police essay

Essay On Police

500 words essay on police.

In this world, we must have laws to maintain peace. Thus, every citizen must follow these laws. However, there are some people in our society who do not follow them and break the laws . In order to keep a check on such kinds of people, we need the police. Through essay on police, we will learn about the role and importance of police.

Importance of Police

The police are entrusted with the duty of maintaining the peace and harmony of a society. Moreover, they also have the right to arrest and control people who do not follow the law. As a result, they are important as they protect our society.

Enforcing the laws of the land, the police also has the right to punish people who do not obey the law. Consequently, we, as citizens, feel safe and do not worry much about our lives and property.

In other words, the police is a saviour of the society which makes the running of society quite smooth. Generally, the police force has sound health. They wear a uniform and carry a weapon, whether a rifle or pistol . They also wear a belt which holds their weapons.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas  

Role of Police

The police play many roles at police stations or check posts. They get a posting in the town or city depending on the crime rate in the area. When public demonstrations and strikes arise, the police plays a decisive role.

Similarly, when they witness the crowd turning violent during protests or public gatherings, it is their responsibility to prevent it from becoming something bigger. Sometimes, they also have to make use of the Lathi (stick) for the same reason.

If things get worse, they also resort to firing only after getting permission from their superiors. In addition, the police also offer special protection to political leaders and VIPs. The common man can also avail this protection in special circumstances.

Thus, you see how the police are always on duty round the clock. No matter what day or festival or holiday, they are always on duty. It is a tough role to play but they play it well. To protect the law is not an easy thing to do.

Similarly, it is difficult to maintain peace but the police manage to do it. Even on cold winter nights or hot summer afternoons, the police is always on duty. Even during the pandemic, the police was on duty.

Thus, they keep an eye on anti-social activities and prevent them at large. Acting as the protector of the weak and poor, the police play an essential role in the smooth functioning of society.

Conclusion of Essay On Police

Thus, the job of the police is very long and tough. Moreover, it also comes with a lot of responsibility as we look up to them for protection. Being the real guardian of the civil society of a nation, it is essential that they perform their duty well.

FAQ on Essay On Police

Question 1: What is the role of police in our life?

Answer 1: The police performs the duties which the law has assigned to them. They are entrusted to protect the public against violence, crime and other harmful acts. As a result, the police must act by following the law to ensure that they respect it and apply it in a manner which matches their level of responsibility.

Question 2: Why do we need police?

Answer 2: Police are important for us and we need it. They protect life and property, enforce criminal law, criminal investigations, regulate traffic, crowd control, public safety duties, search for missing persons, lost property and other duties which concern the public order.-*//**9666666666666666666666+9*63*

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

• Travelling Essay
• Picnic Essay
• Our Country Essay
• My Parents Essay
• Essay on Favourite Personality
• Essay on Memorable Day of My Life
• Essay on Knowledge is Power
• Essay on Gurpurab
• Essay on My Favourite Season
• Essay on Types of Sports

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Download the App

234 Police Research Topics + Examples

If you’re a criminal justice student, you might want to talk about or write a paper on the work of police officers and the hot issues in policing. Luckily, StudyCorgi has compiled an extensive list of police topics for you! On this page, you’ll find law enforcement essay topics, as well as questions and ideas for presentations, research papers, debates, and many more! Outstanding police essay examples are also waiting for you below!

🏆 Best Police Topics to Write About

✍️ police essay topics for college, 👍 good police research topics & essay examples, 📌 easy police essay topics, 🎓 most interesting law enforcement topics, 💡 simple law enforcement research topics, ❓ research questions about police, 🔎 law enforcement research paper topics, 🚔 controversial policing topics.

