Policing Chapters 4–5: Patrol, Investigations, Tragedy & Reform

What is the primary role of police officers?

To help the public, handle minor problems, and maintain peace, in addition to arresting criminals.

What does order maintenance in policing involve?

Handling minor offenses and disorders before they escalate into more serious problems.

How many people have contact with police annually?

More than 58 million.

What is the patrol function in policing?

The most visible part of policing where officers supervise assigned geographic areas called beats.

Define committed time in police work.

Time spent responding to or handling a call for service.

Define uncommitted time in police work.

Time when an officer is available and not assigned to a call, often spent patrolling.

What are the four factors affecting police response time?

Discovery time, reporting time, processing time, and travel time.

What is swatting?

Making a fake emergency report to trigger a police response, often to harass or harm someone.

What is foot patrol?

Officers walk through neighborhoods to build community relationships.

What is hotspot policing?

Police focus on small geographic areas with high crime levels.

What is directed patrol?

Officers are assigned to patrol specific places or problems.

What is the purpose of civilian staff in policing?

Non-sworn personnel handle certain nonemergency calls.

What are the three types of investigations in criminal cases?

Walk-through, Whey Are They's, and Whodunit.

What does downstream orientation refer to in investigations?

Considering the strength of a case for prosecution while conducting an investigation.

What are the four detective work styles?

Victim-centered, offender-centered, case-centered, and hybrid.

What did the RAND Study reveal about detective work?

As little as 2.7% of cases were solved through detective work.

What is secondary victimization?

When victims experience additional emotional harm through the criminal justice process.

What is an active shooter incident?

An individual actively killing or attempting to kill people with a firearm, usually in a populated area.

Define mass shooting.

An incident involving four or more victims in a public place, with victims selected randomly or for symbolic reasons.

What is a hostage/barricaded suspect incident?

An armed suspect confines themselves in a location and holds one or more people hostage.

Why is a quick police response important during active shooter incidents?

Active shooter incidents often end within 10-15 minutes.

What does the IACP recommend for police training in emergencies?

Scenario-based training in realistic environments, training with fire departments and EMS, and establishing unified command.

What are after-action reports?

Reviews conducted after an emergency to determine what happened, evaluate the response, and recommend improvements.

What is one example of an after-action report?

The report evaluating school security and law enforcement responses after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.

What are some important prevention strategies for mass shootings?

Identifying warning signs, sharing intelligence, providing mental health services, educating communities, and preparing students and school personnel.

What does the acronym ALICE stand for in emergency response training?

Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate.

How did the September 11 attacks change police departments' approach to terrorism?

It led to expanded counterterrorism and intelligence capabilities due to communication and coordination problems faced by emergency responders.

What was the purpose of the 9/11 Commission?

To investigate the September 11 attacks and the government's response, releasing a report with 41 recommendations to improve national security.

What is intelligence-led policing?

Gathering and analyzing information about possible criminal activity or threats to prevent future crimes.

What is the main responsibility of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)?

Coordinates homeland security efforts.

What is the role of fusion centers?

To share and analyze intelligence between agencies to improve coordination.

What are secondary victims of trauma?

People affected by witnessing or responding to traumatic events.

What does PTSD stand for?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, a condition involving lasting psychological effects following trauma.

What is compassion fatigue?

Emotional exhaustion associated with repeated exposure to other people's suffering.

What is police reform?

Efforts to improve police accountability, professionalism, behavior, and relationships with communities.

Who is known as the father of modern American policing?

August Vollmer.

What is the significance of policing by consent?

It emphasizes that effective policing depends on public trust and acceptance of police authority.

What reforms did the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020 propose?

Increasing accountability for police misconduct, restricting dangerous practices, improving transparency, establishing training requirements, and limiting qualified immunity.

What does defunding the police mean?

Reducing police budgets and redirecting funding toward other public safety services.

What are some examples of services that could receive redirected funding from defunding the police?

Mental health professionals responding to crisis calls and community programs focused on preventing violence.

What are some reasons police reforms may fail?

Resistance to change, fear of the unknown, viewing reform as punishment, poorly planned reforms, and failure to acknowledge problems.

What is a key takeaway regarding police departments and public safety threats?

Police departments must respond to changing public safety threats while improving accountability, public trust, and officer well-being.