Police Issues - Research Paper Example

Police Issues 19th, February The police play an important role in the society. However, most people might not be interested in the issues that underlie policing. This includes the practices of policing, as well as the challenges faced by individuals in the police force. An examination of the policing profession reveals considerable problems, which need to be addressed. Different individuals and organizations, including citizen groups, the media, as well as the policing organizations can identify these problems.

Nonetheless, the various issues in policing must be addressed, if they need that, for better policing in the country. Domestic and international terrorism is an issue in policing, which is a big challenge to the police officers. The police are charged with solving this situation and ensuring security for the citizens. However, in their process of solving this, the police are faced with a myriad of challenges. For instance, the public has sometimes opposed most of the methods the police have used to try to address the issue of terrorism.

The society has raised concerns about the police methods, and criticized them for allowing racial profiling, which they consider wrong (Ross, 2011). Although terrorism affects the police, this also has significant effect on the American population. However, the military and the police agencies are the ones who are greatly hit by this phenomenon. For instance, following the 9/11 incident, the policing has had to devote much time, as well as resources, in ensuring that this incident does not occur again.

This is mainly through intelligence gathering and intelligence-led policing (Dempsey & Forst, 2011). There have also been issues concerning police patrolling. Different people have raised concerns whether this is effective or not. Police employ different patrol techniques. These include reactive, proactive, and normal patrolling. However, citizens have registered no change of attitude toward the police as a result of this. Additionally, patrolling has been not influential enough to combat crime in the country.

Nonetheless, patrolling could have been effective if police used the right approach while doing it. In addition, police should be more aggressive and perform crackdowns in crime hot spots, as this might lower criminal activity in such areas. Still about patrolling, the citizens too have a role in play. They are supposed to work with the police in patrolling in their communities. This way, police share power with the citizens to allow for collective decision making, and bottom-up leadership style (Ross, 2011).

New technology in policing is another important issue today. With the increase in crime, both at the domestic and international level, police have been forced to adopt effective strategies to address this growing problem. Criminals today use high technology in their criminal activities, and therefore, the police too have to use more advanced technology to counter criminals. Some of these high-tech equipment by police are used in crime scene investigation. Others are used by the police to conduct electronic surveillance, while others are in form of weapons the police use for self-defense.

The computer technology has been instrumental to the police in helping them carry out major intelligence tasks. The police today therefore, have been forced to invest in advanced technology in order to effectively address the growing crime at the domestic and international levels (Dempsey & Forst, 2011). Another issue in policing is concerned with their ethics and integrity. The police is a department, which has been accused for corruption and deviance. Police corruption unfolds in various dimensions.

This might be through bribery, extortion, favoritism, prejudice, among others. This has been prevalent in majority of countries in the world, and has made many people to believe that corruption is inherent in the police department. Unfortunately, some police officers use power in an aggressive manner for their own selfish interests. These threaten people with legal action, and some even collaborate with criminals. This is a worrying trend, as police is entrusted with the security in a country.

The police today therefore, are continually advised to maintain their integrity by shunning unethical practices, and instead, adopt the best practices in their work. Although issues to do with integrity and professionalism is a concern in policing, there are many factors, which are the root source of this issue, including police salaries, which in some countries are little, making police look for alternative ways of surviving (Ross, 2011). Police accountability is another important issue in policing.

The police are charged with one of the most important responsibilities in the country. These are therefore, expected to perform their roles in the most diligent manner, since this affects the citizens at a greater level. Accountability is therefore, an issue, which is of great importance in policing. First, police are required to win the public trust and maintain public confidence. Therefore, unethical and wrong practices by police make the public to lose their trust in this force. In most countries, people have lost their trust and confidence in their police force, owing to its ineffectiveness, as well as corruption.

However, the police in the United States is trying different ways possible to maintain public confidence. Under accountability in police, there also includes the aspect of policing the police. This is through a higher regulatory body, to which the police is accountable or answerable to. This therefore, ensures order and integrity in the police (Dempsey & Forst, 2011). Private policing is another issue in policing, which is of concern. Today, the for-hire security agencies are on the increase, and this is another dimension of policing in America today.

Many municipal departments today have begun to involve the private security agencies in their crime detection and crime prevention activities. On the other hand, there have been cases whereby public police leave their work in the public sector, to be employed by the private security agencies. There is therefore, an interface between public and private police today. This has considerable influence on the operations and function of police in the United States today (Ross, 2011). Some of the issues identified are challenges to the police.

Therefore, if these are addressed, and the positive issues capitalized on, the police will experience a revolution, which will be beneficial to the general society. References Dempsey, J. & Forst, L. (2011). An Introduction to Policing. New York: Cengage Learning. Ross, J. (2011). Policing Issues: Challenges & Controversies. New York: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.