Post on 17-Dec-2015
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Police are the only public servantswho routinely use force and coercion
Have wide latitude and discretion Packer’s two models of the police
Crime fighter▪ #1 job to fight crime▪ Crime control guarantees freedom▪ Efficiency, speed, “finality” - a
“conveyor belt” approach▪ Presumption of suspect’s guilt
Public servant▪ Crime is a social phenomenon - police
can only do so much▪ Police serve all the people, criminals included ▪ Concern with coercion and abuse of force▪ Protecting due process is critical
Patronage for selection and advancement Chiefs had little authority Political corruption infused decisions
Training mostly on the job “war stories” Local control: heavily decentralized, autonomous
precincts Rampant police corruption
Chiefs and precinct commanders establishedpayment systems to allow vice and prostitution
Individual officers shook down peddlers andthieves
Heavily involved in strikebreaking Community roles – officers worked soup lines,
helped immigrants Closeness a double-edge sword Promoted corruption, interfered with supervision
Remove police from politics Police executives in charge Distance officers from citizens
Improve equity, reduce corruption Focus policing on law enforcement,
let other agencies handle social services Scientific administration (
Taylor’s management principles) Develop standard procedures: “routinize” police work Reduce discretion where possible Task specialization: special assignments and units Measure output: quantifiable results (# arrests, crime
rate)
Bicycle, then motorized patrol Records system Scientific investigation
1920: lie detector 1924: fingerprint system
Modus Operandi system (track criminals by their methods)
Formal police training 1916: Established UC Berkeley School of Criminology
Applicant psychological and aptitude testing Recruit college graduates Against the tide: encouraged police to do social work
Society beset by crime, gang wars Policing suffers from abuses, excessive
force (“third degree”) and corruption Recommendations
Get politics out of law enforcement Select Chiefs and officers on merit Physical standards Improve salaries and working conditions Good training Professionalize, specialize
▪ Hire women▪ Crime prevention and crime investigation bureaus
Hired as a patrol officer in 1927 1930’s L.A. was beset by municipal
corruption under the regime of MayorFrank L. Shaw, who was recalled in 1938
Parker became Chief in 1950, revamped theDepartment into the epitome of the “professional model” Dismissed many abusive and incompetent officers Implemented modern organizational principles Imposed rigorous civil-service driven officer selection
process Greatly improved training Instilled discipline and esprit de corps Faulted for inadequate attention to use of force, especially
in minority areas, and intelligence gathering abuses (“Red squads”)
During the 50s and 60s entrenched poverty andallegations of brutal, heavy-handed lawenforcement poisoned relations between policeand minority citizens in South-CentralLos Angeles, an area then mostly populated byblacks.
On August 11, 1965 CHP officers stopped Marquette Fry, a 21-year old black man, for DUI near his family residence in South Los Angeles.
The suspect’s mother and family members soon arrived. They became involved in a physical altercation with officers. A hostile crowd gathered. Frye, a brother and his mother were hauled off to jail. Rocks and bottles began to be thrown. More CHP officers arrived, but neither they nor LAPD were able to contain the situation.
The disturbance spread throughout South Los Angeles. National Guard troops were called in. During the next week more than 30 persons died, more than 1,000 were injured and hundreds were arrested. Widespread looting and fire-setting leveled a large chunk of the Watts commercial district. The area never fully recovered.
Historical legacy of antagonism betweenpolice and minorities came to a headin 1965 “Bloody Sunday” - Selma, Alabama, March 7 Watts riot - Los Angeles, August 11-17
Disturbances around the U.S. brought assumptionsof the professional model into question
Official studies concluded that police practicescontributed to disorder and prescribedchanges: More minority officers Higher educational standards Enhance officer training Improve oversight and discipline Focus on community relations
Disorders led to criticism of the professional model Police isolated, unresponsive, overlook other obligations Officers detached from the citizens they serve Officers stereotype persons and are careless about using force
To-do list Defuse tensions, build trust, narrow the distance with the public Share information to learn about local problems
1970’s – Team policing: same officers provide all services Get to know local citizens and their problems
1980’s – Community policing: give citizens a role in police decisions Neighborhood police stations, community meetings, foot and bike
cops Broader approach than crime-fighting
▪ Citizens help define problems and devise solutions▪ Success measured by citizen satisfaction, not just crime rates▪ Move away from incident-driven (response) policing▪ Aim for increased officer satisfaction, less cynicism
Concerns▪ “Broken windows” approach may call for more intrusion, not less▪ Close relationships with public may lead to ethical lapses
On March 3, 1991 CHP officers tried to stopRodney King, a multi-convicted felon on parolefor robbery, for speeding. A high-speed chaseensued. King, who was drunk and high on drugs,was finally stopped when he entered city streets.
