Ethics, wk 6, forum - Essay Example

Ethics Does community policing compete with or complement traditional policing? Before we go in depth on whether community policing compete or compliment with traditional policing, it is very important to understand and define those two terms. Traditional policing is the practice in which police handles crimes once it has occurred. In regard to this, community policing is much more deep rooted. It is a proactive approach in which police works with other community members to indentify the root causes of a crime and to deal with it before hand rather than addressing it once it has occurred.

If we compare both the policing techniques, we can see that actually traditional policing is complemented by community poling. They are not two opposite techniques that are against each other. If we analyze traditional policing techniques it is obvious that some of its practices are adopted by community policing. The different of the former from the latter is that the latter is broader in practice; while traditional policing is more reactive in nature. One thing that plays a vital role in community policing is interpersonal skills which definitely is a missing component in traditional policing.

Interpersonal skills and oral communications are necessary components of community policing. A police officer who practices community policing must have the ability to develop rapport with citizens, so that trust can be built between community residents and the police. For example, one FTO wrote, "PT[2] is polite when speaking with citizens and suspects and is able to gather the necessary information to complete the investigation." (Chappell, 2007)Is a community policing strategy designed to replace traditional policing efforts?

During 2007, rate of violence and crime rises to a great extent in United States as compare to 2006. The rate rises to almost 1.1 percent in countries which were non-metropolitan and in different cities which has the population ranges between 10,000 till 24, 999. In metropolitan countries murder rates rises to 4.9 percent, in cities which has inhabitants for about 50,000 and 99,999 it raises to 3.2%. Burglary rates increases to 3.5 percent which definitely shows the need of proper strategy implemented by police to reduce crime.

(Polite, 2010) There is no doubt in the fact the today’s crimes is complex as ever before. With the emerging crime rate, it is very obvious that traditional policing is not enough. Nowadays, police needs to be more active in the lives of the people they serve rather than just fight the wrong when it is committed. The strategies adopted by community policing is definitely going to take over the traditional policing efforts as now the scenario has changed. Police needs to be much more involved in community and emphasis more on their relations with the community rather than just solely serving them.

They need to know more about the crime, the pattern of the crime, the causes of the crime and on top of everything else, to develop trust among community members. Do any of these policing strategies help create organizational ethical behavior? Why or why not?Community policing strategies do create organizational ethical behavior because they empower the police to choose between right and wrong, to improve the security of the community and to overall make public security a priority. They enable police to collaborate with people and to make decisions that positively impact the public.

Community policing revolves around respect for public, which is the foundation of ethical behavior. One other very important component of community policing is the transparency and accountability of their activities.ReferencesPolite, R. (2010). A Critical Analysis of the Theoretical and Empirical Literature Comparing the Effects of Traditional versus Community Policing on Quality of Life, and Associated Quality of Life Issues. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, PO Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106.

Chappell, C. (2007). Community policing: is field training the missing link?. Community policing; Law enforcement; Community relations; Attitudes, 30(3), 498-517.