• Why I Want to Be a Police Officer
• What Is the Police Authority?
• Police Recruitment and Training
• Police Patrol Effectiveness Research Assessment
• Conflict and Power: Police and Community Collaboration
• Police Professionalism and Ethics of Policing
• How Police Supervisory Styles Influence Patrol Officer Behavior
• Textual Analysis of the Song “Police” by Suprême Ntm The purpose of this paper is to analyze the song “Police” written and performed by a French hip-hop band Suprême NTM. It is dedicated to the problem of police brutality, racism.
• Enhancing Police Training Program Proposal Providing all-around education to the officers requires the services of competent trainers who are well versed with the current needs of the contemporary generation.
• Police Officers Treatment Towards Civilians Based on Social Class Several investigations proved the various policemen’s performances towards civilians of a different social class.
• Police Use-of-Force in Graham v. Connor & Tennessee v. Garner Cases A state police officer shot Garner to death as he fled the crime scene. Even though Garner was unarmed, the police officer felt he had the right to shoot him to prevent his escape.
• Police Officer Characteristics and Evaluation Most people would prefer their police officers to be capable of making decisions and taking action, especially in tense situations where swift choices are necessary.
• Public Role and Control of Police Citizens of democratic states have a right to exert control over the police. This claim is based on the fact that police are a part of the government.
• Police Brutality: The Rodney King Case The case of Rodney King is a demonstration of police brutality in the United States. This paper will conduct a comprehensive analysis of the incident, explaining it in detail.
• Police Accountability and Reform The paper states that the police are experiencing a crisis that has made them under scrutiny and pressure from the public to make reforms.
• Myths of Policing: Police Work’ Expectation The police work is surrounded by various myths developed through TV and literature that picture it differently from real activities.
• Laptop Computers in Police Cars: Benefits & Drawbacks This paper will investigate these problems and their prevalence with respect to the utilization of laptops in police vehicles.
• The Phenomenon of “Defunding the Police” The work Defunding the Police aims to explore the meaning of “defunding the police” and arguments and counterarguments surrounding this initiative.
• Essay on Police Brutality in the United States Police officers are allowed to use “non-negotiable coercive force” to maintain public order and control the behavior of citizens.
• Police Officers’ Wellness and Mental Health An increasing number of police officers are facing depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and even suicide.
• A Police Officer’s Education and Duties The harsh criticism law enforcement has received in recent years frequently overshadows the important work they do for communities around the nation.
• Police Corruption: Understanding and Preventing Police corruption remains one of the leading challenges, affecting law enforcement agencies in the United States and around the world.
• The Significance of Police Discretion to the Criminal Justice System This paper is an investigation into the meaning of police discretion. It highlights the benefits of police discretion to the role of the police department.
• Health Safety in the Police Department It is especially important to provide a healthy working environment for workers of a police department, as they need to continue their service even at the time of a health crisis.
• Police Service Transformation: Research Onion The research onion depicts the research strategies and approaches that will be employed in this study. They are discussed in more detail in this paper.
• The Six Virtual Police Department The six departmental units include the Chief of Police, Special Operations Division, Patrols, Investigations Division, Civilian Unit, and Support Service Division.
• Servant Leadership in a Police Organization The paper studies servant leadership, explicitly comparing and contrasting its traits with the major traits of a leader as outlined in the Good-to-Great book series.
• Motivating Police Officers to Serve and Protect The proposal focuses on the idea that Heritage PD could significantly benefit from the use of motivating factors when approaching police officer productivity.
• Police Officers: Qualifications and Responsibilities The police are in charge of upholding law and order, protecting the public, and stopping, spotting and looking into illegal activity, making it a dynamic occupation.
• Police Civil Liability in the Light of Monroe v. Pape People want to know that in trouble, such as, for instance, a robbery or car theft, police will come to their aid and guarantee protection.
• Benefits and Challenges of Using Drones for the Police Drones are becoming a state-of-the-art trend in policing; however, their implementation may face some difficulties regarding privacy and information security.
• Police Sexual Harassment Suit This paper analyzes the case of the ex-Round Lake Height’s policeman, Hossein Isbitan, who filed a Lawsuit against his boss despite other problem-solving measures at his workplace.
• Police Corruption in California The analysis of the information proves that police corruption in California depends on the work and social environment of police officers.
• Community Policing Assignment: A History of Police Work in the Criminal Justice System Community policing led to the introduction of a system where the police officers and members of the community get a closer relationship.
• Organization Effectiveness of a Police Department The organization is a core and framework of effective performance. The organization allows the police department to ensure effective management and organization of human resources.
• Criminal Justice Ethics: Police Corruption & Drug Sales The growth of police corruption instances involving drug sales is relatively easy to explain. The financial rewards offered by the sales of illegal drugs are enormous.
• Western Australia Police Communications Centre’s Change The WA Police Communications Centre is a vital organ of the regions police force. This essay seeks to analyze the challenges that affect the centre.
• Restructuring of Los Angeles Police Department Fiscal Budget The foundation of the paper is a breakdown of the Los Angeles Police Department budget, a proposal to reduce the budget and its effects.
• Forensic Psychology for Police Recruitment and Screening The quest for competitive and effective police officers led to the introduction of some measures to help in the recruitment of individuals.
• New Orleans Police Department’s Ethics and Leadership Police officers or civil servants who fail to meet the prescribed norms of behavior or commit serious indictable offenses can be punished if no other people are involved.
• Police Detective Career: Information and Issues The police detective career is very dynamic and demanding, especially the sections of criminal investigations such as homicide and theft.
• Cultural Influences on Police Decision-Making The paper identifies cultural influences on police decision-making. There has been a deterioration in trust between the police and some social groups.
• Improving Police Morale and Community Communication This paper’s purpose is to examine the police department on street patrol, and also to reveal the issue of mass dismissal of police officers.
• The Impact of Technology on the Police Patrol The use of complex technological systems by police officers to ensure the safety of citizens is a vital step in the development of the infrastructure of security and public order.
• Police Standards Should Be Modified There is a certain need for standards modification in the police that should be performed immediately. A particular amount of inequality exists in the departments of the police.
• Police Brutality: The Killing of Daunte Wright Police brutality is defined as the use of unjustified or excessive force by the police, usually against citizens. It refers to the violation of human rights by the police.
• Police Force Diversifying Strategies The presence of women officers and officers of color may act as a complementary stimulus, as they have an approach that could be more relatable for future personnel.
• Policing From Above: Drone Use by the Police Drones are among the few technologies that law enforcement agencies could use to alleviate many of the challenges they face in their ordinary duties.
• Chesterfield County Police Department: Hiring Process This paper will explore the applicable requirements of the Chesterfield County Police Department for the position of an entry-level law enforcement officer.
• Assessing Role of Technology in Police Crime Mapping The role of technology in police operations has become pivotal because it aids our law enforcement agencies to do their tasks easier and less time-consuming.
• Mentoring Programs in Police Departments The given proposal revolves around a one-on-one mentoring program that can be used by police departments to improve officers’ competence.
• Police Work: Public Expectations and Myths The work of the police is surrounded by various myths developed through TV and literature that picture it differently from real activities.
• Criminal Profiling and Police Corruption Police integrity is a complicated issue that can be solved by increased oversight and improved screening of candidates.
• Police Work’ Concepts and Operationalization This document presents the concepts and practical application of a study conducted to identify factors that affect the results of police work in the community.
• Police Brutality: Reasons and Countermeasures The research identifies the reasons for police brutality and the course of actions that conceivably could be done in order to finish it.
• Sociological Positivism Theory in Police Practice Sociological positivism is primarily concerned with how specific social conditions in a person’s experience might contribute to an increased proclivity for crime.
• The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officers The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is the national police force of Canada. They are responsible for policing in provinces, local communities, municipalities, and airports.
• Police Misconduct Against the Black Community Police misconduct has escalated against the Black community and other ethnic groups. Mistreatment by police officers is determined by two significant factors: race and sex.
• Community Policing: Police Officers’ Role Orientations Community policing has shown to have multiple benefits for both local citizens and law enforcement in the activities to both prevent or respond to potential threats or disruptions.
• The Use of Force in Police: Theoretical Analysis This discussion evaluates force standards and police leadership responsibilities through the prism of deindividuation and contagion.
• Police Officer With a Juvenile Police officers faced with a juvenile under arrest makes their decisions based on the balance of legal and situational factors relevant to the case.
• Police Misconduct in Criminal Justice Police misconduct is one of the issues involved in criminal justice, and there are various aspects and events entailing unconstitutional practices in law enforcement.
• Internal Problems of Mississippiville’s Police Chief Hiring Process Mississippiville is in a difficult situation, including a tense social environment, in part caused by the ineffective management of the previous chief of police.
• The Police Sexual Harassment: Case Study This paper reviews a case involving sexual assault by a police officer with the view to discussing its cause, results, and what could have been done to prevent the wrongdoing.
• Police Use of Force and Its Limits The paper aims to define what it means to be a police officer, discuss the legal use of nondeadly and deadly force, and determine the limits placed on police power.
• Police Discretion: Criminal Justice While in the academy and for their period of training, police are particularly skilled on how to handle various situations that they will come across.
• Report for the Chief of Police The current report contains the definition and description of the Uniform Crime Report, the data-gathering strategy used for the analysis and its rationale, and crime trends.
• Rodney King’s Police Brutality Case: What Went Wrong Rodney’s case remains a historic example of police brutality. The interplay of several factors might have led to the acquittals of the officers in the first trial.
• About Police Chaplaincy Program The article argues for launching a police chaplain program to connect the community with the police and provide survivors with the emotional and social support they need.
• American Society Police Brutality Causes and Effects Police brutality in America is visible and accompanied by racial discrimination and creates negative consequences for society because it imposes trust issues.
• All Police Officers Should Wear a Body Camera This paper suggests that the use of body cameras positively contributes to the reinforcement of procedural justice, as the prevention of unethical behavior and police brutality.
• How Does ‘Police Culture’ Influence Police Practice? Police culture is influenced by a number of social and political factors which determine its main functions and internal structure.
• Police Attitudes and Professionalism: Interview The interviewee chosen for this assignment is a 34-year old white married male, currently working as a full-time police officer in the Miami Police Department.
• Police Violence and Subterfuge Cases Police violence and subterfuge are the phenomena that unite the cases of Joy Gardner, who died in custody in 1993 and those of young Mike Brown or middle-aged Eric Garner.
• Police Brutality During COVID-19 Pandemic In the United States, there has been a perceived and observed police injustice towards minority communities, especially Blacks.
• Interactions of Local Police and Homeland Security Officials The purpose of this paper is to compare the interactions of the two agencies in lawkeeping and order by examining their structural responsibilities as captured in the state laws.
• Mental Health and Well-Being of Canadian Police Officers The paper presents the problem of mental health in Canadian police officers. Even before the pandemic, stress and anxiety were common among law enforcement officers.
• The Dallas Police Department Police Academy and Training Curriculum The paper states that the future of diversity hiring in law enforcement will be driven strongly by organizational structure and leadership going forward.
• Aspects of Police Culture and Diversity This paper discusses the topic of police culture and diversity. In the American law enforcement system, some police departments do not appreciate diversity.
• The Secret Police in East Germany The Secret Police in East Germany, also known as the Stasi, was an organization established by military forces and ministers to exercise total control over the population.
• The Los Angeles Police Department’s Overview The Los Angeles Police Department is headed by the board of police commissioners, which comprises a five-member team appointed to oversee the department’s operation.
• Police Misconduct: New Rochelle Police Officer Case Study Officer Michael Vaccaro was driven by the desire to punish the criminal Malik Fogg; however, he used too much force.
• Police Officers’ Excessive Use of Force Although law enforcement officers are allowed to use lethal force, they should exercise that authority only when the suspect possess threat of harming others physically.
• Discussion Misuse of Lies in the Police The paper discusses situations where police officers may misuse lying when dealing with mentally ill people or people in crisis.
• The Police in the Modern World The police in the modern world is a body endowed with certain powers and responsibilities. Its mission is to enforce the law, prevent crime, and ensure public safety.
• The San Diego Police Department’s History and Work This work describes the work of the San Diego Police Department, its brief history, and statistics about working there.
• The Legality of the Scope of a Police Search The paper discusses the two court cases which demonstrate that the legality of the scope of a police search is a controversial legal question.
• Police Killing Black People in a Pandemic Police violence as a network of brutal measures is sponsored by the government that gives the police officers permission to treat black people with disdain.
• The History of Relationships Between Police and African Americans The paper describes the necessity to spread the knowledge of racism’s history and discuss it to ensure the next generations’ tolerance.
• Collaborative Organizational Changes in Police The paper states that both Future Search and Open Space techniques are applicable and beneficial in military organizations such as the police.
• Influence of Police Bias on Disparity in Juvenile Incarceration Rates There is apparent disparity in the rates at which juveniles from various ethnic backgrounds are incarcerated. Black teenagers are 5 times more probable to be convicted than White.
• Force Diversification as a Way of Addressing Police Brutality in the US Police brutality and police killing target racial minorities, especially African Americans, to a much greater degree than the white population.
• Researching and Analysis of Police Abuse The analysis of high-profile cases of police abuse allows assuming that there would not have been fatal outcomes if the officers had respected the basic rights of their victims.
• George Orwell and Occupy Wall Street and Police Brutality The statement in Friedersdorf article, ‘the length authority figures will go to avoid derisive laughter’ is in agreement with George Orwell’s perspective.
• The Influence of Police Bias on Disparity in Juvenile Crime: Methodology The issue of racial disparity in the criminal justice system remains a topical one. 64% of the charged youth are people of color.
• An Inside View of Police Officers’ Experience with Domestic Violence “An Inside View of Police Officers’ Experience with Domestic Violence” is an article authored by Horwitz et al., published in 2011.
• The Civil Rights Movement: Minorities vs. Police An opposition between minorities and police appears to be a problem that started during the Civil Rights Movement and continues to modern days.
• Race and Police Brutality in American History Racism and police violence since the time of colonization has had intense effects on Black and Indigenous communities.
• Factors That Justify the Use of Deadly Force by Police Police shootings and killings of unarmed civilians arguably qualify as violations of the use-of-force standards that warrant the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators.
• US Police Brutality and Human Resources Connection Police brutality is one of the most pressing crisis problems in the United States, it requires additional research and immediate solutions.
• Leadership in the Los Angeles Police Department LAPD continues to develop and implement new and innovative programs in which its officers are trained to become good leaders.
• Discussion of Police Misconduct The paper discusses criminal justice system has developed various approaches that guarantee that police can be held accountable for their misconduct.
• Police Brutality on African Americans Police brutality against African Americans has been on the rise even after several constitutional and legal reforms made by the country to control it.
• Police Brutality Toward Black Community The black community needs help since they suffer due to police brutality, receive various kinds of injuries, and experience traumas.
• Analysis of Decision-Making Processes in Boston Police Department The paper covers the role of police in homeland and application of these systems to the Boston Police Department.
• “Learn About Being a Police Officer” by Kane Being a police officer is one of the most challenging professions because it requires dedication, determination, and sacrifice.
• Measuring Crime: Lynnfield’s Local Police Force Stop & Search Data The study aims to assess any obvious trends that may be associated with disproportionate and/or discriminatory exercise of ‘stop and search’ policy by law enforcement agencies.
• The Use of Wiretapping in Police Technology The report discusses Chapter 14 of the book “Police Technology” by Raymond E. Foster. Dr. Foster has written extensively on technical tools and gadgets for law enforcement.
• Police Selection Process: Metropolitan and New York Police Departments The Metropolitan Police Department and the New York Police Department selection process evaluates knowledge, abilities, skills, character and traits.
• The Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department: Most Pressing Issues This report outlines the main problematic issue with the functioning of the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department.
• Police Reforms Implementation: The Los Angeles Police Department 83% of the LA residents vouching for the good job of the police especially because the LAPD has desisted from using serious force since 2004.
• Ending Racial Bias and Bureaucracy Within Police Police officials may engage in bureaucratic or administrative corruption for private gain, which facilitates distrust in the efforts of law enforcement.
• Profiling Procedures in the Los Angeles Police Department The law enforcers and most commonly the police, have profiling procedures that separate certain groups of people from the majority.
• Police Shooting and Issue of Discrimination The issue of discrimination and police shootings can be resolved by observing both officers and citizens – collecting information by cameras can serve as objective material.
• Human Sex Trafficking and Police Technology: An Issue of the Past or Present? The paper provides an introduction that describes human sex trafficking before taking a specific approach of understanding the vice in Houston, Texas.
• “How to Fix America’s Police” by Stoughton The authors of the article suggest that the US police’s current situation could be fixed in two ways: either through state intervention or through local one.
• Police Brutality Against African Americans in America The purpose of this article is to describe the different approaches to researching the problem of police brutality against African Americans.
• Inequalities and Police Brutality Against the Black This paper aims to research racial inequality and hostile police attitudes towards the black population in the United States.
• Police Brutality Against African Americans The issue being examined refers to the problem of police brutality on African Americans. The mentioned problem is a burning one and is vividly expressed in modern society.
• Police Administration and Key Effectiveness Factors When evaluating the impact of a police force, the best indicator would be to examine repetitive police action in preventing the same types of crimes.
• Management Solution Needed for the Metropolitan Police Service The dangers of getting the balance right between security, easy access, and reduction of risk are to be the main focus of the response to the tasks.
• Organizational Change in Police Departments: A Theory-Based Analysis When examining the case of implementing Compstat systems in police districts the first to consider is the positive appeals of such as system.
• Interview With Chief of Police Mr. William Evans I had a rare chance of interviewing the Chief of Police for Hinds Community College Mr. William Evans in his office on Wednesday 19 November, 2014 at 5 p.m.
• Racist Actions of the American Police Force in “The Black and the Blue” by Matthew Horace In the book “The Black and the Blue,” Matthew Horace gives testimony from behind the blue wall of secrecy and paints a society where police molest citizens.
• Police Brutality and Impunity for Police Violence The overall purpose of this paper is to explore the topic of police brutality and police impunity as it is discussed in modern studies.
• Police Brutality Against African Americans and Media Portrayal Police brutality toward the African-American population of the United States is an issue that has received nationwide publicity in recent years.
• Investigation of the Chicago Police Department This paper will analyze some of the critical issues found in the investigation of the Chicago police department by the United States Department of Justice.
• Police Violence Against African Americans in the USA The statistic shows that the violence from law enforcement officials causes thousands of deaths of black men in the USA.
• How the Police Use Facial Recognition? Some law enforcement officers, especially in Florida, do not trust the application of technique as a warrant of arrest.
• Enhanced Police Patrol Drones for Crime Prone Neighborhoods Drones are among the few technologies that law enforcement agencies could use to alleviate many of the challenges they face in their ordinary duties.
• “The Black Officer Who Detained George Floyd Had Pledged To Fix the Police”: A Story of Alex Kueng “The Black Officer Who Detained George Floyd Had Pledged to Fix the Police” article allows concluding that the police system cannot be reformed from within.
• “Police Solve Just 2% of All Major Crimes” by S. Baughman Baughman’s article is about the insufficiency of the work that the police do to solve severe crimes since only 2% of cases result in a conviction.
• Police Response to High Speed/Hot Pursuits Police officers have the responsibility of defending the lives of citizens by maintaining law and order, however, in attempts to avoid being arrested.
• Metropolitan Police Service: Identity Management Solution Within the context of Metropolitan Police Service case study, the research underlines the need for such institution to ensure production of a viable management system.
• Role of Police Agencies in Law Enforcement The police have hardly had any authority to control the most of the white color crimes. In addition, lack of expertise among the police also contributed to this problem.
• Racial Profiling of Minority Groups by the Police in the United States This research paper will address racial profiling of minority groups by the police in the US through the analysis of background, theories, and concepts.
• Beyond “Police Brutality”: Racist State Violence and the University of California – Article Review The article highlights the issues with police attitudes toward the application of seemingly extreme measures to non-violent perpetrators.
• Police Misconduct and the Misuse of Force Police misconduct is a vital concern as it affects the functioning of society and might cause much harm to individuals.
• The Issue of Police Injustice in the United States In March 2020, a tragic event led to the death of a black emergency medical technician, B. Taylor. According to descriptions, police were investigating a drug case and suspected her.
• Sexual Assault Female Victims Avoid Reporting to Police Among the most under-reported crimes in the United States, one of the leading roles is occupied by sexual assault. Sixty-five percent of female victims avoid reporting to police.
• Evaluating Budget Documents of Police Department The paper will analyze the budget which was presented by the police department indicating both the estimates and the adjusted figures.
• Professional Ethics: Police Department The science of ethics attempts to give humanity the answers to the existential question of what is moral and what is not.
• National Association of Police Organizations This paper focuses on the performance of the National Association of Police Organizations, including its purposes and contribution to the United States’ law enforcement community.
• Forensic Psychology in the Police Subspecialty Forensic psychological officers have crucial roles in the running of the police departments. This is because law enforcement chores are entitled to many challenges.
• Procedural Justice in Contacts with The Police Analysis The paper examines the relational model of authority that indicates the procedural justice role in the public evaluation of and support for the police.
• Testing Food Service Employees: Policy Assessment Mary Mallon, or Typhoid Mary as she was called, worked as a cook and was reputed to have caused infections of Typhoid fever in 47 people and caused the death of 3.
• Motivation & Control: The Police Supervisor’s Dilemma It is universally acknowledged that the effectiveness of the work is toughly connected with a consistent organizational structure and subordinate system.
• Police Supervisor’s Dilemma: Control and Motivation The level of control needed in a police institution is related to the capability of officers to construct an inspiring environment.
• Dismal City Police Department: “Do More With Less” The approach of community policing as well as the strategies used and its implementation vary widely depending on the requirements and the reactions of communities.
• UK Police Are Changing Their Attitude to Racial Issues The increased number of black and Asian police officers influenced positively the way suspects from minority ethnic groups were handled
• Police Brutality: Analysis of the Problem Police brutality is directed towards racial minorities and poor immigrants who cannot protect their rights in the courtroom and have no money to file a law case against officers.
• Police or Custodial Brutality in the United States
• Major External Forces and Police Organization
• US Police Challenges Today: Police Discretion
• Police-Community Relations: Leadership Project
• Police Brutality and Mental Health of African Americas
• America as a Superpower and the World’s Police
• Courtelaney Pass Police Department: Potential Problem Solutions
• The Report on the Courtelaney Pass Police Department
• Police Liability Issue and Consequences of Illegal Actions
• Addressing the Gulf Coast Police Department Understaffing
• Local Police Response to Terrorism
• Are African Americans More Harassed by Police?
• Undercover Police Investigations in Drug-Related Crimes
• Age Influence on the Support for Police Action
• Dallas Tragic Events: The Shooting of Police Officers by a Perpetrator
• Police Misconduct and Its Affecting Factors
• Driving and Police Stop in Dramatic Interpretation
• Police Administrators and Their Ethical Responsibility
• Police Brutality Increasing: Support for Black Males
• Police Injustice Towards African-Americans
• Police Unions’ Development in the US
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sexual Harassment Class Action
• Police Officer Murder, Trial and Punishment
• Police’s Brutality Towards African American Males
• Chesterfield County Police Department Structure
• Racial Profiling: Trust, Ethics, Police Legitimacy
• Police Brutality Toward African-American Males
• Liability Issues for Police Departments
• Police Administration: Structures, Processes and Behavior
• Police Reform in Florida
• Police Shooting of Richard Cabot in Pittsburgh
• The Issue of Police Brutality in Community
• The Rise of Police Brutality against African-American Males
• Are Illegal Police Quotas Still Affecting American Citizens?
• What Is the Name of American Police?
• What Are the Four Types of Police System?
• Are Women More Effective Police Officers?
• What Are Young Adults’ Perception of Police?
• What Are Some Nicknames for the Police?
• Which Country Has the Best Police System?
• Which Country Has the Largest Police Force in the World?
• When Did Police Brutality Start?
• Can the Police Reduce Crime?
• Are Police Allowed to Punch You in the UK?
• Which Countries Have Police Brutality?
• What Causes Police Corruption?
• What Is Excessive Force by Police?
• Which Indian State Has Most Powerful Police?
• What Is the Highest-Paid Job in the Police?
• How Does the Los Angeles Police Department Represent the City?
• How Can We Overcome Police Brutality?
• What Does Three Stars on a Police Uniform Mean?
• Should Police Officers Wear Cameras?
• Should the Police Have More Power?
• Do Police Officers Salute Military?
• Why Were the Police Unable to Catch Jack the Ripper?
• Which Country Has Private Police?
• How Many Police Are There in the UK?
• Are Body Cameras Fighting Police Misconduct?
• When Does Police Discretion Cross Boundaries?
• What Is the Issue of Police Brutality?
• How Does Police Brutality Violate Civil Rights?
• What Human Rights Are Being Violated by Police?
• Police use of force: trends, policies, and effects on public trust.
• How do police-worn body cameras affect officer accountability and transparency?
• Challenges and benefits of technology use in modern police.
• De-escalation techniques in police and their effects on reducing violent encounters.
• How does law enforcement address human trafficking?
• Police corruption and misconduct: causes, consequences, and prevention.
• Law enforcement challenges in investigating digital offenses.
• The effects of the militarization of police on civil liberties.
• The impact between the use of body-worn cameras and police use of force.
• The influence of implicit bias on police decision-making.
• Defunding the police: should funds be reallocated from law enforcement to social services?
• Are “stop-and-frisk” police practices constitutional?
• Facial recognition technology use by police: balancing public safety and privacy.
• Should no-knock warrants be banned?
• Do police unions promote the abuse of power?
• Is it possible to escape racial bias in predictive policing algorithms?
• The school-to-prison pipeline: do police officers belong in schools?
• Should drug testing for police officers be mandatory?
• Should the use of chokeholds and neck restraints in law enforcement be banned?
• Is anti-bias training for police officers effective in reducing violent police conduct?

Cite this post

• Chicago (N-B)
• Chicago (A-D)

StudyCorgi. (2021, September 9). 234 Police Research Topics + Examples. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/police-essay-topics/

"234 Police Research Topics + Examples." StudyCorgi , 9 Sept. 2021, studycorgi.com/ideas/police-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . (2021) '234 Police Research Topics + Examples'. 9 September.

