© 2003 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 1 Chapter 6 Police Management.

© 2003 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 1

Chapter 6

Police Management


Styles of Policing

• watchman style• legalistic style• service style


Watchman Style:• order maintenance• controlling illegal and

disruptive behavior• considerable use of

discretion

Styles of Policing


Styles of Policing

Legalistic Style:

• committed to enforcing the letter of the law

• “laissez-faire” policing


Styles of PolicingService Style:• reflect the needs of

the community• work with social services

and assist communities in solving problems


Police-Community Relations

• 1960’s – A new style of service oriented policing emerged.

• Public-relations officers are appointed to “Neighborhood Watch” programs, drug-awareness workshops, etc.


• strategic policing

• problem-solving policing

• community-oriented policing

Police-Community Relations


Contemporary Policing

The Individual OfficerThe Individual Officer

Considerable discretion based on many factors including:

• background of the officer

• characteristics of the suspect

• department policy

• community interest


Issues and ChallengesIssues and Challenges

• police stress

• on the job dangers

• use of deadly force

• public expectations surrounding

the enforcement of laws

• societal change

Contemporary Policing


Police PersonalityJerome Skolnick

Justice without Trial (1966)Process of informal socializationthat includes six recognizable characteristics:

•conservative •cynical •hostile

•authoritarian•suspicious•individualistic


Police CultureWilliam Westly (1953)

Police have their own:

• customs• laws• morality


Working Personality

All aspects of the traditional values and patterns of behavior evidenced by police officers who have been effectively socialized into the police subculture.


Working Personality

Characteristics of the police

personality often extend to the personal lives of law enforcement officers.


Corruption and Integrity

Power, authority, and discretion produce great potential for abuse.


Corruption is the abuse of police authority for personal or organizational gain.

Corruption and Integrity


Corruption

Grass Eaters:

• most common form of corruption

• illegitimate activity which occurs from time to time in the normal

course of police work


Grass EatersGratuitiesGratuities Playing FavoritesPlaying Favorites

not giving a friend a ticket


Minor BribesMinor Bribes

Intentional SpeedingIntentional Speeding

Grass Eaters


Corruption

• more serious form of corruption

• active seeking of illicit money-making opportunities by officers

Meat Eaters:


Role Malfeasance

Major Bribes

Meat Eaters


Meat Eaters• protecting “corrupt” cops• property crimes committed by

police• burglary• theft• criminal enterprises• resale of confiscated drugs• resale of stolen property


Meat Eaters• denying civil rights• specific acts prevent due

process• violent crimes committed by

police• physical abuse of suspects• nonjustifiable homicide


Integrity Promoting police integrity by:• integrating police ethics

training into programs• conducting research in the

area of ethics• studying departments that are

models in the area of police

ethics


Drug Testing of Police Employees

National Institute of Justice - 1986

• 33 large police departments were sampled.

• Almost all departments had written procedures to test employees who were reasonably suspected

of drug abuse.


• 73 % of the departments were testing recruits.

• 21 % were considering testing all officers.

Drug Testing of Police Employees


Dangers in Police Work


Risk of Disease

• AIDS• Hepatitis B• Tuberculosis


Possible Ways of Transmission• from breath alcohol instruments • handling evidence of all types• handling implements such as

staples• emergency delivery of a baby• risk of bite attacks by infected

individuals• body removal

Risk of Disease


Stress• normal component

of police work

• ranks among top ten stress producing jobs in United States


Serious stress over long periods can be destructive and life threatening.

Stress


Four Types• external• organizational• personal• operational

Stress


Stress: ExternalReal dangers when

answering calls:Real dangers when

answering calls:

• fights in progress• possible gun play• hostage situations• high speed car

chases


Stress: Organizationalgenerated by factors like paperwork, training requirements, and testifying in court


Stress: Personalinterpersonal

relationships among officers


Stress: Operational

impact of the need to combat tragedies

of daily urban life


Stress/Frustration• Reality is far

from ideal.

• An arrest may not lead to conviction.


• Evidence may not be admissible.

• Jury may acquit. • Sentences may not be long enough.

Stress/Frustration


Police become frustrated bythe inability to be effective, regardless of the amount of personal effort they put forth.

Stress/Frustration


The suicide rate for police officers is twice that of thegeneral population.

Stress/Frustration


1983 Lawsuits

Title 42, Section 1983• passed by Congress in 1871• allows for civil suits to be

brought against anyone [including police] for denying others their constitutional rights to life, liberty or property without due process


Police Use of Force

use of physical restraint by a police officer when dealing with a member of the public


Imminent Danger Standard

restricts the use of deadly force to ONLY those situations where the lives of agents or others are in danger

© 2003 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 1 Chapter 6 Police Management.

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Transcript of © 2003 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 1 Chapter 6 Police Management.