Police roles in community policing and constitutional constraints

Policing Roles

What is the role of police in society? What would happen if the role of the police were lessened as it applies to the theory and practice of community policing?

Generally, the most important roles that police play in civilized society are that of criminal deterrence (Schmalleger, 2009). More specifically, the public awareness of the presence and authority of law enforcement deters most members of the population from criminal conduct that they might otherwise consider if there were no negative consequences. In community policing, police serve a much wider role than criminal deterrence, prevention, and response (Schmalleger, 2009). Modern police also play important roles in ensuring public order and public safety, as well as in addressing contemporary counterterrorism (Schmalleger, 2009). They maximize opportunities to work with proactive members of the community to establish and maintain positive and mutually beneficial relationships (Ellison, 2006). If the role of police were lessened within a community policing framework, there would be a certain loss of beneficial coordination between police and civilians and it would undermine certain programs that depend on those relationships (Ellison, 2006).

How do daily issues such as probable cause affect police from a legal standpoint? How can these issues be improved to aid police organizations in combating crime?