1. StudyCorgi . "234 Police Research Topics + Examples." September 9, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/police-essay-topics/.

Bibliography

StudyCorgi . "234 Police Research Topics + Examples." September 9, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/police-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . 2021. "234 Police Research Topics + Examples." September 9, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/police-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Police were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on January 8, 2024 .

Browse our resources and use the filters on the left to access all of our study guides, quizzes, flash cards, and more.

• Articles 75
• Sample Tests 3
• Flash Cards 1

We offer the best study program, start now

Police Essay Writing Strategy

Understanding effective writing strategies is critically relevant to success at your police test as well as your ability to communicate verbally to others. This section takes a look at the ideal strategies for you to adopt in this regard.

Understanding how to effectively write an essay is more relevant than it may first appear. First and foremost, any aspiring police officer will, at some point, be required to furnish a report of a particular incident. You’ll need to have sufficient communication skills in order to complete this task while being competent at conveying this data to relevant parties. This is why effective communication skills are a core part of the policing curriculum. Having an effective essay writing strategy greatly assists you in this endeavor as you’ll have a structured format to follow for whatever topic is presented to you. This is particularly true as you’re required to pass a police written test where essay writing is central to whether you’ll succeed or not.

Organising Your Ideas

This guide for the police written test begins by analyzing the need for effective organization of your ideas. In the first instance, try not to feel intimidated by the idea of putting pen to paper. After all, your writing work is simply a reflection of what ideas and concepts are in your mind. When you’re writing, always keep this in mind — if it doesn’t sound natural in real life then it won’t sound natural on paper! In other words, try to write the way you’d ordinarily speak and this way you’re guaranteed to benefit from better flows of words and ideas. The essay topic itself could be anything, so while you cannot prepare for every conceivable question you can certainly prepare for every conceivable answer. The first step in this regard is to organize all the ideas that concern a particular question and jot them down on paper.

First, take a look at how the question is oriented: does it say ‘Describe’, ‘Analyse’, ‘List’ etc.? How the question is asked will ultimately determine how you’re going to formulate an answer. Evidently, a list will require a different type of answer than an analysis. Furthermore, if you’re asked to analyse a subject, the last thing you’d want to do is provide a list! Thus, read the question multiple times to ensure you know how to frame your answer. With this in mind, you’ll now have to think about all the relevant ideas that answer that particular question — focus on specific ideas that you can support with evidence. Ideas that cannot be backed up by argument or evidence will not mark well on exam day. Examiners marking the police written exam are looking to see whether you can make these important distinctions.

Each paragraph you write will be populated by just one idea. There is no room for waffle — all your paragraphs will thus contain a central idea that links back to the question asked. This is the purpose of organizing your ideas. Let’s take the contrary essay writing strategy that doesn’t organize ideas at all. This means, as you’ve probably guessed, that the essay will be random and disorganized, liable to stray off into irrelevance while avoiding the question in the hope its content is somehow correct. You cannot take this risk — instead, put pen to paper when you think of these ideas. Never look at this activity as a waste of time as once you have these ideas, all that’s required is the formulation of these ideas into words and paragraphs – a process that will increase your chances of passing your police test.

Structuring Your Essay

Now that you’ve organised all necessary ideas to answer the question, you need to think about how to structure these ideas. Your police test has been designed to see if students have the ability to correctly structure their argument. This is actually much simpler than it sounds and this preparation can begin in the weeks and months leading up to the police written exam. The most efficient way to structure your essay is to break it down into three distinct components:

We’re going to take a look at each of these components in detail and what factors you should consider when utilizing the ideas hitherto organised. Your police written exam will ask for an essay type answer, hence it’s essential that you take adopt all of the strategies outlined both above and below.

Introduction

The introduction of your essay will set down the tone and plan for the rest of the piece. You do not need to include specific points regarding your ideas but you will need to reference what your aims are and what you’re going to do. In other words, you’re required to write an overview of the main topic, what ideas you’re going to discuss, and how this will answer the question at hand. Think of an essay introduction in the same way as meeting somebody for the first time. When you meet them, you don’t start immediately talking about a detailed topic; instead, you begin by greeting them and introducing yourself. In the same way, your essay needs to introduce the topic to the reader so they know exactly where you’re coming from and what they can expect. As a budding law enforcement officer, you’ll need to effectively communicate your ideas and this, too, requires a clear introduction. Passing your police written exam means understanding the structure of your answers just as much as the content of those answers.

That said; there are many effective ways of boosting the quality of an introduction. The best introduction will grab the reader’s attention ensuring they’re enthusiastic to read on till the end. This can be achieved through the use of interesting facts, statistics, anecdotes or reports. Enhancing your introduction in this way is likely to impress examiners as it shows you’ve put effort into grabbing their attention – by adding this nuanced flair to your police test answer, it’s more likely to engage the examiner. Besides, whatever method you decide upon, always ensure relevance to the question and back this up with evidence where required. Take a look at the introduction below to give you some idea of what’s expected of you. The question asks to discuss the impact of uncontrolled immigration on society:

You should note the following about this police test essay introduction:

You can, of course, tweak this approach to suit your needs, but the overall message should be clear. This police test introduction should flow smoothly into the body of the essay — that part of the essay that incorporates your central ideas and arguments to provide evidence for your claims made in the introduction. Your police written exam depends on the ability to write a strong and informed introduction; one that states the message without derailing into irrelevance.

As stated before, the main body needs to be the evident part of your essay. Every major idea that you developed at the organisation phase needs to be fleshed out with its own paragraph during this stage. It’s important, at this stage, to understand exactly what we mean by a paragraph. Try to keep your paragraphs approximately the same length — about 6-8 sentences or 8-10 sentences depending on the length of your exam; the longer the exam then the longer your paragraphs can be. However, don’t make them too long, 10 lines being a convenient limit in this regard. Think of each of these paragraphs as a standalone piece that link together with the introduction to form a smooth flow of ideas. Your police test will require you to have a substantially argued body of the essay, that part of the essay that accrues the most marks. Therefore, you need to spend most of your time on this body, with the ultimate aim of logically arguing your point, each point being backed up by evidence and not idle opinion.

A paragraph in the main body is different to that of the introduction. Your paragraph needs to first state the idea that you’re going to defend. The rest of the paragraph should be spent discussing, providing evidence, or clarifying this idea. Every word you write in that single paragraph must justify its place on the page as well as being wholly relevant to the question at hand. Always ask yourself whether the sentence you’re about to write positively contributes to answering the question, or are you straying from the question, or waffling? The last sentence or two in a given paragraph should be spent clarifying your evidence and introducing how you’re going to approach the next idea in your following paragraph. Evidence, of course, remains a strong theme in policing and therefore it should come as self-evident that it should play a crucial role in answering questions during your police written exam.

The following is an example of a main body paragraph that follows on from the introduction outlined earlier:

You should note the following about this example of a main body paragraph:

You could have 4-6 paragraphs of this length, again depending on the length and type of exam, all formulated in exactly the same pattern. The only difference is the argument and evidence you adduce to support every idea you put on paper. When you’ve finished every main body paragraph, you can now approach developing your conclusion to the essay topic. The bulk of your police test question has now been answered, with the conclusion acting to draw all the major evident strings together to determine the final answer to the essay question.

This police study guide has, thus far, emphasized the need for a solid introduction and an evident body. However, the conclusion plays an equally pertinent role in the overall structure of your police test essay. The conclusion, just like every other paragraph, should be approximately the same in length and tone. However, the focus here should be on drawing together all the strings of evidence you’ve produced to reach your conclusions thus far. The conclusion, therefore, should refer back to the introduction, referencing the original aims of the essay and how you delivered on these aims. Just like the introduction, there should be no original ideas, but rather it should act as a summary of the ideas you produced in the main body paragraphs. Indeed, your entire essay should be focused on approaching your conclusion, in other words, delivering all the aims to arrive at a successful conclusion of the police test question at hand.

The following is an example of a conclusion based on the earlier question about immigration:

You should take note of the following with respect to writing a conclusion:

This police test strategy is sure to reap dividends on examination day as you’re now equipped to follow a structured and logical approach in delivering your answer. Recall that every word must justify its place on the page in answering two important questions:

You must avoid falling for the trap of talking about things you’re proficient at just because you’re proficient at it — the question will not change and so while you might be making great points, you’ll end up answering the wrong question and getting penalized accordingly. You must stay disciplined in your approach and structure; sticking to it through the entirety of your police test question. Your police written test result is sure to improve should you follow these steps without aberration – enhancing your prospects of becoming a law enforcement officer.

Home — Essay Samples — Law, Crime & Punishment — Police

Essays on Police

Brief description of police, importance of writing essays on ... read more brief description of police, importance of writing essays on this topic, tips on choosing a good topic, essay topics, concluding thought, why police reforms matter, the three eras of policing, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

Each essay is customized to cater to your unique preferences

+ experts online

Police Officers: Guardians of Society

Discrimination and racial profiling in police, a study of the work and job of a police officer, police reform: diversity, education, and structure, let us write you an essay from scratch.

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Solutions to Stop Police Brutality

Discussion on whether police should wear body cameras, reasons why police officers engage in corruption and brutality, police brutality as a form of racial discrimination in america, get a personalized essay in under 3 hours.

Expert-written essays crafted with your exact needs in mind

Police Brutality: a Negative Effect on The Black Community 

The importance of implementing policies to prevent human rights abuses by the united states police officers, the social desire for legitimate policing, research paper on racial profiling in law enforcement, media biases and misrepresentation of law enforcement, a cop’s life: how sutton changes "cop literature", research of the k9 police dog unit, overview of intelligence led policing (ilp), undercover and entrapment work in criminal investigation, review of kevin m. gilmartin's 'emotional survival for law enforcement', discussion about the issue of police brutality in america, the reasons why police officers should wear body cameras, america's police officers changing roles, assessment of the need for cultural competency training for police officers, discussion on the issue of police brutality, the rise of the singapore police force, review of the police discretion instances during traffic violation acts, police brutality against the african american community, overview of the police brutality issue, its history and reasons, an overview of the kansas city police experiment.

The police are a constituted body of persons empowered by a state, with the aim to enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citizens, and to prevent crime and civil disorder.

The first official and uniformed and centrally organized police force was established under the rule of King Louis XIV (King of France) in 1667.

Police functions include protecting life and property, enforcing criminal law, criminal investigations, regulating traffic, crowd control, public safety duties, civil defense, emergency management, searching for missing persons, lost property and other duties concerned with public order.

Uniformed police, detectives, volunteers and auxiliary, specialized groups, military police, religious police, administrative police.

More than 90% of police officers in London don’t carry firearms while on duty. Around 11.9% of the police officers in the US are women. About 33% of the police officer’s time is spent in enforcing criminal law. American law enforcement agents can solve about 20% of all the reported crimes. Over the last ten years, most police officers have died on Friday while the lowest fatal incidents happened on Tuesday.

Relevant topics

• War on Drugs
• Community Policing
• Marijuana Legalization
• Child Abuse
• Serial Killer
• Drunk Driving
• Animal Cruelty
• Broken Windows Theory
• Juvenile Delinquency

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Bibliography

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

Student Essays

Essays-Paragraphs-Speeches

8 Essays on Police -Role, Importance, Duties [ 2024 ]

Leave a Comment

Police is an important state institution that is tasked with maintaining peace and stability in the society. A strong and efficient police is an important pillar of a well governed, justice oriented and progressive society. The following essay on Police highlights the importance and role of police in society along with emphasis upon why an efficient police ensures a well established society.

List of Topics

Essay on Police | Role & Importance of Police in Society

Police is an important pillar of our society. It is the law enforcement agency which is responsible for maintaining law and order in society. It is very important for us to understand the role of police in our society and its importance.

Police is defined as organized body of persons empowered to maintain order, enforce laws, and make arrests. The primary role of police is to protect the citizens and their property. They also play an important role in crime prevention. Police work very hard to keep our streets safe and secure.

Organization of Police force:

Police is an important aspect of modern nation states. It is a highly organized and structured body which is responsible for law enforcement. The police organization varies from country to country. In some countries, the police are divided into several specialized units such as traffic Police, criminal investigation department (CID), national guard etc. while in other countries the police are a single centralized organization.

>>>> Read Also:   ” Essay on Violence against Women “

Police hierarchy:

The police are headed by a Police Commissioner or Chief of Police. He is the highest ranking officer in the department. Under him, there is a hierarchy of officers who are responsible for different aspects of policing. The rank and file officers are responsible for patrolling the streets and enforcing the law. They work under the supervision of senior officers.

Role of Police

There are various roles played by police in our society. Some of the most important roles are as follows:

1. Maintaining Law and Order:

Police is responsible for maintaining law and order in society. It is their primary responsibility to enforce the law and maintain peace and harmony in society. They work round the clock to ensure that citizens are safe and secure.

2. Preventing Crime:

One of the most important roles played by police is preventing crime. They work actively to identify potential criminals and take measures to prevent them from committing crimes. They also conduct awareness campaigns to educate people about the importance of safety and security.

3. Investigating Crime:

Another important role played by police is investigating crime. When a crime is committed, it is the responsibility of police to investigate the matter and bring the culprits to justice. They use their skills and resources to gather evidence and track down the criminals.

4. Ensuring Road Safety:

Police also play an important role in ensuring road safety. They are responsible for enforcing traffic rules and regulations. They also conduct patrols on highways to ensure that vehicles are driven safely.

5. Providing Support to Victims:

Police also provide support to victims of crime. They help them in filing FIRs and also provide psychological counseling to them.

Thus, we can see that police play a very important role in our society. They work tirelessly to maintain law and order and prevent crime. We must always remember their contribution and support them in their efforts to keep us safe and secure.

Essay on Policeman For Class 1:

A policeman is a brave and dedicated person who serves our country by protecting its citizens. They are responsible for maintaining law and order in the society and ensuring the safety of everyone. In this essay, we will learn more about policemen and their duties.

Who is a Policeman?

A policeman is an officer of the law who works for the police department. They are called by different names such as cop, constable or officer. Their main duty is to enforce laws and protect the people from crimes.

What Do Policemen Do?

Policemen have many responsibilities that they carry out to keep our society safe. Some of their duties include:

• Patrolling: Policemen patrol on foot or in vehicles to keep an eye on the streets and prevent crimes from happening.
• Traffic Control: They ensure that traffic runs smoothly by directing and guiding vehicles at busy intersections.
• Assisting People: Policemen assist people in trouble, such as helping lost children find their parents or aiding victims of accidents.
• Investigating Crimes: When a crime occurs, policemen investigate the scene, gather evidence, and try to catch the suspect.
• Maintaining Order: During public events or protests, policemen are present to maintain order and ensure everyone’s safety.

Why Are Policemen Important?

