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Policing: Issues & Challenges

Policing: Issues & Challenges. “The police are the public & the public are the police.” Sir Robert Peel, 1829. police personality & culture. Streetwise – 1. know policy 2. how to get job done Police working personality 1. some have it upon hire 2. develop over time. Police Personality.

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Policing: Issues & Challenges

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  1. Policing: Issues & Challenges “The police are the public & the public are the police.” Sir Robert Peel, 1829

  2. police personality & culture • Streetwise – • 1. know policy • 2. how to get job done • Police working personality • 1. some have it upon hire • 2. develop over time

  3. Police Personality

  4. Changing police subculture • External pressures • 1. new hiring practices • 2. investigate corruption • 3. investigate abuse of authority

  5. Abuse of police authority for personal or organizational gain 1. power 2. authority 3. discretion Abuse of authority – further organizational goals of police Occupational deviance – motivated by personal gain corruption & integrity

  6. Levels of Corruption

  7. police deviance Unprofessional conduct / miss-use of position / improper behavior / racial & sexual harassment / insubordination

  8. slippery slope of corruption Acceptance of small gratuities / lead to acceptance of larger bribes

  9. Grass Eating Illegitimate activity which occurs from time to time in the normal course of police work. Most common form of corruption. Includes gratuities, minor bribes, playing favorites, intentional speeding, etc. Meat Eating Active seeking of illicit money-making opportunities by officers. More serious form of corruption. Includes major bribes, role malfeasance, committing crimes, protecting corrupt officers, denying civil rights, committing physical abuse. Knapp Commission on Police Corruption The Knapp Commission distinguished between two types of corrupt officers: grass eaters and meat eaters.

  10. Rampart Scandal - LA • Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums (CRASH) – corruption • Consent Decree – reform forced by federal government • Paid out $70,000,000

  11. police ethics Adherence to moral duty & obligation inherent in police work

  12. internal affairs Police division which investigates police wrongdoings

  13. police drug testing Federal Rehabilitation Act – 1973 drug & alcohol addictions are handicaps counseling & treatment termination – final resort

  14. Dangers of Police Work: Officer Deaths in 2003 Based on data from the Officer Down Memorial Page. Website: http://www.odmp.org

  15. Bodily fluids Blood borne Pathogens Act – ’91 1. police training 2. required refresher course Areas of concern for police 1. education 2. responsibilities of police 3. continue life saving efforts Disease & Infection

  16. Stress

  17. Results of stress Frustration Suicide Family support

  18. Stress reduction

  19. Police use of force • Excessive force – amount of force used greater than necessary • Unlawful use of force – force used was so great – result – violation of law • Force factor – compares suspect’s level of resistance with officer’s use of force (chart)

  20. Police Use of Force Source: Patrick A. Langan et al., Contacts between Police and Public. (Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics, February 2001), p. 25.

  21. Police Use of Force by Type of Encounter Source: International Association of Chiefs of Police. Police Use of Force in America, 2001.

  22. Problem police officer Problem behavior supported by High rate of citizen complaints Excessive force complaints Additional factors

  23. Tennessee v Garner Eliminates “fleeing felon rule” Case by case

  24. Deadly force criteria: USSC “shock the conscience” “disregard of human life”

  25. Suicide by cop • 1. direct confrontation • 2. disturbed intervention • 3. criminal intervention

  26. Less than lethal force • 1. stun guns • 2. tasers • 3. less than lethal ammo • 4. pepper spray

  27. profiling Racial – unconstitutional Original use: drug couriers Exception: terrorism

  28. Civil liability • Potential responsibility for payment of damages as a result of a ruling in a law suit. • State / federal • Supervisors held responsible for subordinates

  29. Major Sources of Police Civil Liability • Failure to protect property in police custody • Failure to render proper emergency medical assistance • Failure to aid private citizens • False arrest • False imprisonment • Inappropriate use of deadly force • Unnecessary assault or battery • Negligence in the care of suspects in police custody. • Failure to prevent a foreseeable crime • Patterns of unfair and inequitable treatment • Malicious prosecution • Violations of constitutional rights • Racial profiling

  30. “Bivens Action” Lawsuit against federal government Denying constitutional rights to a citizen

  31. “qualified immunity” Shields “reasonable” law enforcement officers from civil liability if they believe their actions lawful

  32. Criminal liability Officers can be criminally charged for overstepping their bounds

  33. Cultural awareness training • 1. clarify relationship b/w cultural awareness & police training • 2. recognizing personal prejudices • 3. sensitivity to police-community relations • 4. develop interpersonal relations skills

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