Feb 3, 2026 | Week 5 Police Culture & Subculture

Review of Contemporary Policing and its Historical Context

The discussion commenced with a look at present-day policing in relation to historical developments. The focus was primarily on a category known as law and order policing.

Law and Order Policing Definition

  • Law and order policing can be defined as strategies used by police forces aimed at maintaining public order and preventing crime.

  • This approach emphasizes strict enforcement of laws and often seeks to regulate behavior seen as disorderly or unacceptable.

Team Dynamics in Policing

  • An essential aspect of policing, even in low-level strategies, is the notion of teamwork and collaboration. Law enforcement must operate as a cohesive unit, sharing objectives and tactics.

  • The notion of policing incorporates both manifest (explicit) and latent (underlying) functions, leading to an understanding of its broader social implications.

Broken Windows Policing

One significant strategy discussed was "broken windows policing."

Definition and General Understanding

  • Broken windows policing refers to the strategy that suggests addressing minor disorders in communities (like broken windows or neglected properties) prevents more serious crimes.

  • This policing model implies that visible signs of disorder and neglect cause crime by signaling that deviant behavior is tolerated.

Discussion Among Students

  • The instructor engaged students by prompting them to reflect on their understanding of broken windows policing, asking if it is as simple as a literal interpretation or if there is deeper subtext.

  • Students pointed out examples, such as boarded-up houses or abandoned cars, to illustrate the visible decay associated with this theory.

Social and Normative Order Implications

  • This approach often reinforces a normative order, reproducing a social status quo that privileges certain behaviors and individuals while stigmatizing others identified as undesirable.

  • The underlying message is that policing is not solely about preventing crime but is also geared towards maintaining a moral and socioeconomic order.

The Role of the Police in Social Fabric

  • The manifest goal of broken windows policing is crime prevention; its latent goal is creating a clean and safe environment for capital consumption.

  • The concept of revanchism is relevant here, suggesting a push to reclaim urban spaces from marginalized populations seen as unwanted.

Policing Dynamics Post-9/11

  • The lecturer transitioned to discussing the implications of policing after the events of 9/11, highlighting shifts in how police operate and perceive communities.

  • A significant change has been the integration of high policing (focused on national security and surveillance) with community policing efforts, leading to increased centralized control.

Understanding Risk and Community Dynamics

  • Due to heightened security concerns post-9/11, policing has increasingly framed communities in terms of risk, particularly immigrant communities now viewed as potential security threats rather than just at-risk groups.

  • This approach has resulted in more aggressive policing tactics directed particularly at racialized communities, often viewed as security risks rather than crime-based risks.

The Critical Perspective on Policing

Todd Gordon's Views

  • According to Todd Gordon, the essence of policing often veers away from addressing crime directly and leans towards creating order that enforces capitalist structures. Policing functions to discipline the labor class and ensure societal conformity.

  • His work provides a critical lens through which to examine the fundamental objectives of policing within the capitalist society.

Conflict Perspective vs. Whig Liberal Perspective

  • The lecture drew a contrast between the Whig liberal perspective—viewing police as public safety managers—and the conflict perspective—viewing police as tools of ruling class interests.

Police Culture and Subculture

Overview of Police Culture

  • The focus sharpened on understanding the nuances of police culture and subculture, which encapsulate how officers perceive their roles and their conduct in daily operations.

  • Various articles provided insights into significantly different aspects of police culture.

Key Studies and Concepts

Benton Loftus vs. PAJ Waddington

  • Benton Loftus argues that police culture significantly impacts behavior and is resilient to changes, perpetuating problematic aspects such as machismo and hypermasculinity.

  • PAJ Waddington, on the other hand, suggests that police culture simply reflects a means of internal solidarity or steam release through canteen talk, having little tangible impact on on-the-street behavior.

Jerome Skolnick's Police Working Personality

  • Skolnick proposed the idea of a "danger authority nexus," which consists of three key elements:

    • Situational Exigencies and Danger: Officers operate under the belief that danger could arise at any moment, influencing their engagements with the public.

    • Management Constraints: Police are compelled to adhere to certain protocols dictated from above, influencing their on-ground discretion and authority practices.

    • Authority and Discretion: Officers wield significant authority in maintaining public order, which can lead to aggressive behavior if challenged.

Cultural Reproduction and Socialization

  • The socialization process within policing is intricate and critical, with officers progressively adapting and internalizing a culture centered on authority and perceptions of danger.

  • John Van Mannen's work identified stages in the journey to becoming a police officer that highlight this socialization:

    • Pre-entry: Aspirants' motivations for joining are often service-oriented but colored by idealistic perceptions of policing.

    • Admittance: Recruits realize the often harsh realities of training, as they navigate rules, discipline, and camaraderie.

    • Change: The transition from academy to field training sharpens an officer's worldview to align more closely with real-world dynamics, often shedding idealistic notions.

    • Continuance: Officers grapple with the juxtaposition of routine tasks and unpredictable dangers in a culturally defined role.

Implications for Police Reform

  • The examination of police culture reveals resistance to comprehensive reform, as entrenched cultural habits often perpetuate practices that deviate from the ideals of community policing.

  • Recognizing the convincing nature of the fairy tales surrounding police operations—a stark contrast to the reality of training and field experiences—is necessary for understanding the difficulties in reform.

Conclusion

  • As the discussion concluded, the idea remained that police culture is resilient, deeply embedded in practices, attitudes, and behaviors learned during the socialization process. The impact of this culture influences ongoing policing challenges, including race relations and community trust.

  • Future discussions will consider the implications of these perspectives on deeper systemic issues within law enforcement.

Note: The lecture's flow captured a rich landscape of policing dynamics through both historical and contemporary lenses, revealing the complexities that underpin police culture and its implications for society at large.