Policemen play a crucial role in keeping our society safe. Without them, there would be chaos and lawlessness everywhere. Their presence deters criminals from committing crimes as they know they will be caught. They are the protectors of our rights and freedoms, ensuring that everyone can live peacefully.

Qualities of a Good Policeman

To become a good policeman, one needs to have certain qualities such as:

• Physical Strength: Police officers need to be physically fit as they may have to chase suspects or engage in physical altercations.
• Courage: It takes courage to put oneself in dangerous situations every day. Policemen must be brave and ready to face any challenge.
• Integrity: Honesty and integrity are vital for policemen as they represent the law and must uphold its values.
• Compassion: Policemen should have empathy towards people and help those in need without discrimination.

In conclusion, policemen are an essential part of our society. They put their lives on the line to keep us safe and maintain peace in our communities. It is important to respect and appreciate their dedication and service towards our country.

As responsible citizens, we must cooperate with policemen and follow the law to create a better and safer society for everyone. So, let’s salute these brave men and women who work tirelessly for our well-being! Let us all aspire to become like them one day, serving our nation with pride, courage, and integrity.

Essay on Police Brutality:

Police brutality has been a long-standing issue in the United States and many other countries around the world. It is defined as the use of excessive or unnecessary force by law enforcement officers against civilians, resulting in injury or even death.

This problem has garnered much attention and controversy, especially due to the increasing use of technology such as smartphones and social media platforms that have made it easier to document and share instances of police brutality. However, this is not a new issue – it has been happening for decades, if not centuries.

There are many factors that contribute to police brutality, including systemic racism, lack of proper training and accountability measures for officers, and a culture within law enforcement that allows such behavior to go unchecked.

The consequences of police brutality can be devastating , not only for the victims and their families, but also for the community as a whole. It leads to a breakdown of trust between law enforcement and citizens, further perpetuating a cycle of violence and mistrust.

Efforts have been made to address police brutality through reforms and policies such as body cameras, increased diversity within police forces, and training programs focused on de-escalation tactics. While these are important steps in the right direction, there is still much work to be done.

One crucial aspect that needs to be addressed is the need for accountability among law enforcement officers. This includes thorough investigations into cases of police brutality and holding officers accountable for their actions.

Too often, officers involved in such incidents face little to no consequences for their actions, which only serves to perpetuate the problem.

Moreover, there needs to be a larger conversation around systemic racism and how it plays into police brutality. It cannot be denied that people of color, particularly Black individuals, are disproportionately targeted and subjected to excessive force by law enforcement. This is a result of deeply ingrained biases and prejudices within the system that need to be addressed and dismantled.

In addition, it is important for communities to actively engage in dialogue with law enforcement and hold them accountable for their actions. This can include community oversight boards or regular town hall meetings where citizens can voice their concerns and feedback on policing practices in their neighborhoods.

Ultimately, addressing police brutality requires a multi-faceted approach that involves not just reforms within law enforcement, but also tackling deeper issues of systemic racism and promoting accountability and community engagement.

It is a complex issue that cannot be solved overnight, but it is crucial for the safety and well-being of all individuals in society. We must continue to shine a light on this issue and demand change until we see an end to police brutality once and for all.

Moreover, it is important to acknowledge that police officers themselves are not the sole problem – there are many brave men and women who serve their communities with integrity and uphold the values of protecting and serving. It is crucial to support these officers while also working towards addressing those who abuse their power.

In conclusion, police brutality remains a pressing issue that needs to be addressed through comprehensive reforms, accountability measures, and open dialogue between law enforcement and communities. It will take the efforts of everyone – citizens, lawmakers, and law enforcement officials – to create a safer and more just society for all individuals.

Essay on Police Officer:

Police officers are the law enforcement officials responsible for maintaining peace and order in society. They play a crucial role in keeping our communities safe and secure. The job of a police officer is not an easy one, as they have to face various challenges and risks every day. In this short essay, we will discuss the duties, responsibilities, and qualities required to be a successful police officer.

The primary duty of a police officer is to protect people from harm or danger. They respond to emergency calls, investigate crimes, and apprehend criminals. Police officers also patrol their assigned areas to ensure public safety and prevent criminal activities. It is their responsibility to enforce laws and regulations set by the government.

Apart from enforcing laws, police officers also assist citizens in distress or in need of help. They may provide emergency medical aid, help people find their lost items, or even assist in traffic control during road accidents. In times of natural disasters or other emergencies, police officers are often the first responders to lend a helping hand.

One of the essential qualities of a successful police officer is physical and mental strength. Police officers undergo rigorous training to maintain their fitness levels and be prepared for any situation that may arise on the job. They must have excellent communication skills to effectively interact with members of the public and their colleagues.

Integrity is another vital quality that every police officer must possess. As they are given authority over citizens, it is crucial for them to act ethically and honestly while performing their duties. The trust between the police and the community is essential for maintaining law and order.

Police officers also need to have critical thinking and problem-solving skills. They must be able to analyze a situation quickly and make decisions that are in the best interest of the public. This skill is crucial when dealing with emergencies or diffusing tense situations.

In conclusion, police officers play a vital role in keeping our communities safe and secure. Their duties and responsibilities are not limited to enforcing laws, but they also assist citizens in various ways. To be a successful police officer, one must possess qualities such as physical strength, integrity, communication skills, critical thinking skills, and compassion towards fellow human beings

Argumentative Essay on Police Brutality:

Police brutality has been a pressing issue in society for many years, and it continues to be a major problem that needs to be addressed. This form of violence is not only detrimental to the victims, but also undermines public trust in law enforcement. The excessive use of force by police officers has sparked numerous debates and protests, with many calling for accountability and reform within the criminal justice system.

One of the main reasons why police brutality persists is due to systemic racism within law enforcement agencies. Studies have shown that people from minority communities are more likely to be targeted and subjected to violence by police officers compared to their white counterparts. This racial bias leads to disproportionate levels of force being used against people of color, perpetuating a cycle of discrimination and mistrust.

Furthermore, the lack of accountability for police officers who engage in acts of brutality only exacerbates the issue. Many incidents go unreported or are met with little to no consequences for the officers involved. This sends a message that such behavior is acceptable and further breeds a culture of violence within law enforcement.

Moreover, the militarization of police forces has also contributed to an increase in police brutality cases. The use of military-grade equipment and tactics can escalate situations unnecessarily and lead to excessive force being used against civilians. This creates an environment where officers view citizens as potential threats rather than members of their community.

In order to address this issue, there needs to be significant changes within the criminal justice system. Police departments must implement stricter policies and procedures for use of force, including clear consequences for officers who engage in excessive force. Additionally, there should be greater diversity and sensitivity training within law enforcement agencies to combat racial bias.

It is also crucial for the public to hold police accountable through increased transparency and civilian oversight. This can be achieved through the use of body cameras and independent investigations into incidents of police brutality. These measures can help restore trust between law enforcement and communities, ultimately leading to a safer and more just society.

In conclusion, police brutality is a complex issue that requires systemic changes in order to be effectively addressed. By acknowledging and addressing issues such as racism, lack of accountability, and militarization within law enforcement agencies, we can work towards creating a fairer and more equitable criminal justice system for all individuals.

Essay on Police Corruption:

Police corruption is a global issue that affects the integrity and credibility of law enforcement agencies. This type of misconduct can take many forms, including bribery, abuse of power, favoritism, embezzlement, and falsification of evidence. It not only undermines public trust in the police but also hinders their ability to effectively serve and protect the community.

One of the main reasons for police corruption is the lack of proper oversight and accountability mechanisms within law enforcement agencies. In some cases, there may be weak internal controls or a culture of impunity where officers believe they can get away with unethical behavior without facing consequences. Additionally, low salaries and inadequate training can make officers more susceptible to accepting bribes or engaging in other corrupt activities.

Another contributing factor to police corruption is the close relationship between law enforcement and political leaders. In some cases, politicians may use their influence to interfere with police investigations or protect corrupt officers from facing consequences. This type of political interference not only undermines the independence and integrity of law enforcement but also allows for a culture of corruption to thrive.

Police corruption also has severe consequences on society as a whole. It can lead to innocent people being wrongfully convicted, guilty individuals escaping punishment, and criminals continuing to operate freely. Furthermore, it perpetuates a system of injustice where certain individuals or groups receive preferential treatment from corrupt officers while others are unfairly targeted and mistreated.

To combat police corruption, there needs to be a strong commitment from both law enforcement agencies and governments. Internal affairs departments should be established to investigate and hold accountable officers who engage in corrupt activities.

These departments must have the necessary resources and independence to effectively carry out their duties. Moreover, governments should implement policies that promote transparency and accountability within law enforcement agencies.

In addition, community involvement and oversight can also play a vital role in reducing police corruption. Citizens can report any corrupt behavior they witness or suspect, and community organizations can work with law enforcement to promote ethical practices and hold officers accountable for their actions.

Moreover, improving working conditions, increasing salaries, and providing proper training for police officers can also help reduce instances of corruption. When officers are adequately compensated and equipped with the necessary skills, they are less likely to engage in unethical behavior for financial gain or succumb to pressure from external influences.

In conclusion, police corruption is a complex issue that requires a multi-faceted approach to address it effectively. It not only damages the reputation of law enforcement but also harms society as a whole.

Strong oversight and accountability mechanisms, along with community involvement and better working conditions for officers, can go a long way in combating this pervasive problem. Only through joint efforts from all stakeholders can we hope to create a fair and just system where the police serve and protect all members of society without prejudice or corruption.

Essay on Police Station:

A police station is a designated place where law enforcement officers work and are responsible for maintaining peace, order, and safety in the community. It serves as the central hub for all police-related activities in a particular area.

The main purpose of a police station is to provide protection and ensure justice for its citizens. The officers stationed at the police station are entrusted with enforcing laws, preventing crime, investigating criminal activities, and arresting suspects. They also maintain public order by responding to emergency calls and handling various incidents such as accidents, thefts, and other crimes.

Apart from their primary duties of maintaining law and order, police stations also serve as an essential resource center for citizens. People can visit the station to report any suspicious activity or seek assistance during emergencies. Police stations also play a significant role in educating the community on crime prevention and safety measures through various awareness programs and initiatives.

Moreover, police stations often have specialized units such as traffic police, cybercrime division, and women’s cell to deal with specific types of crimes. These units are equipped with the necessary resources and skills to handle their respective areas of expertise effectively.

In addition to serving as a base for regular police activities, many police stations also offer additional services such as issuance of permits and licenses, verification of documents, and registration of complaints. This helps in reducing bureaucratic hurdles for citizens and promotes efficient service delivery.

Furthermore, police stations act as the first point of contact for victims seeking justice. The officers at the station are responsible for conducting investigations and gathering evidence to build a strong case against the accused. They also play a crucial role in ensuring that justice is served by presenting their findings and testimonies in court.

>>>>>>>  Read Also: “ Essay on My Aim in Life “

In conclusion, police stations are vital institutions that play a significant role in maintaining law and order and safeguarding citizens’ rights. Apart from serving as the primary enforcement unit, they also act as a community resource center and provide support to victims of crime. It is essential to recognize the efforts of these dedicated officers who work tirelessly to ensure our safety and security.

Q: What is police (short note)?

A: The police are a government law enforcement agency responsible for maintaining public order, enforcing laws, and protecting citizens and property.

Q: Why are police important?

A: Police are important for maintaining law and order in society, ensuring public safety, preventing and investigating crimes, and upholding the justice system.

Q: What is the role of police (essay)?

A: The role of the police is multifaceted and includes maintaining public safety, preventing and investigating crimes, apprehending offenders, upholding the law, mediating conflicts, and providing assistance in emergencies. They are essential in promoting a peaceful and orderly society.

Related Posts:

Reader Interactions

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Police Reform Is Necessary. But How Do We Do It?

By Emily Bazelon June 13, 2020

• Share full article

A discussion about changes in policing, moderated by Emily Bazelon.

Emily Bazelon --> A discussion about how to reform policing. Moderated by Emily Bazelon Photographs by Malike Sidibe

On Memorial Day, the police in Minneapolis killed George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man. Three officers stood by or assisted as a fourth, Derek Chauvin, pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes. Floyd said he could not breathe and then became unresponsive. His death has touched off the largest and most sustained round of protests the country has seen since the 1960s, as well as demonstrations around the world. The killing has also prompted renewed calls to address brutality, racial disparities and impunity in American policing — and beyond that, to change the conditions that burden black and Latino communities.

The search for transformation has a long and halting history. In 1967, the Kerner Commission, appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson to investigate the causes of uprisings and rioting that year, recommended ways to improve the relationship between the police and black communities, but in the end it entrenched law enforcement as a means of social control. “Neighborhood police stations were installed inside public-housing projects in the very spaces vacated by community-action programs,” writes the Yale historian Elizabeth Hinton , author of “From the War on Poverty to the War on Crime.” In 1992, after the acquittals of three Los Angeles police officers who savagely beat Rodney King on camera, unrest erupted in the city. The police were ill prepared , and more than 50 people died. In 1994, Congress gave the Justice Department the authority to investigate a pattern or practice of policing that violated civil rights protections.

Since 2013, the Black Lives Matter movement has made police violence a pressing national and local issue and helped lead to the election of officials — including the district attorneys in several major metropolitan areas — who have tried to make the police more accountable for misconduct and sought to decrease incarceration. The killing of George Floyd in police custody shows how far the country has to go; the resulting protests have pushed the Minneapolis City Council to take the previously unthinkable step of pledging to dismantle its Police Department. But what does that mean, and what should other cities do? We brought together five experts and organizers to talk about how to change policing in America in the context of broader concerns about systemic racism and inequality.

The Participants

Alicia Garza is the principal of Black Futures Lab, the director of strategy and partnerships for the National Domestic Workers Alliance and a founder of Supermajority, a new women’s activist group. Between 2013 and 2015, she helped coin the phrase #BlackLivesMatter and helped found the Black Lives Matter Global Network. Her forthcoming book, “The Purpose of Power: How We Come Together When We Fall Apart,” will be published in October.

Phillip Atiba Goff is a founder and the chief executive of the Center for Policing Equity, a research-and-action think tank at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where he is also the Franklin A. Thomas Professor in Policing Equity.

Vanita Gupta is the president and chief executive of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. She led the Justice Department’s civil rights division from 2014 to 2017.

Sam Sinyangwe is a founder of We the Protestors, which created a database that maps police killings, and Campaign Zero, a policy platform to end police violence. He is also a host of the “Pod Save the People” podcast for Crooked Media.

J. Scott Thomson served as the police chief in Camden, N.J., from 2008 to 2019 and was the president of the Police Executive Research Forum from 2015 to 2019. He is now executive director of global security for Holtec International.

This discussion has been edited and condensed for clarity, with material added from follow-up interviews to address developing news.

