Evolution of Policing in America Essay Example

It is eminent that the past era is analyzed and understood to comprehend the development of the law enforcement in America. The America policing evolved from three eras entailing: political era, reform era, and community-oriented era. Regardless of not technically being embraced as an "era," intelligence-led policing is the modern endeavor integrated by the law enforcement, and it is spreading its impact to the policing styling. Therefore, the paper will center on analyzing Evolution of Policing in America by Steven Contreras and Ann Bumbak while determining whether the content contain great support concerning America's law enforcement evolution.

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In The Evolution of Policing in America, Contreras and Bumbak (2017) begin by discussing the real problem facing the law enforcement, and this entails the need from the crime-infested communities. Contreras and Bumbak (2017) address the irony where the society needs law enforcement to avoid killing each other, but also they hate police officers. The police force is subjected to dealing with outraged society because of the uncertainty and fear instilled concerning law enforcement. Contreras and Bumbak (2017) address ways of preventing the community rage, and this entails quick response by the police officers and providing the necessary information to the community showing accountability.

The police officers have the responsibility towards the society, and it entails ensuring that the situation is handled before the community becomes agitated due to negligence. However, Contreras and Bumbak (2017) acknowledged that the community understands their importance and regardless of being agitated, the troubled society embraces the police officers as human beings. Contreras and Bumbak (2017) address the acceptance as what makes the police shootings and killing a community member be received egregiously. When acknowledgment about the shooting is not granted, the community members feel victimized and marginalized by people who should offer them protection. Contreras and Bumbak (2017) justify the feelings because of the belief that things would have been handled differently such as apprehending the culprit or knocked him down.

Contreras and Bumbak (2017) address the continuation of the victimization of the African-American and why they are prevalent to defiance. The authors affirm that rebellion is associated with the slavery legacy that provokes the cultural identity challenging the authority. The authors directly highlight the good and evil of the communities and the police officers. As they explain, Contreras and Bumbak (2017) mention the work that ethical officers invest in executing when protecting the community. Moreover, the population relies on the police officers for the protection and support. The aggression and confrontation from both parties originate from neglect and line of duty. The shootings and killings make the community perceive the police officers as enemies and betrayers because they yearn for their protection.

Contreras and Bumbak (2017) state the prevalence of less connection between the police officers and the community is triggered by the attitudes experienced when curbing evil. Contreras and Bumbak (2017) not only justify the actions executed by both the society and the law enforcement officers but also provide the reality of the outrage experienced. The attitude has current as the primary cause of the changes and the pollution of the policing system in America. Police officers experience job stresses as well as the attitude of the community that does not corporate and refuses to obey simple regulations and respect communication channels.

Police officers have the responsibilities of performing their duties, but each day they are exposed to higher crime rates. The reality of the police officers experience is that they get to deal with the most brutal and grotesque actions performed on innocent people, children, women, and other terrible scenes. The PTSD rates have heightened in the police departments, but they are limited to seeking mental health assistance because it considered a taboo (Contreras & Bumbak, 2017). Therefore, the favored technique for coping entail suicide which is widespread within the profession. Contreras and Bumbak (2017) suggest that the only way to deal with the problem is through accepting and acknowledging the existence of the concern and develop methods that can be applied to curb the circumstance. Just the way the veteran were assisted, the police officers should be prioritized.

Contreras and Bumbak (2017) highlight that the nation has failed in acknowledging the reality of adverse experiences that police encounter daily and how the attitudes have a part in corrupting policing ethics. Contreras and Bumbak (2017) state the corruption of politics into the police department. However, the evolution of policing in the future entails police officers that will be organized and managed by the community. The law enforcement officers who will work with the society instead of working against them. The recruitment, examination, and selection process of police officers will be fair and appropriate while subjecting them to viable training integrated with pristine ethics.

Contreras and Bumbak (2017) emphasize how the future system will be restructured and reimagined. The police officers will be recognized as an integral element in the society as well as having a unique responsibility of impacting the community. As noted, the police officers have several responsibilities to execute- such as being teachers, leaders, parents, social workers, rescuers- in the society (Contreras & Bumbak, 2017). However, the emphasis has been directed towards being an enforcer without being considered as agents of good. Contreras and Bumbak (2017) believe that in future the other roles within police officers will be recognized and appreciated while being emphasized.

The personal well-being of the police officers will be paramount including their psychological health, ethics, and physical fitness. The upcoming system will demonstrate proficiency and adequate experience in policing duties. The community members will highly benefit from the new era of police officers because their immediate needs will be spontaneously transmitted and comprehended by managers, and executed immediately (Contreras & Bumbak, 2017). The greatest benefactors of the contemporary period will be the people because the police department will be led by managers and sheriffs who are community-oriented. Police officers will be considered as life coaches instead of mere enforcers, irrespective of their capacity to apprehend anyone who is a threat to the community.

Conclusion

The goals highlighted by the authors resonate with my belief that the community highly misunderstands the police department and governed by corrupt leaders. The political leaders have infiltrated the department and turned the officers to act according to their interests. Therefore, people view police officers as enforcers and threats because of the disconnection between the parties. The police department has been neglected included their well-being. They are constantly challenged and subjected to daily terrible ordeals without appropriate mechanisms of coping. However, as Contreras and Bumbak (2017) stated, the future policing system will be community-oriented, and police officers will be treated as indispensable. The well-being of police officers will be prioritized while they will be accountable to the community including having transparent and fair communication. The right channels will be implemented in handling anyone who is a threat or danger to the society. It will not be an easy reform, but it will be a reality.

Reference

Contreras, S. and Bumbak, A. (2017). The Evolution of Policing in America. Dynamic Police Training, pp.1-88.