King ignored orders to physically submit andwas nearly shot by a CHP officer. LAPD sergeantStacey Koon and three LAPD officers thenmoved in and beat King with their batons. Awitness videotaped the encounter.
Koon and the officers were charged with assault.On April 29, 1992 all were acquitted. The verdictsparked rioting and looting in South Los Angeles.In the next seven days 55 persons died, 2,000were injured and 12,000 were arrested.
Koon and one officer were later convicted ofFederal civil rights violations and served prisonterms.
A crime surge began in the 80’s andcontinued through the early 90’s
This surge, along with 9/11, led to arenewed emphasis on crime-fighting
1990’s – Problem-oriented policing Fight crime by identifying
localizedproblems
2000’s – More models Preventive policing: Combines
community policing with problem-oriented policing; addsaccountability measures to preventabuses
Intelligence-led / “hot-spot” policing:Use crime data to target locationswhere crime repeatedly occurs
City Population Violent Crime rate
Homicide rate
Los Angeles 3,525,317 2374.3 30.5
Newark 269,892 3787.4 35.6
New York City 7,347,257 2089.8 26.5
Uniform Crime Reports - 1993
City Population Violent Crime rate
Homicide rate
Los Angeles 3,878,725 426.0* 6.5
Newark 278,246 1263.6 40.3
New York City 8,396,126 623.9 4.0
Uniform Crime Reports - 2013
The violence of the 80’s and 90’s began receding in 1994. In many cities, including Los Angeles and New York, murder and violence fell by 75% or more. But in many other cities the struggle continues.
* Los Angeles admits its violent crime rate has been artificially deflated
Citizens give up some freedom inexchange for protection from harm
But grants of authority (entitlement) andpower (means) to police are not absolute
Police required to: Provide the service they promised Use persuasion before turning to force and
coercion, then use as little force and coercion as possible
Display integrity; be fair and objective Obey laws and regulations Subject themselves to supervision and control
Muir - “Police - Streetcorner Politicians”: Emphasizesindividual differences between cops Professional: Balances coercion and compassion Reciprocator: Has citizens solve problems; makes “deals”
to keep the peace Enforcer: Relies on coercion and force Avoider: Avoids situations that might result in being challenged Wilson - “Varieties of Police Behavior”: Different social and
political environments lead to different policing styles Watchman: Focus on order maintenance. Ignore minor
infractions,less bothered by vice. Preference to resolve issues informally.
Legalistic: Eager to invoke formal sanctions (arrests and citations). Disorderly persons viewed as a criminal threat. Reluctance to intervene when legal authority is unclear.
Service*: Blend of the above styles, with less emphasis on making arrests. Prefers to use conciliation and make referrals to social service agencies.
Most police codes of ethics includethese components Fairness
▪ Everyone must be treated the same▪ Must not use authority to take
advantage▪ Avoid gratuities
Service to the community▪ Don’t just focus on law enforcement
Subservient to the law▪ Obey all rules and court decisions
Personal conduct▪ Set an example▪ Higher standard than the general public
“Cop Code” Don’t rat on other cops Be brave Do your job Don’t make waves Be aggressive when needed, but not
overly eager Don’t trust bosses to watch for your interests
“Noble cause” corruption Klockars - “the Dirty Harry problem”: Do the ends (e.g.,
saving a kidnapped girl) justify the means (torturing a suspect)?
“Testilying” - lying in court▪ Excuse: System is so complex and demanding that
must lie or shade the truth to get the job done
Michael W Quinn“Walking With the Devil: The Police Code of
Silence”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9OW35OVcI4