The Use of Deadly Force

Emily Bazelon: The conversation about how to invest our tax dollars to keep the public safe has broadened a great deal in the last few weeks, but let’s start with a relatively narrow question — what kind of change can take place within Police Departments? Phil, your Center for Policing Equity worked with the Minneapolis Police Department from 2016 to 2018. Over the past five years there, the police have used force against black people at seven times the rate it has been used against white people. Chief Medaria Arradondo, the city’s first black police chief, who took over in 2017, quickly fired Derek Chauvin and the three officers who were with him. But for years, complaints of misconduct and excessive use of force rarely resulted in discipline. Chauvin had a record of at least 17 misconduct complaints over his 19 years in the department, yet he was a training officer for new recruits, including two of the officers present at Floyd’s death. What do you take from your work in Minneapolis?

Phillip Atiba Goff: After Michael Brown’s death in Ferguson, Mo., in 2014, we, along with partners, got a grant from the Justice Department to address racial bias in policing. We invited Minneapolis to be one of the six cities we would work with. Our trainings were designed to help the police recognize interactions that are likely to result in discriminatory behavior, or undermine trust, and practice not to do that. And later we also used analytics to put resources back into the community. For example, in North Minneapolis, the police were giving out a lot of tickets for broken taillights, so we recommended they give out vouchers to get those lights fixed instead.

But the Minneapolis police have struggled for a long time with pockets of resistance to those kinds of changes. One terrible lesson of George Floyd’s death is that we don’t have mechanisms to stop terrible officers from doing terrible things on a given shift.

Bazelon: The Supreme Court has given the police a lot of leeway to use force. In 1989, in the case Graham v. Connor , the court held that officers could use force if doing so was “objectively reasonable” from their point of view in the moment.

Sam Sinyangwe: The police in Minneapolis put George Floyd in a neck restraint. Their department’s policy allowed them to do this if someone was exhibiting what’s called active resistance, which really means they’re trying to get up, or the police officer says they are, as he’s pressing them down. We’ve known for a long time that these neck restraints are dangerous. There was no reason for the Minneapolis police to authorize that tactic. In early June, the city banned it, as some others have.

J. Scott Thomson: The Supreme Court standard allows for a lot of situations that should never develop. Think about the mentally ill individual who refuses to drop a knife when a police officer tells him to. The law as the Supreme Court defines it allows the officer to advance on him and then shoot him — not because someone is necessarily in danger but because the person didn’t comply with the officer’s verbal commands. But why advance in the first place if it’s not necessary? How can any industry be considered legitimate, professional or trusted if it holds itself to only the absolute lowest permissible standard?

Bazelon: Alicia, you’re a longtime activist, and you live in Oakland, Calif. In 2009, a police officer there shot and killed a 22-year-old black man, Oscar Grant, who was lying face down on a BART station platform. This was one of the first police shootings to be filmed by a bystander on a cellphone. After that, activists worked hard for civilian review of the police, with real enforcement mechanisms. How has that worked?

Alicia Garza: There’s a deep sense in the black community that when the police commit harms, they’re not held accountable, and of course that erodes trust. People in these communities often ask why the police fight so hard to keep investigations and complaints in the shadows. The continual push to shield the police from responsibility helps explain why a lot of people feel now that the police can’t be reformed. Civilian review boards are one way to address that, but they often lack teeth. If you can’t hire and fire officers, or even make a recommendation for discipline that sticks, then you don’t have real power. That is a big frustration.

Bazelon: Sam, you’ve tracked police killings and nonfatal shootings around the country. What have researchers found?

Sinyangwe: In 2013, when the Black Lives Matter protests began, we didn’t have the data to understand what policy interventions could address the problem of police violence. Now we do, and the data nationwide show that about 1,000 people were killed by the police in 2019, which is about the same number killed each year going back to 2013. The overall numbers haven’t gone down. That’s because in suburban and rural areas, police killings are rising.

But if you look at the 30 largest cities , police shootings have dropped about 30 percent, and some cities have seen larger drops. In some of these cities, like Chicago and Los Angeles, activists with Black Lives Matter and other groups have done a lot of work to push for de-escalation, stricter use-of-force policies and greater accountability.

Thomson: In 2019, when I was chief of the Camden police force, we adopted a use-of-force policy with the help of Barry Friedman, a law professor at New York University, and the Policing Project he started there . The policy mandates that the police de-escalate a conflict, use force only as a last resort, intervene to stop excessive force and report violations of law and policy by other officers.

Bazelon: I can see why that’s a starting point, but Eric Garner was killed on Staten Island in 2014 by a police officer who used a chokehold that was banned by the New York Police Department more than two decades earlier . And Minneapolis had a policy in place that required officers to intervene if they saw an officer use excessive force, but the three who were with Chauvin — who were much more junior than he was — didn’t step in to save George Floyd. What else does it take to prevent more of these deaths?

Thomson: Within a Police Department, culture eats policy for breakfast. You can have a perfectly worded policy, but it’s meaningless if it just exists on paper. You get trained in it when you’re a recruit in your three to six months at the police academy. But in too many departments, officers never receive more training on the policy or even see it again unless they get in trouble. They are then befuddled by being held to account for behaviors that regularly exist among their peers, and they feel scapegoated.

At the Police Executive Research Forum, we released a survey in 2016 that found that agencies spend a median of 58 hours on training for recruits on how to use a gun and 49 hours on defensive tactics, but they spend about only eight hours on de-escalation and crisis intervention.

To change the culture around the use of force, you have to have continuous training, systems of accountability and consequences. In Camden, when an officer uses force in the field, supervisors review the body-cam footage. The following day, internal affairs and a training officer also review it and either challenge or concur with the supervisors’ findings. If they see something wrong, they bring the officer in and go over the tape. If the supervisors had approved something unacceptable, they, too, are held to account.

Vanita Gupta: Let’s talk about Congress. There are 18,000 law-enforcement agencies in this country, and I don’t think we’ve seen major federal legislation for police reform pass since the 1990s, when Congress gave the Justice Department the power to investigate departments for civil rights complaints. This is why civil rights groups are pushing for several measures. These include a national registry of police misconduct — for infractions like excessive use of force or falsifying a police report, as well as terminations and complaints — to stop the cycling in and out of officers who have poor disciplinary records. There also needs to be a national standard for force to be used only as a last resort, a ban on chokeholds and an end to qualified immunity, a doctrine from the Supreme Court that shields the police from being sued when they break the law.

A few weeks ago, none of this was at the forefront. For several years now, there has been a growing bipartisan consensus for addressing mass incarceration. But policing has been this untouchable area outside it, even though police stops and arrests are the front door to the rest of the system. Now, with these massive, multiracial protests across the country, House Democrats have introduced a sweeping bill , the Justice in Policing Act, to address police misconduct and racial discrimination, reflecting the accountability framework of the Leadership Conference, the civil rights coalition that I help lead, signed by 430 groups.

Bazelon: Mitch McConnell, the Senate Republican leader, has asked Tim Scott, the party’s only black senator, to come up with a legislative response to the protesters’ alarm about the police that their party can back. That’s striking in itself, given how aligned Republicans have been with a conservative message about law and order.

Gupta: My fear is that Republicans will just go for mealy-mouthed, piecemeal measures. This is a real moral moment, reminiscent of the moment on the eve of the passage of major civil rights legislation in the 1960s, which Republicans ultimately joined in supporting. If they are serious this time, they should be adopting the Justice in Policing Act.

Bazelon: Some states are starting to act. California legislators have introduced a bill to ban chokeholds, for instance. After years of resistance, on June 12, New York repealed the law that kept secret the disciplinary records of police officers.

Gupta: Granted, this is about reforming the police, not reinvesting the money that is spent on them. But so long as we are going to have policing, this is a big deal.

The Power of Police Unions

Bazelon: After George Floyd’s death, a member of the Minneapolis City Council, Steve Fletcher, tweeted about the city’s police union as an obstacle to change. “They distort hard-earned labor laws to defend indefensible behaviors,” he wrote.

It’s a common complaint. The police began organizing in earnest to improve their working conditions in the 1910s. Today, the largest union, the Fraternal Order of Police, has more than 2,000 local chapters and nearly 350,000 members.

Because Police Departments are often strongly hierarchical, rank-and-file officers tend to rely on unions to give them a voice and shield them from what they see as arbitrary or punitive enforcement of the rules, in a job that relies heavily on officer discretion. But protection for the police, through collective-bargaining agreements or state laws lobbied for by unions, often “exceeds that provided to workers in other industries,” the law professors Catherine Fisk and L. Song Richardson wrote in a 2017 article in The George Washington Law Review. In Minneapolis, the union president, Bob Kroll, followed a common path when he defended the officers involved in Floyd’s death and lashed out at protesters as a “terrorist movement.”

On June 10, the police chief in Minneapolis, Medaria Arradondo, withdrew the department from contract negotiations with the union. He said he wanted to restructure the contract for “flexibility for true reform,” regarding not salaries but rather the use of force and the discipline process. Phil, when you were working with the police in Minneapolis, how did you see the department’s relationship with the union?

Goff: Arradondo wanted to work with us on reforms. He was one of five black officers who sued the department for racial discrimination in 2007. One person they named in that suit is the current head of the police union, Bob Kroll. When Arradondo’s suit was settled in 2009, the two sides didn’t get together and hold hands. So that’s not a unified culture. And if you have a strong union with a union head who says, “We’re not doing any of this because it’s bunk,” the chief of police can’t change the culture.

Gupta: Here’s an example: Arradondo’s department doesn’t do warrior-style trainings, which teach officers to see themselves as fighting an enemy who could kill them at any second. Last year, after it became clear that the officer who shot and killed Philando Castile in a suburb of St. Paul during a routine traffic stop had gone to a warrior-type seminar, the chief said officers who went to these trainings outside work would be disciplined. And then the union president, Bob Kroll, offered this training free for his members.

Sinyangwe: One thing that’s important, and often overlooked, is that police unions enjoy broad bipartisan support. Republicans are generally pro-police, and the left is hesitant to criticize unions. So you see things like Scott Walker, the former Republican governor of Wisconsin, exempting most police unions from the union-busting legislation he pushed through in 2011. And last year, the A.F.L.-C.I.O. pushed Congress to pass a bill that would allow the police to unionize in states where they can’t currently expand, which many Democrats supported.

The whole idea that the police should be able to unionize in the first place needs to be interrogated. One study shows that when sheriffs’ unions were allowed to bargain collectively in Florida in the early 2000s, based on a State Supreme Court ruling, complaints about violent misconduct rose 40 percent.

The language of the contract with the union in Chicago requires misconduct records to be destroyed after five years; in Cleveland, it’s two years. Louisiana has a law, which the police unions lobbied for, that says investigators have to wait 14 days to question an officer who used a weapon or seriously injured or killed someone and 30 days to question an officer accused of other misconduct.

Investigations and the discipline of officers — basic on-the-job accountability — should not be within the purview of collective-bargaining agreements between police unions and cities. One big problem is that cities cannot negotiate a new union contract unless the union votes to approve it, so they’re stuck with old contracts, which include concessions they’ve made to the unions on accountability and oversight over decades. We can’t hold the police accountable for use of force or misconduct if the unions continue to have veto power over change.

Bazelon: Scott, you’re known for making changes in Camden in the decade you were chief. What role did the police union play?

Thomson: I started as a police officer in Camden in 1994. Camden is a city in New Jersey, across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, that is almost entirely black and Latino, and it had extremely high rates of poverty and crime. The department I came up in was largely apathetic and struggled with corruption. Early on, the police union was almost all older white guys. They wielded power through the collective-bargaining agreement and by collecting dues, which gave them the ability to build a war chest. They thought they could outlast any politician or police leader.

When I became chief in 2008, we’d had five chiefs in five years. Camden had one of the highest murder rates in the country. The rate for solving murders was only 17 percent, and there were open-air drug markets all over the city. There was borderline hatred between the community and the police. It was very hard to make any progress.

In 2011, when Camden was in a fiscal crisis, the state threatened huge layoffs to the police force unless the union made major concessions to the contract. The union refused, and nearly half of the department was laid off. Over the next two years, the Republican governor, Chris Christie, worked with Democrats in the county and city governments to disband the city Police Department and start a new county force.

In 2013, everyone in the city Police Department had to reapply for a new job. But about 50 hard-line union folks decided not to reapply. They encouraged people to follow them so that a county force couldn’t be formed. Fortunately, most officers did not follow the union advice. Even more fortunately, these 50 folks who were the impediment to change selected themselves out of the hiring process. I was able to accomplish in three days what I couldn’t in three years. That allowed me to reset the culture.

Camden is not a utopia. There are still huge social inequities there, and before I left last year, we fired and prosecuted a cop for excessive force. But it’s far less violent. Homicides have fallen by more than 50 percent, and the rate for solving them is more than 60 percent, because people are more willing to trust and talk to the police.

Goff: It’s important to know how rare Scott is in having stayed in his job as chief for so long. The average tenure for a police chief in a major city department is two and a half years. So if I’m an officer who thinks that a neighborhood needs somebody to crack a couple of skulls to keep everybody in line and keep crime down, and someone like Scott Thomson comes in as chief, usually all I have to do is wait him out. My job is secure. He can’t fire me for disagreeing. He can’t fire me for doing almost anything, unless I get caught on camera doing the most egregious thing, and even then often not. So in many places, we haven’t given reformers the tools to actually make reform happen.

Bazelon: What else helped change the culture in Camden?

Thomson: Some cops valued the secondary jobs they got, working in security for private businesses or road construction on the side, more than their primary job of police work. They could make an extra $2,000 a week. Guys who worked many hours would use their police job to get rest. New Jersey addressed that problem and in 2013 tightened state oversight. It has been an issue in Minneapolis.

Bazelon: A city audit there last year showed that officers working outside jobs were regularly exceeding the maximum hours they were allowed for the week. In 1994, when the mayor tried to tighten the rules to increase oversight, the union sued.

Gupta: The Justice Department can help create the necessary pressure on the union to participate in reform. When I was there during the Obama administration, we went into cities like Ferguson, Chicago and Baltimore, where there was substantial evidence about a pattern or practice of unconstitutional policing, like racially discriminatory practices or excessive use of force. Over the course of several months, we talked to hundreds of residents, activists and community leaders and hundreds of police officers, digging into every document you can think of in the Police Department, to really come up with a picture of what was happening. Then the Justice Department can negotiate an agreement with that city that contains a lot of reforms around use of force, discriminatory policing, accountability, supervision and training. The agreement is filed in court with a federal judge, sometimes as a consent decree, which has more teeth for enforcement and has often run for five years.

The consent decree forces the hand of the union and the rank and file. It can create the political will, over years, to actually see reforms through. That sustained focus really matters.

Bazelon: In a TV interview in June, Attorney General William Barr said, “I don’t think that the law-enforcement system is systemically racist.” The Justice Department will investigate George Floyd’s death, but Barr said he doesn’t think a larger pattern-or-practice investigation is currently warranted in Minneapolis.

Gupta: From 1994 to 2017, there were 69 investigations into patterns or practice in Police Departments, under both Republican and Democratic presidents, which resulted in 40 consent decrees or settlement agreements. But the Justice Department during the Trump administration has abandoned this work.

