Police Role Pollock, Chp. 7 \Riots\Watts 40-year anniv.wmv \Riots\King beating.wmv \Riots\Rodney King riot.wmv \Patrol\Patrol hazards.wmv \SBSO Shooting\Airman shooting.wmv \SBSO Shooting\SBSO sho frag first xxx up.wav \Police Pursuits\Two deadly chases.wmv

Power and authority Police are the only public servants who legitimately and routinely use force and coercion Have wide latitude and discretion Academics claim two “orientations” (not mutually exclusive) – Crime fighting Police role to enforce the law Distinction between “good” and “bad” people Means/ends dilemma – Public service Broader role More modest view on ability to affect crime Concern with other values (e.g., due process)

Social contract Citizens give up some freedom in exchange for protection from harm Grant of power not absolute Police required to: – Provide the service they promised – Display integrity – Be fair and objective – Obey laws and regulations – Subject themselves to supervision and control

Law enforcement code of ethics Fairness – Everyone treated the same – Must not use authority to take advantage – Avoid gratuities Service to the community Subservient to the law – Obey all rules and court decisions Personal conduct – Set an example

Herbert Packer’s model of law enforcement Crime control emphasis – #1 job to repress crime – Enforcement protects citizens’ liberty interests – Presumption of guilt – Efficiency, speed and finality Due process emphasis – #1 job to protect rights – Enforcement can threaten citizens’ liberty interests – Coercive authority of State is always subject to abuse – No shortcuts; possibility of error makes the process important

Development of American police Patronage for selection and advancement – Chiefs had little authority – Political corruption infused decision- making Local control, no mobility Training mostly OJT Heavily decentralized, autonomous precincts Intimate with community – worked soup lines, helped immigrants – Closeness a double-edge sword, as it promoted corruption and interfered with the chain-of-command

Professionalization – began 1800’s Remove police from politics Police executives in charge Distance officers from citizens – Improve equity, reduce corruption Focus policing on law enforcement Scientific administration (Taylor’s management principles)Taylor’s management principles – Develop standard procedures: “routinize” police work – Reduce discretion where possible – Task specialization: special assignments and units – Measure output: quantifiable results (arrests and crime rate)

William H. Parker and the LAPD Hired as a patrol officer in 1927 In the 1930’s L.A. was beset by municipal corruption under the regime of Mayor Frank L. Shaw, who was recalled in 1938 Became Chief in 1950, revamped the department into the epitome of the “professional model” – Dismissed numerous abusive and incompetent officers – Implemented modern organizational principles – Imposed rigorous civil-service driven officer selection process – Greatly improved training – Instilled discipline and esprit de corps

Urban disorder of the 1960’s – 1970’s Urban unrest, including the Watts riot of August 1965 led many to question the assumptions of the professional model.Watts riot A series of Government studies suggested that poor police practices contributed to disorder and recommended changes: – More minority officers – Higher educational standards – Enhance officer training – Improve oversight and discipline – Focus on community relations

L.A. – 1992 riot (Rodney King) In April 1992, within hours of a jury verdict acquitting four LAPD officers of assaulting Rodney King during a 1991 traffic stop, violence and looting erupted in South-Central Los Angeles. In the next seven days 55 persons died, 2,000 were injured and 12,000 were arrested. Two of the officers were later convicted of Federal civil rights violations and served prison terms.four LAPD officers

Community policing Broader approach than crime-fighting – Community defines problems – Community participates in solutions – Success measured by citizen satisfaction – May call for more intrusion, not less To do community policing need: – Decentralized authority – Changes in recruitment and training – Move away from incident-driven (response) policing – Different measures of output (results)

But, on the other hand... If police are still expected to fight crime, community policing requires more officers, perhaps many more – Citizens are most concerned with crimes of violence Agency resources differ – L.A.: 7673 officers (1/498 citizens) – Chicago: 11,567 officers (1/248 citizens) – New York: 32,100 officers (1/252 citizens) Ultimately, police may not be the ones who determine their style – Threat of violence is present in everyday policing – Demographics (age, social class) influence prevalence of crime – Poor, disorganized communities may have no “community” to speak of. With whom will the police interface?