Policing in the United States

Policing is a difficult & complex task, unless one has been a police officer, it is difficult to grasp fully the challenges facing today’s officers.
The police in the U.S. are primarily providers of public service.
- Law enforcement, order maintenance, & crime prevention.
Police provide more than law enforcement to the communities, they serve and devote a relatively small portion of the day to law enforcement activities.

Police officers are under ever-increasing levels of public scrutiny.
- Public Scrutiny - they’re under a microscope
Although most police officers perform their duties honorably, ethically, and professionally, the actions of a single officer can tarnish the entire profession. (bad apple theory)
- Example: George Floyd, Philando Castile, John Spencer, Rape and Sexual Assault of NYPD
  - Philando Castile - he ran through a stop light and stated he had a license to carry and the officer shot him
  - George Floyd - the police shouldn’t have used that level of force
  - John Spencer - Cop killed 2 civilians without probable cause
  - Sexual Assault of NYPD - Officers think they can get away with anything because of the precincts prestige.
Although these incident represent a small fraction of the tens of thousands of police interactions that occur every day, when things go wrong, the consequences can be momentous.
The public’s perception of police behavior, particularly toward minorities have an impact on crime rates
- It only takes on bad officer to ruin the rep of the group

Wake of Racially Charged Incidents
- Unarmed young Black men dying during confrontations with police
Treatment of Minorities
- Social tensions between the disproportionate treatment of minorities by both officers & criminal justice system in general

Many in the community have felt that police have not been held accountable for their actions, plus the high-profile incidents involving minorities, and emotional chargers have lead increased dangers for the police, and the communities where these officers serve.
As a result to the social injustices, unprecedented acts of violence againsr law enforcement have increased.
In 2021, 73 U.S. Police officers have been killed in line of duty, making it the highest number since 1994.
Due to the high risk of physical assault to police, community activists fear that police departments will abandon the progress made within the community-policing efforts and resort making to t he militarization style of law enforcement.

Police legitimacy
- The extent that members of the public trust and have confidence that officers will treat people with fairness, dignity, respect, and trustworthy motives.
  - Spoken about, researched, etc
  - look at how people react to situations, and how they’re hired, working. (can be looked at in groups/ individuals/squad/department/etc)
  - helps to establish if they really are going to support the people
Use of Force
- The use of force must be scrutinized, especially in the light of the persistent issues of racial disproportion in both law enforcement and cj system

Term: Police
Derived form Greek: polis, Politeuein
Definition: a citizen who participates in the affairs of a city or state
- The police in society are vested with authority to impose or force solutions on citizens when problems/emergencies arise
- Some types of police agents are more likely to intervene in daily affairs of citizens than others, depending on the jurisdiction of where the officer falls under.
- Job defined by the mission/mandate: reduce crime, maintain order, reduce the fear of crime, solve neighborhood problems, improve quality of life, and develop community cohesion.

Local
- Laredo Police Department
State
- Texas State Troopers
Federal
- Customs & Border Protection, Border Patrol, U.S. Marshalls, etc.
Sheriffs: County Level, remain the only elected law enforcement officials.
- Example: Webb County Sheriffs

Reformers
- Encouraged law enforcement to recognize and value emotional labor aspects of the profession and have advocated for police leaders to expand on emotional, servivem and profession aspect.
Inclusion
- Females and minority police officers have now been an integrate