THE BASICS: HISTORY, ROLE, FUNCTION, AND STRUCTURE POLICING THE BASICS: HISTORY, ROLE, FUNCTION, AND STRUCTURE

POLICING BASICS ~18,000 LE agencies today Jurisdiction – geographic area where police have authority (municipality, county, state) Jurisdiction – duties officers can perform Division of geographic jurisdiction: federal, state, local

POLICING: FEDERAL Enforcement of federal laws President, with Senate approval, appoints chief enforcement officers of each agency Agencies have jurisdiction over all 50 states, D.C., and US territories 3 types of agencies Military Tribal Police Federal Civilian

POLICING: FEDERAL - MILITARY Law enforcement on military bases, certain federal lands, cases involving military personnel Each branch has its own way of providing police services Each branch has its own criminal justice system – courts, correctional institutions, etc. Military justice based on Uniform Code of Military Justice

POLICING: FEDERAL – TRIBAL POLICE North American reservations are sovereign territories – no local or state police jurisdiction Federal and military – limited jurisdiction Public safety crisis on reservations – rate of violent victimization is high, also drug abuse and domestic violence Grants from government to increase ranks of uniformed officers, enhance community policing efforts, and sustain trial courts

POLICING: FEDERAL – CIVILIAN LAW ENFORCEMENT Roughly 50 agencies Largest – US Marshals Service, US Postal Inspection Service, Secret Service; FBI; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; DEA IRS; NPS; US Fish and Wildlife Service have limited enforcement powers

POLICING: STATE State boundaries Legal jurisdiction determined by legislation 3 types: Traffic enforcement General criminal investigations Special investigations Attorney General is the chief law enforcement officer

STATE POLICE: HISTORY Oldest – 1823 – TX Ranger Division of TX Department of Public Safety First official state police department: PA (1905) Role of coal industry Model for other states Colorado (1935)

STATE POLICE: HIGHWAY PATROL Focus on traffic enforcement Limited to enforcement of traffic laws and promoting safety on state highways Example (CO): Pro-Cycling Challenge (August, 2011) The Heat is On Campaign (impaired drivers) Click It or Ticket (seatbelts) Slow for the Cone Zone (construction zone/worker safety)

STATE POLICE: CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS Powers of arrest, search and seizure, carry firearms Criminal investigations deals with statewide crimes, including drugs and narcotics, crimes occurring in more than one jurisdiction, may provide services to areas without police services (unincorporated areas) Jurisdiction if municipal/county police are biased CO: Focus on automobile theft

LOCAL POLICING: SHERIFF Oldest policing unit in US Elected by popular vote (county residents) Typically 4-year terms Minimal qualifications (have gotten higher) County jurisdiction Chief law enforcement officer Responsibilities: law enforcement duties, officers of court, operate county jail, some have extensive investigative jobs May conflict with city police (jurisdiction, responsibility) Rise of municipal policing in second half of 20th century

LOCAL POLICING: CITY POLICE Municipal police departments outnumber all other types of police combined Incorporated towns/cities have power to establish police departments and laws Over 12,000 municipal departments 90% have fewer than 50 officers (depends on size of area) Powers only in municipal jurisdiction Responsibilities: traffic enforcement, accident investigation, patrol and first response, animal control, SAR, EMS, order maintenance, etc.

LOCAL POLICING: METRO POLICE Large metropolitan areas (e.g., Dade County, FL; Las Vegas) Police expand jurisdiction of officers through intercity agreements Example of bureaus (Las Vegas): AIR SUPPORT AIRPORT AREA COMMANDS COMMUNICATIONS CRIME STOPPERS CRIMES AGAINST YOUTH & FAMILY EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FINANCIAL/PROPERTY CRIMES FIREARMS GANG CRIMES HOMICIDE K-9 UNIT MOUNTED POLICE RECORDS RESIDENT OFFICERS ROBBERY SEARCH & RESCUE SPECIAL EVENTS TOURIST SAFETY TRAFFIC VICE VIOLENT CRIMES

LOCAL POLICING: SPECIAL POLICE Examples: airport, park, transit, public school, university, public housing, service provision Work in very specific areas Typically have same powers as officers in jurisdictions

LOCAL POLICING: STRUCTURE Chief administrative officer is Chief of Police Appointed No guarantee of term Deputy Chief is assistant See p. 65 for diagram of administrative structure and functions

COMMUNITY-ORIENTED POLICING (COP) Two components Community partnership Problem-solving (POP) Necessary (arguably) for several reasons Level and nature of crime changing Character of communities shifting Change in social fabric of the country (e.g., families) Goals beyond crime control Prevention Reduce fear Improve quality of life

COP CONTINUED (CRITICISMS) Idea that officers should be more selective in making arrests Rely on extra-legal, instead of legal, characteristics Tends to only work if officer attitudes are favorable Arguably more rhetoric (PR) than reality Uncritical acceptance is dangerous Due process violations more likely to be accepted by the public (or go unquestioned) Institution of LE very difficult to change; communities have little power May not work to reduce crime rates, disorder, fear of crime, etc. (Several case studies have found COP to be effective in a number of ways)

COP: BENEFITS Reinforces cooperative ties More awareness of what is going on (information) Reduce disorder Improve officer attitudes

COP: CHANGES CREATING THE NEED (EARLY TO MID 1900s) Professionalization – distinction between police and community Officers changed routes – corruption, random patrol (perceived benefits) Centralized control policies Automobile (reduction of foot patrol – trust/fear) 1970s – 911 – Service calls left little time for anything else Goal of rapid response (not associated with crime reduction)

COP: PROBLEM-ORIENTED ASPECT (POP) Identify root causes of problems that lead to repeat calls for service Problem resolution = true, substantive goal of policing Look at characteristics of problems (small geographic areas) and apply appropriate resources Problem-solving process dependent upon police and community Allows tailored solutions to specific concerns of community