Untitled

Policing must be analyzed through the lens of organizational culture.
This week's focus on the implications of police culture on decision-making, particularly regarding misconduct and accountability.

Last week’s topics:
- Police discretion
- Decision-making processes
- Police legitimacy
Interrogation of influences on police decision-making: Good and bad influences.

Culture as pivotal to police decision-making:
- Culture influences not just behavior but the accountability of officers.
Purpose of the week: Understanding the issues surrounding misconduct and accountability in policing.

Initial explanation of police misconduct considers "rotten apples":
- Concept that only a few officers misbehave (individual pathology).
Police commissioners’ perspective often promotes the idea that everything is fine.
Goal of recruitment: Filter out problematic candidates.
- Issues arise because sociopaths may pass initial screenings, and pathology can develop post-recruitment.

Continuity of police misconduct across all jurisdictions despite training.
The idea of "rotten barrels":
- Fresh recruits become corrupt due to systemic issues rather than individual failings.
Contrast to the expectation of whistleblowing for addressing misconduct:
- Lack of reporting suggests systemic culture issues rather than individual officers being the problem.

No singular police culture exists across all jurisdictions.
- Culture varies significantly at different hierarchies and locations.
- Individual police teams within stations may develop unique subcultures.
Stratification of culture:
- Different cultures among ranks (constables vs. senior officers).
Local influences play a significant role in culture formation.

Exposure to risk and danger affects police culture.
- Police jobs considered dangerous; however, other jobs have higher injury rates (fishermen, miners, etc.).
- The attitude towards danger contributes to police culture and practices.
Sense of solidarity among officers:
- Bonds built on shared dangers can obscure accountability (officers reluctant to report peers).
Attitudes towards external scrutiny:
- Distrust non-police opinions and advice, may resist external oversight.
Authoritarianism ingrained in policing:
- Officers used to commands often react negatively when orders are not followed, heightening tensions.

Development of inflated sense of danger and a "siege mentality":
- Officers perceive civilians as potential threats.
Social insularity:
- Officers often socialize primarily with other police, limiting understanding of community perspectives.
Political conservatism prevalent:
- Tendencies to align with tough-on-crime policies reflects broader political orientation.
Cynicism towards the law:
- Some officers believe they must operate outside the law to achieve justice.
Hyper-masculinity, misogyny, and racism as ongoing issues in policing:
- These cultural elements negatively affect officer relationships and community engagement.

Compromises on ethical norms due to pressure from superiors.
Police culture shapes officer behavior and public perception.
Dichotomy within police identity: Warrior vs. Guardian mentality.
- Warrior mentality associated with aggressive behavior, whereas Guardian mentality emphasizes procedural justice.
- Procedural justice emphasizes fairness in interactions rather than equal treatment under potentially negative conditions.

Research highlights police focused on survival rather than community engagement.
- Experience of high-pressure environments contributes to a defensive organizational psyche.
- Disproportionate focus on extreme danger despite lower actual fatality rates among police compared to other professions.
Police work often described as "guardians of social order" rather than direct combatants against crime.

According to IBAC (Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission):
- Misconduct includes any offense punishable by imprisonment, actions that tarnish police reputation, or diminish public confidence, among others.

Abuse of force: Excessive or lethal force incidents.
Duty failure: Includes intoxication during shifts or neglecting to act on known offenses.
Invasion of privacy: Accessing confidential information for personal reasons.
Neglect of duty: Ignoring repeated calls for help due to lack of concern.
Corruption: Taking kickbacks or misusing power, including coercing informants.
Sexual misconduct: Includes harassment toward civilians and fellow officers.
Dishonesty in investigations: Planting or removing evidence.

Individual pathology: Pre-existing issues or conditions that may worsen in policing.
Organizational culture affecting individual attitudes and behaviors.
Opportunities for misconduct can tempt officers.
Past experiences and exposure to danger can contribute to developing unhealthy coping strategies.
Lack of accountability underpins problems leading to increased misbehavior.

Internal oversight through supervisor systems is controversial due to inherent conflicts of interest.
External oversight limitations include gaps in authority to enforce sanctions against misconduct.
Need for stronger independent civilian oversight not dominated by former police officers.
Informal peer accountability: Risk of ineffective results from dangling relationships among officers.
Media scrutiny and public perception influences police behavior minimally due to inconsistent reporting.
Technology and citizen recordings serve as evidence but may not lead to accountability as frequently as desired.

Tanya Day case: Indigenous woman suffered negligence and ultimately death after police failed to assist properly.
- Highlighting systemic racism issues and lack of accountability in deaths in custody.
- Questions of justice for First Nations persons post-police interactions remain unaddressed despite reports and recommendations.
An increasing trend of utilizing tasers reflects a problematic shift towards aggressive policing.
- Reports of unjustified taser use emphasize the need for re-evaluation of police use of force approaches.
"Fallen Warriors" phenomenon contributes to a culture of fear among police ranks, affecting their willingness to challenge each other.

The enduring problems in policing require reevaluation of training, oversight, culture, and community relations.
Moving toward a more transparent, accountable, and community-oriented approach is essential for restoring trust.
Future discussions will involve literature reviews concerning policing, focusing on effective strategies and insights.