1. AJ 58 – Community and Human Relations Chapter 12 – Toward a New Breed of Police Officer

2. Images of Police How would you describe a typical police officer? Answers vary greatly based upon… – Family values/beliefs – Personal contacts/experiences – News/Entertainment media portrayals People look at cops with a mixture of respect, appreciation, and fear – Help in time of need – Legal authority to arrest – Legal authority to use force, take life

3. Traditional Police Roles Which officer is the main link between the Department and the Community? – The Patrol Officer! Most cops say they want to help others, but how is this accomplished? – Many are idealistic and altruistic but may expect or demand conformity Mundane realities of police work may not live up to anticipated excitement/action

4. Traditional Patrol Responsibilities Patrol time loosely structured – Driving around awaiting the next dispatch call – Looking around for violations or suspicious activity – Hesitating to get too involved in something for fear of missing “the big one” – Having to handle complaints, disputes, other non-criminal calls for service Potential dangers of the job outweigh the actual injuries experienced Officers may feel separated/isolated from community and band together for support

5. Self-Isolation Officers may self-isolate from society – Protection from real & perceived dangers – Loss of personal & professional autonomy – Social rejection Tend to rely on each other for validity and support Cops see a grisly world not seen by others – Accidents, death, rapes, molestations, etc. – Humanity at its worst

6. Paramilitary Bureaucracy Focus on structure, discipline May stifle innovative thinking, creativity – Frustrating for those officers – May actually be reprimanded for taking initiative May become cynical, feel like a mere pawn being used by superiors

7. Resistance to Community Policing General reluctance to embrace change, even if positive change Honest belief that traditional methods work best Accepting change = perceived rejection of long-standing system and culture Change = Risk – What if it doesn’t work?

8. Community Policing Approach Chief can no longer blame underlying social problems for inappropriate actions of officers More autonomy, responsibility, and decision- making authority given to CPO’s – May be threat to supervisors, managers – May be resented by peers Flexible scheduling for CPO’s to deal with responsibilities as they arise

9. Changes to Traditional Police Culture Increasing percentage of officers by race, ethnicity, gender Increasing number of officers with higher education – Less authoritarian, more innovative – Professionalism Expectations for greater autonomy and flexibility Shift from crime-fighting to problem-solving as primary police function Recognition of “gray areas” in complex, real-world situations

10. New Breed of Officer Must address community concerns – Crime, fear-of-crime, social conditions Able to look at “big picture” – Creative and innovative solutions Superior communication skills – Talking, writing, public speaking – One-on-one, group settings, minorities Broad educational background – CJ, Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, Economics