Week Four: Critical Thinking Assignment
Do you think that this chapter (8) has accurately described the police personality? Why or why not? Can you identify any additional characteristics of the police personality? Are there any listed here that you do not think are accurate?
Police working personality is defined with the following terms: “authoritarian, conservative, cynical, dogmatic, efficient, honorable, hostile, individualistic, insecure, loyal, prejudiced, secret, [and] suspicious” (Schmalleger, 2015, p. 242). As I studied the norms for police culture this week, I found myself envisioning a rigid yet just, paternal-centric definition of officer. However, what I fail to see is the balance of empathy, care, respect, communicator, teacher, and selflessness often noted as successful characteristics of members of the force. Given that these terms were established in the 1960s offers a clue for the gaps – the impacts of females in law enforcement norms.
Lonsway et al. (2002) underline this misbalance noting, “… women accounted for only 12.7% of all sworn law
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Police subculture may, however, be changed through external pressures, such as new hiring practices, investigations into police corruption or misuse of authority, and commission reports that create pressures for police reform” (Schmalleger, 2015, p. 243). The integration of new technology, both on the side of the public (think Facebook Live and smart phone video recordings) are already making a huge impact questioning the regular negative behaviors of policing. I also believe that situational training of officers, and stronger consequences for officers who demonstrate poor behaviors, need to be in place and upheld by leadership. Frankly, it should not just be the judicial system that puts an impactful spotlight on bad behavior, but internal processes which give no excuse for poor
I would like to receive clarification on the what is meant by Bethan Loftus in Police Occupation Culture with the reference he made to the work of Skolnick who understood “police conservatism as a cultural response to the uniqueness of the job"(107). I understand this concept of police officers committing to traditional values as they are in line with many of the rules they must enforce. Although, I don’t understand why the cultural response of police officer isn’t one of a more liberal nature. The unique component of the job of a police officer is having to deal with a consistently developing and progressing society; as our laws change so do the people. I don’t understand why the conservative mentality has continued over the years as
Police culture involves a set of standards and rules that have grown through the experience of officers and which are affected by the atmosphere in which they work. Police officers are brought into this “cop culture” from the beginning of their careers that started at the academies they attended. Police officers are more likely to cover up certain kinds of mistakes made by fellow police officers. Some police officers feel that the code is appropriate in cases of illegal brutality or twisting of the rules in order to protect other officers from criminal accounts, but not those of illegal activities with a greedy
The sheriff’s high scores for pleasure-enhancing and actively modifying means he has a strong tendency to look on the bright side of life and takes charge of his life and are “busily involved in… arranging events to suit their needs and desires.” He is fairly balanced between self-indulging and other nurturing (55/68), but he does favor other-nurturing, meaning he wants to attend to other people’s welfare and desires, but does still have the desire to fulfill himself first. The need to help others would be a factor in being a good law enforcement officer. In terms of thinking styles, he is strongly externally focused, realistic/sensing, thought-guided, and conservation-seeking.
Racial profiling is defined as “The use of race or ethnicity as grounds for suspecting someone of having committed a crime”. (Oxford Dictionaries | English, Oxford Dictionaries.) For the long history that is The United States of America and even in present day we still see racial profiling. In the past few years even with large media presence on certain cop related incidence or the unfair sentencing of one due to their race we have started to see a change from those within the criminal justice system as well as the citizens of this country, standing up for what is right and just.
Sam Freeman Jr Introduction to Criminal Justice Ethics (CJUS261) Professor Umeki Ramsey Unit 1 – Discussion Board 2 November 18, 2015 Police officers sole purpose in the United States is to protect and serve the county, city municipality, and state government to ensure that the law is being upheld by everybody within them. Peace officers assume a focal part in the law authorization framework. They screen criminal movement, tune in group watches, react to crisis calls, issue tickets, make captures, examine violations and affirm in court as required. It is no secret that the United States inherited much of Great Britain governmental institutions. In the Bible, Jesus says “to whom much is given, much will be required” (Luke 12:48).
Male officers have also stated negative remarks about female officers who work in Law Enforcement. These barriers have caused female police officers to resign from their positions to avoid any issues and because gender discrimination and the other complaints aren’t taken seriously in Law enforcement. By the females constantly compared to the male police officers has caused stress on them. It’s much harder for woman to advance in Law enforcement than men and when interviewers make their decisions they are more than likely choose men over women. It is important to think critically when dealing with the barriers discussed above because it can be challenging and cause someone to give up and quit.
Although the first female policewoman was back in 1890, they now make up approximately 15% of the police force. A study in Washington D.C. found that “Women patrol officers tended to be more effective than their male counterparts in avoiding violence and defusing potentially violent situations” (Women in Law Enforcement). Men could tend to react quicker than women which would contribute to this result. We currently have 4 female police officers in my department, with an additional female officer that recently retired. Although women are underrepresented in the higher ranks, one of the officers is the K9 handler for our department.
Chapter 8: What’s Next?? Police corruption isn’t a nuance of media induced concerns. Instead it is a major issue in police departments across the world.
As a serving officer I WILL keep my private life separate from my life as a police officer. To keep a bold face in the presence of danger, displeasure, or mocking; create patience; and be always aware of the welfare of others. Fair in thought and deed in both my own and authorial life, I will be praiseworthy in complying with the traditions that must be adhered to and the controls of my Department. Whatever I see or know about a private nature or that is trusted in me in my official limit will be kept ever mystery unless disclosure is essential in the execution of my obligation. I WILL never act impertinently or allow individual preferences, hostilities or companionships to impact my choices.
A career in policing requires an individual to meet a high standard for character and demonstrated behavior, in order to be developed into an effective officer. Succeeding in a police academy requires the candidate to display and apply integrity, a skill which must be developed before receiving admission. Integrity demonstrated through a police officer’s personal life, provides the foundation for a respected career. When presented with the opportunity to leverage a peace officer’s position for personal profit, an individual who has previously made selfless choices, is more reliable for operating within the law. Integrity as a term has the social implication of following ones beliefs, regardless of the opposition.
Many police agencies today have established a code of ethics, or codes of conduct, and it easy to find parallels between Peel’s principles and present policies and
The professional or reform era ascended due to the impact of the steps taken to separate police works from the influence of local politicians (Kelling & Moore, 1989). Even though time has carried us to the community era of policing, still corruption is a serious challenge for effective policing. Some police officers do not even understand what an act of corruption is, while others rationalize
Today my class had the opportunity to ask a police officer questions and based off his answers we had to determine what style of policing he was most associated with. Based on the series of questions asked and the answers Officer Consoli gave, I’d say he fits into two of the four basic styles of policing. The first style I think he fits in is The social agent. He easily fits the description of someone who is happy to work with special needs kids and school kids.
There are both congruent characteristics and contrary characteristics as pertaining to the philosophy of community policing and the characteristics of police applicants. The easy way to see the differences and similarities is by defining both the philosophy of community policing and the characteristics of police applicants. Our text describes both subjects and those descriptions are below: Community policing the first substantive reform in the American police institution since it embraced the professional model nearly century ago. It is a dramatic change in the philosophy that determines the way police agencies engage the public.
When it comes to having and being able to maintain a strong moral code, front line patrol officers are the perfect example of what law enforcement requires. To ensure front line patrol officers maintain a strong moral code, they must be able to keep their integrity on and off duty. Officers should have this characteristic before they are hired and should be open for the police academy to repair and strengthen them. Law enforcement requires not only physical strength within the policing work field but also strength within one’s values and their ethical as well as moral beliefs. ‘’Values is the term given to those ideas, behaviors, and actions that are important to us.