Where Should Funding Go?

Bazelon: In one poll this month , 74 percent of Americans supported the protests, and in another , the same number said they thought George Floyd’s death was connected to a broader problem with how the police treat black people. That was a major rise from when a similar question was asked six years ago about two killings. It has taken a long time, but the numbers suggest that a majority in the country have begun to absorb the lessons of Black Lives Matter. Alicia, what do you want to see happen next?

Garza: Most immediate, we need accountability for the death of George Floyd. Increasing the charges to second-degree murder for Derek Chauvin, and also charging the other three officers involved, was really important. Most of the time, there is unrest, and then there is a quick move to convene a grand jury, and people think there is no way that they couldn’t hold these officers accountable. And time and time again, as in the cases of Mike Brown and Eric Garner, grand juries have decided not to indict. So the elemental first step is to show that law and order applies equally to the police.

A demand to defund policing is also sweeping the country. People in Oakland are re-evaluating its budget, and several other cities are, too. We can do that by narrowing the focus of what policing is intended to do.

Bazelon: The United States spends more on public safety than almost all its peer countries and much less, relatively speaking, on social services. In Los Angeles this month, Black Lives Matter activists and members of the City Council succeeded in getting the mayor to propose moving $150 million of the Police Department’s nearly $2 billion operating budget to health and job programs. ( The police union said the mayor had “lost his damn mind” and warned that spending cuts would result in more crime.) In New York, more than 230 current and former members of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s staff signed an open letter pointing out that the police budget has grown since he took office by almost $1 billion (to a total of $6 billion) and demanded that $1 billion be reallocated to “‘essential social services,” like housing support and health care, as a coalition of advocacy groups are urging.

Gupta: That’s why this moment feels different to me than the moment after Ferguson, when Black Lives Matter changed the conversation in this country. Now we’re having a conversation that’s not just about how black communities are policed, and what reforms are required, but also about why we’ve invested exclusively in a criminalization model for public safety, instead of investing in housing, jobs, health care, education for black communities and fighting structural inequality. Budgets are moral documents, reflecting priorities and values.

When I went to Baltimore to investigate policing for the Justice Department, after Freddie Gray died from injuries he got in police custody, in every community meeting that I went to, folks were not just talking to me about concerns about police abuse. They wanted the Justice Department to fix the schools, to fix public transportation so they could get to their jobs more easily. Policing problems — police violence, overpolicing — were often the tip of the spear.

Garza: In 2018 and 2019, my organization, Black Futures Lab, did what we believe is the largest survey of black communities in America. It’s called the Black Census Project. We asked more than 30,000 black people across America what we experience, what we want to see happen instead and what we long for, for our futures. About 90 percent of our survey respondents said that the No.1 issue facing them, and keeping them up at night, is that their wages are too low to support a family. People want to see an investment in an increase of the minimum wage to $15 an hour. About 80 percent of respondents said that college costs were too high. In cities like San Francisco, we have made city college free for residents. These are things people can do right now to invest in black communities, by diverting resources from some of the ways we use law enforcement.

Goff: I’ve been saying for years that the No.1 thing you can do to help law enforcement is to call them less often. But I’m concerned about the slogan “Defund the Police.” It’s so much easier, time after time, for white people to take money out of communities than it is to put it back into communities, particularly when those communities are black.

Bazelon: In a 2016 survey by the Pew Research Center , black people were much less likely than white people to say that the police do an excellent or good job. Yet in a 2019 survey for Vox , they were almost as likely to support hiring more officers. Maybe that’s partly because they don’t see the government providing other resources for making their neighborhoods safe. But it seems really important to think carefully about how change should happen.

Goff: Imagine that you have a tool chest for solving social problems. It gives you options. Then you lose the tool of mental-health resources. You lose the tool of public education. They take out the tool of job placement. And then all you’ve got left is this one rusty hammer. That’s policing. Right now, the only money flowing into some black communities is law-enforcement money. There are many black activists doing this the right way. But there are also a bunch of white people saying, “Let’s defund the police,” because they like the police as an enemy, but then when it comes to investing in black communities, they are silent.

Simply defunding the police cannot be a legacy of this moment. I want to hear about investing in black communities more than I want to hear about defunding.

Garza: There has been such a massive disinvestment in the social safety net that should exist to give black communities an opportunity to thrive, whether it’s access to health care or housing or education or jobs. It’s really powerful to see the impact of the organizing that groups have been doing in Minneapolis in the City Council’s promise to disband the Police Department and then rebuild a different kind of public-safety system. My understanding is that they will rehire some officers. The details matter, and we don’t know what they are yet, but I think there’s reason to be hopeful.

I think people in this movement are more aligned in their goals than I’ve seen for the last seven years. I feel a deep level of responsibility not to let the moment pass and then all we get is better police training and chokehold bans. That’s what keeps me up at night.

Reimagining 911

Bazelon: The current protests are justifiably focused on the problems of overpolicing, including black and Latino people being stopped a lot for no good reason. But I’m going to also make an obvious point: Every society needs some way to prevent lawlessness and deter and investigate violent crime. Because civilians have an estimated 400 million guns in the United States — more than one for each of us — we probably need armed responders more than other countries that we might otherwise compare ourselves to, like Canada or Britain.

As people like Randall Kennedy, a professor at Harvard Law School, and Jill Leovy, the author of “Ghettoside,” have argued, black communities have often been underpoliced for serious crimes, because law enforcement doesn’t treat solving murders and shootings in their neighborhoods as a high-enough priority. In Baltimore, when the police got a lot of negative attention after Freddie Gray’s death in April 2015, there was a “pullback” in policing, as the writer Alec MacGillis described in these pages, which some officers thought the union encouraged. Homicides surged in the rest of 2015, and 93 percent of the victims were black.

Is this a danger in Minneapolis, and elsewhere, if cities fundamentally challenge their Police Departments and unions?

Gupta: I’m wary of making assumptions about depolicing. In 2015, I fielded calls from some police chiefs asserting that Department of Justice investigations and consent decrees were causing depolicing. But they had no evidence. A study by Richard Rosenfeld and Joel Wallman from 2019 found no evidence linking police killings of black people in 2014 to an ensuing homicide spike from depolicing. In New York, the big reduction in stop-and-frisk has been good, and crime has continued to decline.

Thomson: There is a prevailing sentiment in policing that “you can’t get in trouble for doing nothing.” But police officers take an oath and don’t get to decide whether they’ll follow it or not. This doesn’t necessarily mean writing tickets or making arrests, but if you are actively visible and engaging the public in your patrol area, flagrant criminal activity is far less likely to occur.

A tiny percentage of people are the ones destabilizing communities. They cause others to be armed, out of fear, who shouldn’t have to worry about defending themselves. So when I became chief of police, we worked with the F.B.I. and state investigators to arrest violent gang members. Then we put cops out walking the beat and on bicycles to prevent a cycle of violence over new turf. As a result, people started coming out of their homes, which is what you really need to start making a neighborhood safe.

Bazelon: I’m going to shift to other kinds of police work. In many cities, the police spend a lot of time “on traffic and motor-vehicle issues, on false burglar alarms, on noise complaints and on problems with animals,” the law professor Barry Friedman writes in a forthcoming article in The University of Pennsylvania Law Review. When a police report leads to criminal charges — only a subset of the whole — about 80 percent of them are for misdemeanors. Friedman argues that we should hand off some of what the police do to people who are better trained for it.

What if Americans retrained ourselves to expect armed officers to come only if they truly think there’s a real risk of someone getting hurt? The dispatcher would route calls that aren’t about crimes or a risk of harm to social workers, mediators and others.

Goff: In a sense, it’s not that hard to imagine. People already know that to some extent, 911 isn’t just for the police. In cities, it includes fire and emergency medical services.

Sinyangwe: There are a host of things that the police are currently responding to that they have no business responding to. If you have a car accident, why is somebody with a gun coming to the scene? Or answering a complaint about someone like George Floyd, who the store clerk said bought a pack of cigarettes with a counterfeit $20 bill?

Thomson: Perhaps, in a different city, the police wouldn’t have been sent in Floyd’s case. In Camden, I had a supermarket that called the police a lot about shoplifting. People would go in — and I’m not saying it’s right, but they’re taking food because they’re hungry or they need to feed their family. Then the security guards at the store engaged them; they would get in a fight, and now it turns into a robbery. It got to the point where I asked them to design their store to make it more difficult for people to steal and to stop calling us constantly. Because we’re not going to continue to charge our entire population with robbery on these minimal offenses.

Similarly, if you have a homeless man panhandling at a red light and you say to a cop, “Go fix it,” he’ll arrest the man. And now he has a $250 ticket. And how does he pay that? And what does any of this accomplish?

Bazelon: Let’s talk about domestic disputes. They’re the subject of 15 to more than 50 percent of calls to the police, according to Friedman’s article. He points out that such conflicts can turn serious quickly and unexpectedly. “We may well want force on the scene,” he writes. “But might we get further in the long run if someone with other skills — in social work or mediation — actually handled the incident?”

Monica Bell, who is a Yale law professor and sociologist, interviewed 50 low-income mothers in Washington about the police for a 2016 article in Law & Society Review. The women were deeply wary of the police in general, but 33 of them had called them at least once, often for help with a teenager. “Calling the police on family members deepens the reach of penal control,” Bell wrote. But the mothers in her study have scant options.

Garza: I lived in an apartment complex in Oakland for almost two decades. And we had incidences of harm, but we had a kind of ethos of not calling the police, not because people were organizers or activists but because of their experiences. They knew that if they called the police that real harm could come, and they didn’t want that.

Gupta: When I did investigations for the Justice Department, I would hear police officers say: “I didn’t sign up to the police force to be a social worker. I don’t have that training.” They know they’re stuck handling things because there is a complete lack of investment in other approaches and responses.

The International Association of Chiefs of Police put out a statement in June in which it said “defunding the police” was misguided. But it also said that funding cuts in social and medical welfare often put officers in an “untenable position,” because they are “often the only ones left to call to situations where a social worker or mental-health professional would have been more appropriate and safer for all involved.” On that, police leaders and protesters would agree.

Bazelon: In Eugene, Ore., some 911 calls are routed to a crisis-intervention service called Cahoots, which responds to things like homelessness, substance abuse and mental illness. Houston routes some mental-health calls to a counselor if they’re not emergencies. New Orleans is hiring people who are not police officers to go to traffic collisions and write reports, as long as there are no injuries or concerns about drunken driving. I’m borrowing these examples from Barry Friedman’s article. The point is that some cities are beginning to reduce the traditional scope of police work.

There are alternatives for crime-fighting too. New York has had some success by funding groups that do what’s called “violence interruption” in East New York and the South Bronx. They train people who live in the community, and who have often been involved with gangs in the past, to talk to younger people when there’s a conflict brewing that could turn violent.

One of the most interesting studies about policing is a randomized comparison of different strategies for dealing with areas of Lowell, Mass., that were hot spots for crime. One was aggressive patrols, which included stop-and-frisk encounters and arrests on misdemeanor charges, like drug possession. A second was social-service interventions, like mental-health help or taking homeless people to shelters. A third involved physical upkeep: knocking down vacant buildings, cleaning vacant lots, putting in streetlights and video cameras. The most effective in reducing crime was the third strategy.

Thomson: I would trade 10 cops for something like a Boys and Girls Club in my city. Those types of investments are crucial to safer, more stable communities. You clean up a vacant lot and turn it into a playground, and if people feel it’s a nice place, they bring their kids there. And then they are outside, looking out for one another. They are the eyes on the neighborhood. You have to have that, because the police can never be everywhere all the time.

Garza: We also shouldn’t accept a zero-sum game. An overwhelming majority of people we surveyed said they strongly support increasing taxes on people who are making $250,000 or more as a way to fund the services that are disintegrating in our communities.

I think there is a danger now that when protests start to die down, which they always do, when the blue-ribbon panel is dismantled, which it always is, black communities won’t necessarily be in a more powerful place than where we started. The country has to deeply invest in the ability of black communities to shape the laws that govern us.

As a country, we have to redistribute our resources. It’s not out of our reach. But it requires political will over the long term. Some of us have been running this race for a while now. We need you, if you’re newer to this fight, for the rest of the marathon.

Additional design & development by Shannon Lin.

Explore The New York Times Magazine

The ‘Colorblindness’ Trap: Nikole Hannah-Jones examines how the fall of affirmative action may be viewed as part of a 50-year campaign to undermine the progress of the civil rights movement .

Deathbed Visions: Researchers are documenting the illusions seen by the dying , a phenomenon that seems to help them, as well as those they leave behind.

The Mad Perfumer of Parma: Hilde Soliani, the creator of fantastical perfumes, makes feral scents that evoke everything from oysters to opera houses .

Mona Island’s Terrifying Allure: Here’s why immigrants, seekers and pilgrims have been drawn for centuries to the treacherous shores of the remote island near Puerto Rico .

Creature Comforts: How exactly did pets take over our world? A writer spent a week at some luxury dog “hotels”  with his goldendoodle to find out.

Advertisement

• In the News

• News & Events
• Data Updates
• Research & Policy
• Press Releases

Research Areas

• Homelessness
• Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8)
• Inclusionary Zoning
• Mitchell Lama
• Preservation and Opt outs
• Property Taxes
• Public Housing/NYCHA
• Rent Regulation/Stabilization
• Multifamily Housing Resilience
• Planning for Climate Change
• Superstorm Sandy
• Foreclosure
• Homeownership
• Housing Prices
• Land Prices
• Rental Housing Finance
• Housing Court
• Historic Preservation & Landmarks
• Transferable Development Rights
• Hotel Conversions
• Office Conversions
• Public Safety
• Economic Development
• Gentrification
• Racial/Ethnic Segregation
• Schools & Education
• View All Publications
• About Our Research

Publication Type

• Books/Chapters
• Policy Briefs
• Data Briefs
• White Papers
• Working Papers
• NYS Housing 2023
• In Our Backyard
• The Dream Revisited
• Policy Minute
• Policy Breakfasts
• Housing Solutions Lab
• Directory of NYC Housing Programs
• Neighborhood Data Profiles
• State of NYC Housing & Neighborhoods

• Introduction
• Discussions

The New Policing, Crime Control, and Harm Reduction

by Anthony A. Braga | July 2017

The “new policing,” as described by Professor Fagan, captures a concerning element of the slow drift of the police profession away from community problem-solving models of policing popularized during the 1980s and 1990s and towards more aggressive enforcement strategies over the last two decades. It is important to note here that the so-called new policing also has desirable elements that better position police departments to enhance public safety and security. The police should embrace an analytical approach to understanding crime patterns and trends. Crime is highly concentrated in small high-risk places, and committed by and against a small number of people who are at high-risk of being the victim of a crime or party to it (Braga, 2012). Police managers should also be held accountable for their performance in detecting and addressing these identifiable risks.

