Community Relationship with Police
INTRODUCTION
The strong relationship between the community and police departments helps in maintaining public safety and effective policing for the police departments. Police departments depend on the relationship with the community to get information about the crimes that may have happened in the neighbourhood. It helps them to work with the required device to solve crime issues and disorders problems. The community will trust police if they believe that the action they will take reflects community values and will maintain justice and legitimacy. In most of the cities, in the U.S, the legitimacy of the police have been in doubt and hence affecting the trust of the public. It may cause some demonstration and riots by the community because some cops have been using excessive force or any misconduct of the police. Therefore, police should conduct themselves in a manner that they will trust them and acquire information so quickly. Hence, many police make their relationship with the public as the priority. The link should be maintained in the four departments of police which includes, city police departments, county sheriff’s offices, and highway patrol and in the federal law enforcement agencies.
The negative and positive relationship between the police departments and the community.
The U.S policing departments enhance a good relationship between them and the public. The positive relationship that police may increase with the public through the following means. Through being transparent and accountable. When police enhance transparency between them and the community, this creates freedom between them and the community (Brogden, & Nijhar, 2013). It is achieved when the public feels that they are being informed about the police. When they understand the kind of information, they require they will be willing to provide all the information needed by them. By involving the public, more information may be acquired, and actually, the first information may not be the correct one. Hence the police departments may police the people that they will be accountable of all the information given and when the right information is acquired they will provide. The police agency may consider accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for law enforcement agencies or from a similar agency as a sign of demonstrating their commitment to enhancing law enforcement.
Secondly, the positive relationship between the police and the public can be maintained by reducing bias and improve cultural competence. The executive leaders in all the police departments enhance that all the police offices are trained on diversity, reduction of biasness, and cultural competence. Different communities have different norms and cultures, and for the effectiveness of the police, he should be in a position to speak and understand the culture of the given group. Therefore, the police will maintain cultural competence and reduce biasness hence good relationship will be maintained between the police and the public.
The positive relationship between the public and police, maybe when the police ensure that they maintain focus and are visible in the community. When police and the audience engages in communication only when they are enforcing the law, it may develop a negative relationship between themselves. Finding time to interact with the community for non-enforcement bases improves the trust and reduce biasness between them hence improve their interaction. Still, this helps to reduce the biasness between them and even the police to recognize which community are lawbreakers and which one is not. It always helps them to identify who are the high suspects of crime that being suspicious to everyone.
Sometimes the relationship between the community and the police department may not be so good. It’s because what the police may perceive is right may not apply to that community or another city. Distrust by the public may cause weak interaction. when the confidence of the people to the police has decreased or when they are rude when addressing public even when they are not enforcing the law to the public. Distrust may be due to injustice practised by the police officer or being involved in activities that are causing harm to the public. It hinders people even to inform them in case of crimes.
Ethical Decision making that will help the police to enhance the productive relationship between them with the public.
Ethics is the main agenda in the policing. Police are supposed to establish and maintain higher ethical standards. Therefore, when police are making decisions, they should consider some ethical factors that will promote their relationship with the public. The following are some of the ethical issues to consider; the first one being trustworthiness. Trustworthiness involves four moral elements that increase one’s credibility and public trust (Dempsey, & Forst, 2013). They include integrity, honesty, promise keeper, and loyalty. When the actions of the police are of high integrity, their trust to the public will be high and hence maintaining a productive relationship with the public. Secondly, respect is an ethical issue which involves treating all people with high dignity, courtesy, and professional despite how you may be perceiving them to be. Police should ensure they maintain respect when making their decisions, both physical and verbally. The third ethical issue includes ensuring that they are responsible. Police should ensure that they are accountable for the decision they make with a high level of professionalism and proficiency. When they execute their duties in the right manner will improve their connection with the public. Lastly, the ethical issue is to maintain fairness. It involves treating all people equally despite who they are and being consistent as well as giving people the freedom to express themselves when they are accused of any mistake they may have committed. It helps them to make decisions on merits avoiding showing favouritism to some people when people are all treated equally they willing to interact fully with the police.
How ethical issues that are faced within the community directly affect the relationship with the police.
The ethical issue that faces the community directly and may affect their relationship with the police may include the following; lack of confidentiality. Confidentiality involves keeping the secrecy of the information or any communication shared. When there is no confidentiality between the police and the public, it hinders their relationship amongst themselves. For example, when police disclose the identity of the person who gives the information about the crime that may be happening in the community or neighbourhood may affect their interaction. It’s because it may cause chaos in the city.
Secondly, conflict of interest. It will affect the relationship between the police and the public because when police have a personal interest, it will affect their judgment or action towards something. For example, is the police have a financial benefit they may decide to take bribes from people instead of taking the right response to the lawbreakers. It will affect their relationship with the public. After all, they will not be willing to share any information because they believe that no action will be taken apart from just fulfilling his interest. Therefore, the community will not trust such a police officer.
The best practices and behaviours for enhancing community-police relations
To strengthen community-police ties, they should maintain the following actions and practices. These behaviours may include the following; the first one is maintaining interaction. The police departments should ensure that they maintain communication between themselves and the public. It will be supported by police communicating with the public even when they are not investigating an issue in the community. They should ensure they know the people in the city and also participate in community activities. This behaviour will help them maintain the highest level of interaction with the district. The second practice is problem-solving. It involves providing solutions to the issue being passed through by the community. The community faces many challenges which may include conflict amongst themselves. When police solve the problem which they are passing through improves the trust of the city to them. Hence achieving a great relationship between them and the community.
The behaviours and practices will be of more help to federal law enforcement agencies because they are the one who is involved in investigation activities. They will help them to acquire the right information that will help them to maintain law and order.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the relationship between the policing departments and the public is a vital factor in the police department. Through a good relationship, the police will be useful in their duties. The ethical issues and behaviours in the community are the essential factors that need to be maintained for a good relationship to be enhanced in the city. Good relationship enhances peace in the city and the safety of the town.
References
Brogden, M., & Nijhar, P. (2013). Community policing. Routledge.
https://www.justice.gov/crs/file/836486/download
Dempsey, J., & Forst, L. (2013). An introduction to policing. Cengage Learning.
https://post.ca.gov/Portals/0/post_docs/publications/Becoming_an_Exemplary_Peace_Officer.pdf
Nicholl, C. G. (1999). Community policing, community justice, and restorative justice: Exploring the links for the delivery of a balanced approach to public safety.