The four roles of police officers in modern policing

¶ … Roles & Duties of Police Officers

In movies and television, police officers are often seen in pursuit of criminals. Local news stories also show them engaged in car chases, or apprehending the bad guys. These media portrayals have contributed to a public perception of police officers as crime fighters. However, while these portrayals are correct in acknowledging this important role, the media also tends to overshadow the other equally important roles of police officers.

This paper therefore takes a look at all four roles of police officers - as crime fighters, crime preventers, maintainers of social order, and finally as social servants. It gives examples of how police officers continue to fill these important roles.

Maintaining order

A large part of the role of police officers falls under the category of maintaining order. When social conditions are at an optimum level - such as low or controlled levels of crime - it is vital to ensure that the status quo is maintained. As the Broken Windows theory of crime states, if social order deteriorates as seen in conditions such as an increasing number of broken windows in the community, then more serious criminal activities are sure to follow.

This idea that of preventing social deterioration continues to guide police officers in cities like Boston. In addition to addressing violent crime, Boston police officers also make arrests for crimes such as loitering, vandalism, and spraying graffiti. With the football season well underway, undercover police officers are also be dispatched to crack down on underage drinkers and on bars who continue serving patrons who are drunk. The police officers will also keep a close eye on individuals who buy large quantities of beer kegs, to ensure that liquor is not served to minors over the game weekend (Radin 2007).

Critics of this program say that going after "small" infractions diverts resources away from addressing more serious crimes, those that involve firearms, drugs, and violence, for example. However, maintaining order has traditionally been an integral aspect of policing, one that is unfortunately not given enough exposure in the media today.

Crime fighter

Unfortunately, despite these best efforts, no community is totally free from crime. Large urban areas in particular have shown an increase in violent and drug-related crimes. When these crimes happen, police officers are tasked with ensuring that the perpetrators are apprehended, so that they are prevented from engaging in more criminal activity, and so that justice could be meted out.

This role is seen in the amount of resources that the Los Angeles Police Department devotes towards responding to gang-related criminal activities.

Last month, the Harbor Gateway area of Los Angeles reeled from the killing of 14-year-old Cheryl Green, an African-American resident who wandered into the Latino territory of the area. Two members of the 204th Street Gang were quickly arrested and charged with Green's murder (McGreevey and Winton 2007).

The task of fighting crime, however, does not end with these arrests. Los Angeles Police Commissioner William Bratton also announced a Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca recently announced plans for the "strategic dismantling" of the area street gangs, whose rivalries resulted in Green's death. This involves active investigations into the actions of the 204th Street Group and its African-American counterpart, the Eastside Torrance gang. These include undercover and intelligence work to verify the identities of gang members. Law enforcement officials then plan to use injunctions and other legal measures, to either exempt gang members from early-release programs and to prevent their massing on street corners (McGreevey and Winton 2007).

Social servants

It takes more than an active police department, however, to keep a community safe from crime.

A strong partnership with social institutions, community groups, and private individuals is also the key. One important role of police officers is to act as social servants, as partners with the community towards the common goal of public safety.

This task often involves an active helping aspect and can best be seen in areas such as patrolling and community policing. The Foot and Bike Patrol section of the San Antonio Police Department, for example, is one such example. In addition to being a visible deterrent to potential criminals, these patrol offices also serve as approachable sources of assistance for the civilians. San Antonio, after all, is the location of the Alamo, an attraction that draws a large number of tourists and visitors to the downtown and Riverwalk area. The bike and foot patrol officers are able to mingle more readily with the crowds, mediate between disputes, direct traffic, or even just answer questions and give directions. They also often get to know local residents and business owners intimately, and are therefore more able to perceive threats and danger (San Antonio Police Official Website).

In conclusion, media portrayals often concentrate only on police officers as crime fighters. However, the roles of social servant, crime preventers and maintainers of social order are equally as important to maintaining the safety of a community.