The new policing model unfortunately emphasizes increased law enforcement action over more nuanced prevention strategies that engage the community. One-dimensional and overly-broad police surveillance and enforcement strategies do little to change the underlying dynamics that drive serious urban violence and have generally not been found to be effective in controlling crime (e.g., see Braga et al., 2015). Indiscriminate police enforcement actions also contribute to mass incarceration problems that harm disadvantaged neighborhoods (Young and Petersilia, 2016). This is particularly true when such an approach is coupled with a “crime numbers game” managerial mindset that promotes yearly increases in arrest, summons, and investigatory stop actions as key performance measures (Eterno and Silverman, 2012). Indeed, Professor Fagan makes a strong case that aggressive enforcement strategies in the new policing may heighten racial and economic disparities and possibly reinforce segregation.

Fagan’s essay, however, does not focus on the kinds of crime control strategies that police executives could pursue in the new policing model that would help reduce harmful consequences on poor and disadvantaged neighborhoods. As suggested by former President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing (2015), police strategies that unintentionally violate civil rights, compromise police legitimacy, or undermine trust are counterproductive. This is precisely why they recommended that law enforcement agencies develop and adopt policies and strategies that reinforce the importance of community engagement in managing public safety. While community policing programs have not been found to be effective in reducing crime, they have been found to generate positive effects on citizen satisfaction, perceptions of disorder, and police legitimacy (Gill et al., 2014). Moreover, community engagement strategies implemented as part of community policing programs can provide important input to help focus problem-oriented policing, hot spots policing, and focused deterrence approaches, which do seem to reduce crime (Weisburd et al., 2010; Braga et al., 2014; Braga and Weisburd, 2012).

Developing close relationships with community members helps the police gather information about crime and disorder problems, understand the nature of these problems, and solve specific crimes. Community members can also help police prevent crime by contributing to improvements to the physical environment and through informal social control of high-risk people. In this way, police strategies focusing on high-risk people and high-risk places would cease to be a form of profiling and become a generator of community engagement projects (Braga, 2016). Indeed, a central idea in community policing is to engage residents so they can exert more control over dynamics that contribute to their own potential for victimization and, by doing so, influence neighborhood levels of crime (Skogan and Hartnett, 1997). Preventing crime by addressing underlying crime-producing situations reduces harm to potential victims as well as harm to would-be offenders by not relying solely on arrest and prosecution actions.

Community engagement in developing appropriately focused strategies would help to safeguard against indiscriminate and overly aggressive enforcement tactics and other inappropriate policing activities, which in turn erode the community’s trust and confidence in the police and inhibit cooperation. Collaborative partnerships between police and community members improve the transparency of law enforcement actions and provide residents with a much-needed voice in crime prevention work. Ongoing conversations with the community can ensure that day-to-day police-citizen interactions are conducted in a procedurally just manner that enhances community trust and compliance with the law (Tyler, 2006).

Community problem-solving strategies, rather than aggressive enforcement, should be the last prong of the new policing model. In the context of racial and economic segregation, the positive impacts of such a policy change could be profound. Reduced mobility driven by fears of undue police attention, financial burdens imposed by fines and other criminal justice system costs, employment and education limitations associated with criminal records, and other negative externalities experienced by residents of disadvantaged neighborhoods would diminish. Effective police-community partnerships could improve the connection of local residents with a range of government and non-profit resources that promote public safety by improving neighborhood conditions. Safer neighborhoods are more attractive to private businesses who can provide jobs and much needed goods and services to local residents. In this way, police departments could be key initiators of longer-lasting social and economic changes that undo the harms associated with racial and economic segregation.

The ideals of community policing have been around for a long time. Unfortunately, many police departments do not seem to be embracing these approaches with fidelity to the original principles (National Research Council, 2004). It is perhaps not surprising that even though community policing has been widely adopted, at least in principle, substantial conflict between police and the communities they serve continues to occur. It is high time that police departments reinvest in implementing community policing with a much more meaningful commitment to problem-solving and prevention-oriented approaches that emphasize the role of the public in helping set police priorities. By doing so, “new policing” strategies can be oriented towards reducing harm while controlling crime.

Braga, Anthony A. 2012. “High Crime Places, Times, and Offenders.” In The Oxford Handbook on Crime Prevention , edited by Brandon C. Welsh and David P. Farrington. New York: Oxford University Press.

Braga, Anthony A. 2016. “Better Policing Can Improve Legitimacy and Reduce Mass Incarceration.” Harvard Law Review Forum , 129 (7): 233 – 241.

Braga, Anthony A., Andrew V. Papachristos, and David M. Hureau. 2014. “The Effects of Hot Spots Policing on Crime: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Justice Quarterly , 31 (4): 633 – 663.

Braga, Anthony A. and David L. Weisburd. 2012. “The Effects of Focused Deterrence Strategies on Crime: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Empirical Evidence.” Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency , 49 (3): 323 – 358.

Braga, Anthony A., Brandon C. Welsh, and Cory Schnell. 2015. “Can Policing Disorder Reduce Crime? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency , 52 (4): 567 – 588.

Eterno, John and Eli Silverman. 2012. The Crime Numbers Game: Management by Manipulation . New York: CRC Press.

Gill, Charlotte, David L. Weisburd, Cody Telep, Zoe Vitter and Trevor Bennett. 2014. “Community-Oriented Policing to Reduce Crime, Disorder and Fear and Increase Satisfaction and Legitimacy Among Citizens: A Systematic Review.” Journal of Experimental Criminology , 10 (4): 399–428.

National Research Council. 2004. Fairness and Effectiveness in Policing: The Evidence. Committee to Review Research on Police Policy Practices . Washington, DC: National Academies Press.

President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing. 2015. Final Report of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing. Washington, DC: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.

Skogan, Wesley and Susan Hartnett. 1997. Community Policing , Chicago Style. New York: Oxford University Press.

Tyler, Tom R. 2006. Why People Obey the Law: Procedural Justice, Legitimacy, and Compliance (rev. ed.). Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

Weisburd, David L., Cody Telep, Joshua Hinkle, and John Eck. 2010. “Is Problem Oriented Policing Effective in Reducing Crime and Disorder?” Criminology & Public Policy , 9 (1): 139–172.

Young, Kathryne M. and Joan Petersilia. 2016. “Keeping Track: Surveillance, Control, and the Expansion of the Carceral State.” Harvard Law Review , 129 (7): 1318 – 1360.

Anthony A. Braga is Distinguished Professor and Director of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Northeastern University’s College of Social Sciences and Humanities. 

More in Discussion 24: Policing and Segregation

Policing and Segregation

by Jeffrey A. Fagan

The Dynamics of Policing and Segregation by Race and Class

by Monica Bell

The New Policing, Crime Control, and Harm Reduction

by Anthony A. Braga

High Volume Stops and Violence Prevention

by Philip J. Cook

All content © 2005 – 2024 Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy | Top of page | Contact Us

Essay Sample on Why I Want to Be a Police Officer

When I was a child, I dreamed of becoming a police officer. As I grew older, my dream of becoming an officer never faded away; in fact, it only grew stronger. Being a police officer is more than just enforcing the law and maintaining order in society; it’s about being part of something bigger and making a difference in people’s lives. In this essay, which is an example of custom writing , I will explain why I want to be a police officer and how my passion for this job will help me become successful at it. 

Becoming a Police Officer: Exploring My Aspirations to Be a Police Officer 

The main reason why I want to become a police officer is that I have always wanted to make a difference in the world. The idea of being able to help people in need and bring justice to those who deserve it has always been appealing to me. Furthermore, as an officer, you are given the opportunity to work with different communities and build relationships with them while still doing your job effectively. 

In addition to wanting to make a difference and build relationships with the community, I am driven by the challenge that comes with policing. Police work is complex and ever-changing, so officers must stay on their toes and be prepared for anything they may encounter out on the streets. This means having quick thinking skills, being able to adapt quickly, staying calm under pressure, and having excellent problem-solving abilities. All these traits are necessary for success as an officer, which makes the job both challenging and exciting for me at the same time. 

Why Pursue Law Enforcement? 

Law enforcement requires immense dedication and commitment, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. As a police officer, I would have the opportunity to make a significant impact on people’s lives. Every day would bring new opportunities to help people in need, bring criminals to justice, and serve my community. It is an incredibly honorable profession that requires an individual with strong moral principles and courage. 

What Does It Take? 

The road to becoming a police officer is not easy – it requires dedication, discipline, hard work, and sacrifice. It involves mastering both physical tasks such as firearms training, as well as mental tasks such as understanding different laws and regulations about policing. Training does not end when you are hired; it is continuous throughout your career so that you can stay up-to-date with the latest tactics and technologies used in law enforcement today. This means putting in long hours studying law books or practicing shooting with firearms on the range regularly. 

Making Sacrifices for Others 

To my mind, being a police officer also involves making sacrifices – both physically and mentally – for the greater good of protecting others. This means sacrificing time spent with family or friends because you are working extra shifts, or going above and beyond your job duties because someone needs help urgently. It also involves sacrificing safety while responding to dangerous situations, or even putting your life on the line while apprehending criminals or rescuing victims from harm’s way. All of these require tremendous courage, which is why I am eager to pursue this path despite any potential risks associated with it.  

My Qualifications for Becoming a Police Officer 

I believe I have the qualities necessary for becoming an excellent police officer. First of all, I am physically fit – something that is essential for any law enforcement job. Moreover, my academic record speaks for itself; in college, I earned top marks in various criminal justice classes – another key requirement of becoming a police officer. Finally, my volunteer experience has helped me develop strong interpersonal skills, which will come in handy when interacting with citizens on the streets or during investigations. 

My Plan For Achieving My Goal 

Now that I have outlined my qualifications for becoming a police officer, it’s time to talk about how I plan on achieving this goal. 

First of all, I am currently enrolled in an academy program that teaches students the basics of law enforcement such as self-defense tactics and firearms safety protocols. After graduating from the academy program with honors, I hope to join a local law enforcement agency where I can gain hands-on experience as well as obtain certifications related to crime scene investigation techniques and other areas of policing work.  

Ultimately, my mission is clear: become the best possible police officer I can be so that I can serve the public with integrity and honor while protecting those who need help most!  

Becoming a police officer requires more than just desire; it demands dedication, discipline, sacrifice, courage, and skill sets related to both physical abilities like firearms training as well as mental abilities like understanding complex laws and regulations about policing. 

Despite any potential risks involved in this profession, I am confident I could make an incredible impact on my community by helping those in need while bringing criminals to justice – all while doing something that brings me great satisfaction each day! That is why I want to be a police officer!

Writing a Good Police Officer Essay 

Writing an essay about a police officer’s work can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right approach and some helpful tips, you can craft a college personal statement essay   that will really stand out. Let’s take a look at what it takes to write a great police officer essay.

Planning Your Essay 

Before you start writing your essay, take some time to plan out exactly what you want to say. This will help ensure that your ideas are organized and coherent. Start by making a list of key points that you want to cover in your essay. This might include topics such as why you’re interested in becoming a police officer, what qualities make you suitable for the role, and how your experience has prepared you for this position. 

Write from Your Heart 

Your essay should reflect your passion for becoming a police officer and should showcase your commitment to serving others. Talk about why you want to join the force—is it because you want to protect citizens or because you believe in justice? What have been some of your most meaningful experiences (i.e., volunteering, internships) that have made you even more determined?

Use Simple Language

When writing your police officer essay, remember that clarity is key. Avoid using overly complex language or long-winded sentences; instead, focus on succinctly conveying your ideas with clear language and precise wording.

Choosing a career in law enforcement is a challenging and rewarding decision. It is not just a job, but a calling to serve and protect your community. In this table, we will outline some of the top reasons why individuals may choose to become police officers.

Related posts:

• What Does Rain Symbolize in Literature
• Healing with Heart: Essay About My Plans to Becoming a Doctor
• Why I Want to Be a Healthcare Administrator, Essay Sample
• Honoring the Contributions of African Americans: Importance of Black History Month

Improve your writing with our guides

Youth Culture Essay Prompt and Discussion

Why Should College Athletes Be Paid, Essay Sample

Reasons Why Minimum Wage Should Be Raised Essay: Benefits for Workers, Society, and The Economy

Get 15% off your first order with edusson.

Connect with a professional writer within minutes by placing your first order. No matter the subject, difficulty, academic level or document type, our writers have the skills to complete it.

100% privacy. No spam ever.

• Play & Activities
• Life Skills
• Learning & Education
• Play & Learning

• Growth & Development
• Rhymes & Songs
• Preschool Locator

Essay On Policeman – 10 Lines, Short & Long Essay For Kids

Key Points To Remember When Writing An Essay On A Policeman For Lower Primary Classes

10-line essay on a policeman for kids, a paragraph about a policeman for children, short essay on a policeman in english, long essay on a policeman for kids, what will your 1st, 2nd or 3rd grader learn from this essay.

Police are an integral part of our social system. When your child writes a police essay in English, their creative writing skills improve, and they learn about the importance of the police in a community. Writing an essay on a policeman for classes 1, 2 and 3 will make kids understand the relevance of the role and functions of police in society. Moreover, essay writing activity lays the foundation of English grammar for kids. It improves their vocabulary and helps them structure their thoughts and put them on paper in short and simple sentences. The earlier you introduce the act of writing to your child, the better it is.

Your child needs to know a few important points while writing about the police and people serving in this department. Let us help your child get a hint of the work policemen dp through these pointers:

• Let your kids structure the ideas they want to write while referring to the role of the police in the first step.
• The second step is to note the ideas to form an outline to cover all the points while writing the essay.
• In the third step, they will make short and simple sentences from the pointers.
• Motivate your kid not to get too deep writing about any single idea. It will help them to maintain the word count.
• Help your kid write with the flow, making them cherish every bit of writing the essay.
• Your little one can write about the functions of the police, the skills required to join the police force, what kind of work they do, etc.

Police officers have a major role to play, as they are crucial to maintaining law and order in society. Let us help your kid to write a short essay for class 1 and class 2 by writing a simple few lines about a policeman:

• The police play a very important role in society.
• Police officers protect everyone.
• They bring peace and order to the community or town.
• They sort out problems like burglary, snatching, theft, misconduct, etc.
• The police officers wear the uniform that gives them a unique identification.
• They carry pistols for the protection of the people.
• They also carry batons sometimes.
• They travel and conduct routine rounds in their police car.
• The police officers are strong and courageous people.
• They have a lot of responsibility on their shoulders.

The role of the police in society is massive and cannot be undervalued. Let us help your child write the policeman essay in 100 words:

The police play a very important role in maintaining a peaceful atmosphere in society, town, or community. Police officers are responsible for protecting everyone. Whenever anyone tries to harm law and order in the country, the police mediate. Police officers are trained to solve problems and issues of the people living in a community. Policemen wear uniforms, which provide them with a unique identification. They carry pistols for the protection of the public, and they also carry batons sometimes. They patrol in their police car. Being in the police force requires strength and immense courage. They have a lot of responsibility on their shoulders to safeguard society and its people.

