Here is what I know:
1. In the past , the police were responsible for territory. They patrolled small neighborhoods and knew the problem kids and the problem kid’s parents.
2. Somewhere along the way, the police stopped taking care of neighborhoods and started to focus on crime.
3. Police rarely walk a beat today. They drive around looking for traffic offenders or they are planning some large bust or they are responding to a crime instead of preventing one.
4. Some police departments have paramilitary units today. Like SWAT teams only more so.
5. Some police departments have purchased weaponry for “crowd control” or antiterrorism.
Question: What should the role of police be in today’s society?
2 responses so far ↓
HD // December 1, 2008 at 3:20 pm
The nature of law enforcement seems reactive against those who are in the process of or have previously broken laws. Seldom do they catch people in the act of breaking the law with the exception of traffic enforcement. There are many levels of police.
The local police or sheriff take care local areas.
The state police take jurisdiction over areas not typically covered locally. Then there is the FBI, national scope and reactive. The ultimate local police force is the military and can be brought to bear by the governor.The CIA seems to be international and proactive, or is that provocative?
It is a matter of scale isn’t it? Personal protection always begins with one’s self. There can be no one else you can depend upon for protection 24 x 7 x 365.
Without profiling and just cause there can be little interdiction before hand. However, I am not prepared to hand over my rights in the name of security. I guess I am just not that scared.
ReasonableCitizen // December 1, 2008 at 8:22 pm
There is a case to be made that police prevent crime when: their presence is frequent, they talk to known troublemakers without threatening them, and the police take demonstrative action (leadership) to improve the community.
In Minneapolis, the police department would identify addresses with multiple complaints. Then they would speak to the owners of the property and seek help to force the troublemakes to move when their leases expired. By assisting in the ‘relocation’ of troublemakers, the police department broke up relationships between gangs, demonstrated they care about the community, and gained respect from local communities. Don’t misunderstand me, they did not solve all gang activity in Minneapolis but they did reduce the police events in some neighborhoods with this strategy.