speeding traffic. Problem oriented policing is noted to have reduced burglaries in Newport News, Virginia (Walker & Katz, 2008, p. 340). Both community and problem oriented policing is aimed at developing trust and interaction with local communities, in which the contributing social factors that contribute to crime is countered.
The potential shortcoming of community policing is the reality that studies have shown it does not necessarily reduce crime, but does improve the perception of safe neighborhoods (Walker & Katz, 2008, p. 321). In the case of problem oriented policing patrols temporarily reduce criminal activity, but once actions cease the crime returns (Walker & Katz, 2008, p. 340)
Zero-tolerance policing is characterized as crime fighting, in which resources are deployed to counter undesirable activity and is generally an aggressive use of police activity (Walker & Katz, 2008, pp. 343-345). Zero-tolerance policing was most notably used to clean up the streets of New York City (Walker & Katz, 2008, p. 345).
Community policing, all things being equal, stands the best chance of effectiveness because it develops a working...
367). The theory asserted that officers delivered an equal force level to that of the suspect they encountered. The research aggregates and generalizes police interactions with citizens, yet each officer and engagement is uniquely defined by the environment and situations.
Courtesy and professionalism displayed by an officer is most apt to result in an equal level from the suspect in question. Ideally the officer matches the aggression level to the suspect or slightly less, so that situations are not escalated. The danger of studies that characterize police behavior as aggressive may predispose the community to harbor animosity towards officers that may be prone to escalate a situation.
Police Discretion
The issue of police discretion pertains to the free use of critical thinking by an officer to ascertain when an arrest is warranted and not in situations that are not blatantly a transgression of the law. In ideal scenarios, free police discretion enables police to be an agent for the community that solves problems with the least need for force or arrests. However, excessive police discretion opens opportunities for officers to step beyond what society or leadership would find acceptable. Officers without sufficient…
