Racial Profiling Issues

Global Issues: Racial Profiling

Review of Subject

Police officers may enforce the law with a zero tolerance policy and utilize a crime fighter approach in cities known for high crime activities; however, there are several criteria that must be met before use of force is applied. All police actions must conform to departmental policies and procedures, and apprehensions of suspects must be executed with only reasonable force to effect an arrest. Racial profiling a specific ethnic group because they are known to commit crimes is unjustified, and it does not constitute as probable cause to detain an individual.

This case study will briefly examine the controversial issue of racial profiling, which often places police officers in a bind of negative

233). Studies from Peak et al. (2010) further indicate that bias base policing occurs mainly towards minorities and is racially insensitive (p. 233). Similar studies from Pollock (2014) revealed that men of color express more “distrust in the police because they fear force may be used on them due to their ethnicity and color” (p. 138). The notion previously stated by Pollock (2014) raised many questions about police ethics and morals, powers of discretion and pre-conceived discrimination, and prejudices that society has bestowed on individuals of minority background. Pollock (2014) conducted a study in thirty-three cities across the Unites States regarding discrimination, and found that race and age were strong indicators of why police conduct bias base policing (p. 139). Statistics indicate that 78% of whites said they had positive encounters with the police, and also have great confidence that the police will do a great job serving the public; whereas, 38% of Blacks expressed their distrust and stated they had negative experiences with the police (Pollock,

Hollywood and social media has blown the police subculture way out of proportion, portraying police officers as crooked cops who abuse their authoritative powers and beats every suspect they encounter during their tour of duty. Critics who are opposed to law enforcement services can argue that a police organization is nothing but a bunch of racist, power hunger, and trigger happy individuals. On the other hand, supporters of law enforcement will work cooperatively with the department in order to prevent crime, enforce the law, preserve the peace, and provide a safe environment (Houston Police Department General Orders, 2012). Studies from Wine (2014) revealed that “black and white officers were equally likely to shoot African-American suspects” (para. 6). When a police officer (white or black officer), conducts a routine traffic stop, and the officer immediately observes the driver of the vehicle pointing a handgun directly at him, the officer does not have time to ponder about the suspect’s skin color, and decide whether to discharge his firearm or not. Crime has no culture or ethnicity, and crime is committed by all people of shape, size, age and