Research Paper on Law Enforcement Agencies: Policing, Management, & Leadership

Introduction

The American law enforcement agencies are made up of local, state, and federal organizational levels. In this paper, there is an identification of the policing function of these agencies. Besides, there is a comparison and contrast of how the organizational, management, administration, and operational services are similar or different in these agencies. Lastly, the leadership characteristics and responsibilities of law enforcement officers are discussed.

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Local Police Policing Function

The local police have many roles that they play, which have been broken down to different duties, functions, and responsibilities. The local police have a responsibility of providing routine patrol in the areas that they have been assigned in a given community. They are also involved in the provision of emergency services and ensuring that traffic laws are adhered to by all public road users. They have a role in investigating, planning, and analyzing crimes that have been committed in their area of jurisdiction (Peak, 2010). Besides, they are involved in crime prevention, ensuring healthy community relations, and also quelling riots. Another function of the local law enforcement authorities is the detention of adult and juvenile criminals before taking them to court.

State Law Enforcement Policing Function

The state law enforcement authority is composed of the state police and the highway patrol units. The roles and functions of this police department are similar to that of the local police only that they have a more significant jurisdiction. The department is categorized into many units, which include investigative unit, aviation branch, and tactical division. The highway patrol units have the responsibility of ensuring safety in the state's highways. Besides, the group can also be involved in investigative functions where they assist the local police in investigating complex criminal activities within the state. The specialized divisions are engaged in different tasks; for instance, the tactical division plays essential roles in maintaining peace and enforcing state laws and regulations. The state police are also responsible for detaining criminals, protecting crime scenes, and offering emergency services to the public in case of accidents like fires or natural disasters (Whisenand, 2009).

Federal Police Function

The federal agency law enforcement officers are divided into two categories. There are uniformed officers and investigative officers. However, some of the officers from the two divisions perform similar functions as per the requirements. The uniformed federal police provide their services in specific locations such as the capital of the United States, the White House, the Supreme Court, and the federal offices. The investigative unit of the federal police is involved in different activities as per the provisions of the United States Code that they are assigned. For instance, DEA deals with narcotic drugs and enforce laws to regulate these drugs and prevent drug trafficking. On the other hand, the secret service is involved in investigating criminal cases that involve currency. Other functions of federal law enforcement include investigating corruption, and fraud in various departments under the Inspector General (Carter, 2004).

The local, state and federal police agencies serve similar functions of law enforcement. They receive the same directive to support and oversee law enforcement and criminal combat activities. The significant difference in these agencies is the jurisdictions, resources, funding, and operations. Therefore, their roles and responsibilities are dynamic and continue to overlap as they offer their services to the public.

Organizational, Management, Administration, and Operational Similarities and Differences

All law enforcement agencies in the United States have many things in common. The three agencies are similar in that they have the responsibility of ensuring the protection of all the rights and ensuring safety to the public in their area of operations. They have to enforce laws and regulations, detain criminals, protect the citizens from any danger, and serve the nation as per the requirements of the law (Cordner & Scarborough, 2010).

However, these agencies have some differences in the manner in which they operate. The first difference is in the way in which they are hiring the top managers. City governments appoint the local and state police based on the rules and regulations that govern the respective city government. Therefore, there are different regulations in the hiring of local law enforcement officers based on the city. Thus, the top management of local police is composed of political appointees picked from a group of professionals. On the other hand, the hiring of senior officers in the federal police body is done by the President under the advice of the senate. The other ranks are made up of internal law enforcement officers whose promotion is based on merit (Carter, 2004).

The operations of these agencies are different as they are governed by the jurisdiction in which they operate. The federal agencies are guided by the federal laws and regulations in their operations, whereas the state police work under the guidance of their local statutes of action. The local police force's activities are guided by the rules of their municipal or city. However, the laws of the state also govern how local law enforcement officers work.

The administration structure in the three law enforcement agencies is also different. The local police have different nomenclature for agencies, their powers, and funding. Also, each state has its way of administration in the police force. The ranks have different names depending on the state and responsibilities. The federal police agency administration is made up of different branches which are under the office of the inspector general. These branches are made up of various departments, as outlined in the federal law enforcement act (Cordner & Scarborough, 2010).

Leadership Characteristics and Responsibilities

Leaders in the police force should have some practical leadership qualities. Firstly, they should have technical skills such that they have specialized knowledge and analytical skills that are effective in their field of practice. These skills would be essential in duties such as budgeting, basic computer knowledge, and skills in operating necessary instruments like alcohol testing equipment. Humane capabilities are additionally fundamental and crucial for leaders of the different police agencies. These aptitudes are identified with the capacity of the official to adequately execute as an individual from a group and upgrade collaboration. Such a leader should be aware of the necessities of the general population, which for this situation are his lesser partners just as the overall population that they offer their services.

Furthermore, police leaders should have the ability to endure obscurity at the same time understanding people who bear different views from theirs, and also people with different experiences. The third significant character of a leader has skills which are perfect for coordination and combination of exercises and interests with little clash. As pointed out before, police duties are diverse and may not generally be anything but challenging to facilitate, particularly in light of crisis reaction calls. Thus, the leader ought to be alert and composed to abstain from disregarding and ignoring some of their obligations, while giving unimportant regard to additional duties. The skill requires satisfactory organizing and comprehending the policing functions (Peak, 2010).

The duties of senior police include those of the chief executive officers, office directors and supervising. As the CEO, they are the general leaders of the police administration, thus responsible for running the whole administrative unit operationally and in other activities of the entire police organization. The obligations of the chief executive officer involve formulation and correspondence of clear vision for the association (Whiseland, 2009). They likewise ensure that there is a supervisory crew that is focused on interpreting the association's dreams without hesitation. The police leaders are similarly expected to guarantee that the bureaucratic obstructions in the association are disposed of, and this goes far in ensuring that there is a hierarchy of leadership to improve more uncomplicated correspondence among the different degrees of intensity. Viable communication guarantees the smooth running of tasks.

The other lower ranks in police leaders include police captains and lieutenants, who are the connection between the highest-ranked managers and the junior law enforcement officers. They are in charge of ensuring that the junior officers and their subordinates are engaged to confront and resolve issues all the more innovatively and effectively. Those in the middle of police leadership are also responsible for the creation of frameworks, bolster systems, and assets that guarantee that every one of the officials gets the best outcomes in their exercises.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the organizational, management, and operation functions of the United States law enforcement agencies are very similar with minor disparities in the areas of jurisdiction, funding, resources, hiring, and training. The local police perform their duties in municipalities, and cities while the state law enforcement officers have authority in a given state. The federal agency is widespread and can cover more than one country. The roles of these agencies are similar and meant to safeguard citizen's right and ensure their safety.

References

Cordner, G. & Scarborough, K. (2010). Information sharing: Exploring the intersection of policing with national and military intelligence. The Journal of the Naval Postgraduate School Centre for Homeland Defense and Security. 6 (1). Retrieved from https://www.hsaj.org/articles/92

Carter, D.L. (2004). Law Enforcement Intelligence: A guide for state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies. School of Criminal Justice, Michigan State University. Retrieved on from http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/e09042536.pdf

Peak, K.J. (2010). Justice Administration: Police, courts, and corrections management. Prentice Hall, Pearson Education, Inc.

Whisenand, P.M. (2009) Managing Police Organizations. Prentice Hall, Pearson Education, Inc.