Chapter 7 – Policing America: Issues and Ethics

1. Chapter 7 – Policing America: Issues and Ethics

2. Public Attitudes Toward the Police What do people think of the police? • It depends on: • whom you ask • people’s prior experience

3. Qualities of a Successful Police Officer Police officers require a rare combination of qualities and abilities: • Motivation for a police career • Normal self-assertiveness • Emotional stability under stress • Sensitivity toward minority groups and social deviates continued…

4. Qualities of a Successful Police Officer • Collaborative leadership skills • A mature relationship with social authority • Flexibility • Integrity and honesty • An active and outgoing nature

5. Qualities of a Successful Police Officer Particularly important qualities are known as the three I’s of police selection. Nearly as important are common sense and compassion.

6. three I’s of police selection Three qualities of the American police officer that seem to be of paramount importance are intelligence, integrity, and interaction skills.

7. The Police Selection Process • In many communities, selection of police officers is through a merit system. • Officers employed under such a system are hired and tenured (theoretically) if they meet and maintain the employment qualifications and performance standards. • They cannot be fired without cause.

8. merit system A system of employment whereby an independent civil service commission, in cooperation with the city personnel section and the police department, sets employment qualifications, performance standards, and discipline procedures.

9. The Police Selection Process The police officer selection process often includes: • Short application • Detailed application, including complete work history, references, and medical profile • Medical examination continued…

10. The Police Selection Process • Physical agility test • Written examination • Background investigation • Psychological testing • Oral interview

11. The Police Selection Process The final steps of selection are: • Academy training • Probation, usually between six months and one year, which includes formal field training

12. Issues in Policing Many areas of policing remain topics of debate, particularly: • Discretion • Use of force • Police corruption

13. Discretion No list of policies and procedures could possibly guide police officers through all the situations in which they find themselves. Police routinely must use their own discretion. The issue of police discretion is very controversial, particularly because some officers abuse their discretion.

14. discretion The exercise of individual judgment, instead of formal rules, in making decisions.

15. Patrol Officer Discretion Patrol officers routinely use their discretion in deciding: • Where to patrol when not answering radio calls • Whom to stop and question • Which traffic violators to stop • To ignore a minor violation in pursuit of something more serious

16. Patrol Officer Discretion • Patrol officers cannot provide full enforcement. • Instead, police officers usually practice selective enforcement.

17. Factors Affecting Discretion A number of significant factors affect discretion: • The nature of the crime • Departmental policies • The relationship between the victim and the offender • The amount of evidence available continued…

18. Factors Affecting Discretion • The preference of the victim • The demeanor of the suspect • The legitimacy of the victim • Socioeconomic status of the complainant

19. Discretion and Racial Profiling Racial profilingis of growing concern to law enforcement officials and to the public. Often stops are “justified” by minor equipment or moving traffic violations that might otherwise be ignored. At the root of the practice is racial stereotyping.

20. Discretion and Racial Profiling Methods aimed at stopping racial profiling include: • Racial and cultural diversity training • Strong discipline for errant officers • Videotaping of all traffic stops continued…

21. Discretion and Racial Profiling • Collecting data on the race of stopped motorists and pedestrians and the disposition of the encounter • Having police officers distribute business cards to all motorists and pedestrians they stop

22. Factors Limiting Discretion Several methods are employed to control the amount of discretion exercised by police officers: • Close supervision • Policies covering behavior in certain situations, such as the use of force • The threat of civil liability lawsuits

23. Excessive Force Police use force in order to control suspects. These encounters have caused police to sometimes use excessive force.

24. excessive force A measure of coercion beyond that necessary to control participants in a conflict.

25. Excessive Force The persistent use of excessive force by the police: • is unethical and criminally illegal. • exposes the police to criminal and civil prosecution. • builds up resentment by citizens against police. • costs law enforcement agencies millions of dollars in legal damages.

26. Deadly Force In 1985, the U.S. Supreme Court greatly restricted the conditions under which police can use deadly force. Tennessee v. Garner

27. Deadly Force • The officer must believe that: • The crime for which the arrest is made involved conduct including the use or threatened use of deadly force. • There is substantial risk that the person to be arrested will cause death or serious bodily harm if his apprehension is delayed.

28. Police Corruption Nothing is more distasteful to the public than a police officer or a whole department gone bad. Throughout history, police officers have bought their positions and promotions, sold protection, and ignored violations of the law for money.

29. Police Corruption Why is policing so susceptible to corruption? • Police have authority to enforce law. • Police also have the discretion to not enforce the law. • Police receive relatively low pay, but have important responsibilities. • Police become cynical about the courts’ soft treatment of criminals. • Society in general is ambivalent about vice.

30. Types of Corruption The Knapp Commission in 1972 identified two kinds of corrupt officers: • “Grass eaters” • “Meat eaters”

31. grass eaters Officers who occasionally engage in illegal and unethical activities, such as accepting small favors, gifts, or money for ignoring violations of the law during the course of their duties. meat eaters Officers who actively seek ways to make money illegally while on duty.

32. Types of Corruption Ellwyn Stoddard identified a more complete list of police misconduct: • Bribery: accepting cash or gifts in exchange for nonenforcement of the law. • Chiseling: demanding discounts, free admission, and free food. • Extortion: the threat of enforcement and arrest if a bribe is not given. continued…

33. Types of Corruption • Favoritism: giving breaks on law enforcement to family and friends. • Mooching: accepting free food, drinks, and admission to entertainment. • Perjury: lying for other officers apprehended in illegal activity. • Prejudice: unequal enforcement of the law with respect to racial and ethnic minorities. • Premeditated theft: planned burglaries and theft. continued…

34. Types of Corruption • Shakedown: taking items form the scene of a theft or a burglary. • Shopping: taking small, inexpensive items from a crime scene.

35. Controlling Corruption Some of the ways to control and reduce corruption in policing are: • High moral standards • Police policies and discipline • Proactive internal affairs investigations unit • Uniform enforcement of the law • Outside review and special prosecutors • Court review and oversight