6.2: Police Role
- Page ID
- 48213
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Police Role
Many individuals have already formed an opinion of what officers do during a typical shift by watching television or movies. Most television shows and other form of media get very creative in describing the police role so as to keep the audience interested. Often when students do a ride along with a police department they are surprised about the meetings, the amount of paperwork, and how much time there is between activities on the shift. It is definitely not nonstop action unlike the television shows.
The actual police role could probably be best thought of as a continuum. On the low end of the continuum would be actions that the police officer takes that are very much like social work such as reminding the juvenile that it is almost time for curfew and they need to head home. An important task for the safety of the youth and the neighborhood but is not really a “bad boys” scenario. On the other end of the spectrum would be active crime-fighting like a robbery in progress. One of the challenges in law enforcement is that as you approach a situation you never know which it is going to be and to protect yourself and others you often assume the worst.
Even when performing routine activities such as a traffic stop you may notice the cautiousness of the officer in approaching your vehicle. This cautiousness is needed because while it may be as simple as handing out a ticket the situation may be complex for instance there may be a kidnap victim in the car or the individuals were speeding away from the scene of the crime and they have evidence in view within the car. It can be stressful never knowing quite what to expect.
When responding to calls such as domestic disputes this can be a dangerous situation as well. The individuals are probably highly agitated at the moment and will not be happy to see a law enforcement officer. It is not unusual that even the victim will act aggressive toward the law enforcement officer who is trying to help them. All law enforcement officers need to approach situations with caution.
Typically, today a law enforcement officer needs to bring a variety of skill sets to the tasks at hand. While the Academy will train the individual in law enforcement techniques many of the calls actually require other skills as well. Thus, a modern law enforcement professional needs to be able to combine skills in law enforcement, crisis management, the ability to provide referral services, and basic human relation and people skills. When an officer asks professionally and is regarded positively in the community, their own self image about their capabilities improves. When officers work in communities that do not respect law enforcement, sometimes despite the best efforts of those officers, this stress and dangerousness encountered daily can affect police performance and eventually their concept of police professionalism.