The importance of police can’t be undermined. Therefore, kids get regular assignments or essays on policemen to make them aware of their role in society. Let us help your kid to write an essay for classes 1, 2 and 3:

The police play a very important role in maintaining an atmosphere free from disturbances and unwanted violence in society. Policemen have the duty of protecting the citizens of the country. Therefore, they get posted all across the country. Whenever anyone breaks law and order in the country, the police intervene, catch culprits, and put them behind bars. The police have their uniform, and the most common colour of the police uniform is khaki. Policemen are allowed to carry pistols to protect the common people in extreme situations. The government provides police personnel with police cars, which they use for patroling and reaching out to various places. Being in the police force is a responsible task. It requires strength and immense courage as they have a lot of responsibility on their shoulders to safeguard society and its people. The police hold a major role in upholding the peace of a nation.

The role of the police is significant in our society. Let us help your little one write an essay for class 3 on the police force:

There are two kinds of people in this world. While most people abide by the state’s law and order, some people try to break it. When someone violates a law, the police get into the picture. The common citizens cannot take the law of the state into their own hands. They can only seek help from the police if needed. The police handle issues like burglary, snatching, theft, misconduct, etc. Whenever a crime occurs in society, the cops reach the spot and take charge.

What Is The Role And Importance Of The Policeman?

The police force has many responsibilities as they protect common people from danger, prevent crimes and tackle cases of robbery and misconduct. There is a lot of importance to police in our life. Police have to do various types of tasks on a daily basis. A policeman is responsible for ensuring the community stays safe and criminals remain put. There is a big role of police in society. Police officers enforce the law, prevent crime, fight criminal activities, and maintain order. They also control situations when there are natural disasters or large-scale protests. Sometimes they risk their lives while carrying out their duty. Police are the first branch to come into action in case of an emergency. Policemen are expected to be honest and sincere at their work. They get postings across the country. Policemen are given some tools to carry out their tasks efficiently, such as rifles, pistols, batons, and handcuffs, to name a few. The police cars with many special features also form an important part of their duty. It is these cars that they use for patrolling. There is also the INTERPOL Police force that works across countries at the international level.

When your little one writes an essay on the police, they learn about the significance of police in society. They understand that the police force is mandatory to maintain peace and order around us. The essay writing process also plays a major role in developing children’s creative writing skills.

Let us discuss some frequently asked questions below regarding policemen.

1. How Do Policemen Help Us?

The police officers are a group of specially trained people who maintain peace and order, enforce laws, protect public and private properties, help with emergencies, solve criminal cases, etc. Policemen are trained in rescue and first aid. The reason behind this training is that police officers are often one of the first people to reach a place where people are injured or in danger, such as an accident, a fire, etc. Sometimes we also see police personnel providing special security to VIPs.

2. What Skills Do You Need To Become A Police Officer?

Being in the police is not an easy task. A police officer needs to have a few skills. Let us discuss them below.

• Ability to handle the responsibility
• Ability to remain calm in dangerous or challenging situations.
• Assertiveness
• Open-mindedness
• Good interpersonal Skills

3. What Is the Full Form Of Police?

Police stand for Public Officer for Legal Investigations and Criminal Emergencies. The term Police can also be segregated as Polite, Obedient, Loyal, Intelligent, Courageous, and Efficient.

4. Which Is The Highest Post In The Police Department?

The highest post in the Police Department is the Director-General of Police (DGP).

We hope the above essay on policemen will help your child write an interesting essay on the topic and help them realise the value of police in society.

Essay On Soldiers for Class 1, 2 and 3 Kids Essay On Doctor for Classes 1 to 3 Children How to Write An Essay On Value of Time for Lower Primary Classes

• Essays for Class 1
• Essays for Class 2
• Essays for Class 3

5 Recommended Books To Add To Your Child’s Reading List and Why

5 absolute must-watch movies and shows for kids, 15 indoor toys that have multiple uses and benefits, leave a reply cancel reply.

Log in to leave a comment

Most Popular

The best toys for newborns according to developmental paediatricians, the best toys for three-month-old baby brain development, recent comments.

FirstCry Intelli Education is an Early Learning brand, with products and services designed by educators with decades of experience, to equip children with skills that will help them succeed in the world of tomorrow.

Story Related Activities Designed to Bring the Story to Life and Create Fun Memories.

Online Preschool is the Only Way Your Child's Learning Can Continue This Year, Don't Wait Any Longer - Get Started!

©2021 All rights reserved

• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use

Welcome to the world of Intelli!

We have some FREE Activity E-books waiting for you. Fill in your details below so we can send you tailor- made activities for you and your little one.

Welcome to the world of intelli!

FREE guides and worksheets coming your way on whatsapp. Subscribe Below !!

THANK YOU!!!

Here are your free guides and worksheets.

Symposium - 2021 - Policing, Race, and Power

To ‘defund’ the police, jessica m. eaglin *.

• Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook
• Download the PDF

Abstract. Much public debate circles around grassroots activists’ demand to “defund the police,” raised in public consciousness in the summer of 2020. Yet confusion about the demand is pervasive. This Essay adopts a literal interpretation of “defund” to clarify and distinguish four alternative, substantive policy positions that legal reforms related to police funding can validate. It argues that the policy debates between these positions exist on top of the ideological critique launched by grassroots activists, who use the term “defund the police” as a discursive tactic to make visible deeper transformations in government practices that normalize the structural marginalization of black people enforced through criminal law. By recognizing this socially contextualized meaning to the call to defund the police, this Essay offers two important insights for the public in this current moment. First, it urges the public to confront the structural marginalization of black people when evaluating legal reforms that may impact police budgets. Second, the Essay encourages the public to embrace the state of confusion produced by the demand to “defund the police” when considering social reforms going forward.

Introduction

In May 2020, Officer Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 1 Open this footnote Close this footnote 1 Matt Furber, Audra D. S. Burch & Frances Robles, What Happened in the Chaotic Moments Before George Floyd Died , N.Y. Times, http://perma.cc/Y4SC-8XMZ (updated June 10, 2020); Laurel Wamsley, Derek Chauvin Found Guilty of George Floyd’s Murder , NPR (Apr. 20, 2021, 5:37 PM ET), http://perma.cc/4CQP-T4DZ . … Open this footnote Close In response to Floyd’s death, the police killing of Breonna Taylor, 2 Open this footnote Close this footnote 2 Will Wright, Louisville Police Fire Brett Hankinson, Officer in Breonna Taylor Shooting , N.Y. Times , http:// perma.cc/AAA5-P254 (updated Sept. 15, 2020). … Open this footnote Close and many other instances of police killing unarmed black persons, 3 Open this footnote Close this footnote 3 See Cheryl W. Thompson, Fatal Police Shootings of Unarmed Black People Reveal Troubling Patterns , NPR (Jan. 25, 2021, 5:00 AM ET), http://perma.cc/6V5S-WT2K . … Open this footnote Close often without officers being held to account by the law, 4 Open this footnote Close this footnote 4 See, e.g. , id. (discussing the “myriad ways that law enforcement agencies fail to hold officers accountable”); Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, Louisville Officer Who Shot Breonna Taylor Will Be Fired , N.Y. Times (updated Apr. 16, 2021), http://perma.cc/U87E-NWLR (illustrating the way criminal law fails to hold police officers accountable). … Open this footnote Close political protests erupted across the United States during the summer of 2020. 5 Open this footnote Close this footnote 5 Helier Cheung, George Floyd Death: Why U.S. Protests Are So Powerful This Time , BBC News (June 8, 2020), http://perma.cc/5YB9-DVBJ (noting that protests occurred in all fifty states). … Open this footnote Close The slogan that emerged from the protests was simple: “Defund the police.” 6 Open this footnote Close this footnote 6 See, e.g. , Sam Levin, Movement to Defund Police Gains “Unprecedented” Support Across U.S ., Guardian (June 4, 2020, 6:00 EDT), http://perma.cc/63C7-J2CR (to access, click “View the live page”). … Open this footnote Close

But what does that mean? As a public-policy demand, the position is controversial. Pundits and politicians from both sides of the aisle have dismissed the demand outright. 7 Open this footnote Close this footnote 7 See, e.g. , Katie Rogers, Trump Continues Criticism of Movement to Defund the Police , N.Y. Times (July 13, 2020), http://perma.cc/NMT7-ACFQ ; Lauren Gambino, Trump and Republicans Use Calls to “Defund the Police” to Attack Democrats , Guardian (June 8, 2020, 9:09 PM EDT), http://perma.cc/N7VX-LLYV (quoting then-White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany as saying, “The president is appalled by the ‘defund the police’ movement”); Max Cohen, Biden Rejects Calls to Defund Police , Politico , http://perma.cc/6LNP-L8LN (updated June 8, 2020, 6:56 PM EDT) (quoting then-candidate Biden as saying, “No, I don’t support defunding the police . . . I support conditioning federal aid to police based on whether or not they meet certain basic standards of decency and honorableness and, in fact, are able to demonstrate they can protect the community and everybody in the community.”); Rep. Karen Bass, “ Defund Police” Is Probably One of the Worst Slogans Ever , Wash. Post , ( June 15, 2020, 12:59 PM PDT), http://perma.cc/8YVT-KTQ3 ; Shia Kapos, “ It’s a Nice Hashtag”: Chicago’s Lightfoot Pushes Police Reform, Not Defunding , Politico ( June 24, 2020 4:30 AM EDT), http://perma.cc/9FHU-97HX (explaining that Chicago Mayor Lightfoot rejects the call to defund the police because “it ignores how reform works, will hurt efforts to diversify the force, and goes against what Chicago residents are telling her they want”); William Saletan, “Defund the Police” Is a Self-Destructive Slogan , Slate ( Nov. 18, 2020, 8:45 PM), http://perma.cc/NSM3-Z32B . … Open this footnote Close At the same time, the demand emerges during a pivotal moment when people from across the political spectrum are expressing interest in advancing criminal legal reforms—including to policing—although to very different ends. 8 Open this footnote Close this footnote 8 See Benjamin Levin, The Consensus Myth in Criminal Justice Reform , 117 Mich. L. Rev . 259, 266-74 (2018) (complicating the apparent “consensus” about how to address mass incarceration by providing a typology distinguishing between “over” and “mass” critiques and criminal law reforms). … Open this footnote Close Unsurprisingly, even as they express discomfort with the term “defund the police,” policymakers are proposing reforms that will, in effect, reduce funding to the police. Yet, because the demand to defund the police has emerged as a political lightning-rod, there is real confusion about how to interpret the significance of such reforms. Further, public debates have yet to fully explain why this demand, as a mode of discourse, is so controversial in this historical moment. 9 Open this footnote Close this footnote 9 See, e.g. , Christy E. Lopez, Defund the Police? Here’s What That Really Means , Wash. Post (June 7, 2020, 3:37 PM PDT), https://perma.cc/C92N-AMXF (recognizing that, for “casual observers,” calls to defund police “may seem a bit disorienting—or even alarming” and urging parallel tracks between defunding and reforming police). … Open this footnote Close

This Essay seeks to clear the air and thus to facilitate public discourse. It adopts a literal interpretation of defunding to clarify and distinguish four alternative, substantive policy positions that legal reforms related to police funding can validate. It argues that the policy debates between these positions exist on top of the ideological critique launched by grassroots activists, who use the term “defund the police” as a discursive tactic to make visible deeper transformations in government practices that normalize the structural marginalization of black people enforced through criminal law. 10 Open this footnote Close this footnote 10 Note that this Essay focuses on black people in the United States, with a particular emphasis on economically disadvantaged individuals. However, the ideological critique applies with equal force to other people of color, especially Latinx people, who also experience deep structural disadvantages. … Open this footnote Close In recognizing this socially contextualized meaning of the call to defund the police, this Essay offers two important insights. First, it emphasizes that the place to start when evaluating legal reforms that may impact police budgets is not with matters of funding or policing; rather it is with the structural marginalization of black people we have all been conditioned not to question. Second, the Essay encourages the public to embrace the state of confusion produced by the demand to defund the police when considering social reforms going forward.

The Essay proceeds in two parts. Part I offers a typology of legal reforms that substantiate four different ways to conceptualize the act of defunding the police in this moment. To defund the police can refer to a long-term policy aim to abolish the police, to recalibrate what police do in society, to create accountability measures through conditional funding, or simply to save government resources. Though these four interpretations of defunding are not mutually exclusive, Part I brings to light the significant implications each meaning carries for structurally marginalized race- and class-vulnerable people. Part II situates grassroots activists’ demand to defund the police in social and historical context, so as to disentangle critiques of the demand as a discourse from debates between the policy positions described in Part I. It argues that the controversy around the call to defund the police derives in part from the substantive demand of grassroots activists to confront the structural marginalization of race- and class-vulnerable populations enforced through criminal law. The controversy also generates from grassroots activists’ attempt to claim epistemic power over two concepts—policing and defunding—that legitimate changes in government practice and make structural marginalization appear beyond redress. Ultimately, this Essay encourages the public to see the demand to defund the police as socially constructed. It emphasizes that the state of confusion the demand creates opens space for us all to imagine different futures.

I. A Typology of “Defunding” Police Reforms

“Defund” is a transitive verb that means “to withdraw funding from” 11 Open this footnote Close this footnote 11 Defund , Merriam-Webster , https://perma.cc/P9FL-NPY2 (archived May 6, 2021). … Open this footnote Close or “to withdraw financial support from.” 12 Open this footnote Close this footnote 12 Defund , Dictionary.com , https://perma.cc/23C5-ZLN5 (archived May 6, 2021). … Open this footnote Close In the context of U.S. practices, to defund colloquially refers to either a reduction in, or the elimination of, funding. 13 Open this footnote Close this footnote 13 See, e.g. , Thomas E. Keefe, The Etymology of Defund (June 2020), https://perma.cc/5N8P-M5ZL (to access, click “View the live page) (noting that “ defund has historically and colloquially been used in more emotional and dramatic situations”). … Open this footnote Close It is important to understand the literal meaning of the word because much public debate turns on social interpretations of the word in the context of policing. As Part II discusses in more detail, grassroots activists’ demand to “defund the police” in 2020 in response to police killings of unarmed black women and men has a particular, contextualized meaning. To fully appreciate that meaning, we must disentangle it from the ongoing policy debates surrounding legal reforms that impact police budgets. This Part situates the literal act of defunding the police within four different policy positions about policing. It identifies different legal reform proposals that substantiate each of those positions. This Part moves from positions most willing to engage with structural marginalization enforced through criminal law to those least concerned with that reality.

A. Police Abolition

Abolitionists challenge the idea that imprisonment and policing are a solution for social, political, and economic problems in the United States. They believe that after years of trying to “reform” the police, reform efforts are doomed to fail. 14 Open this footnote Close this footnote 14 Mariame Kaba, Yes, We Mean Literally Abolish the Police , N.Y. Times (June 12, 2020), https://perma.cc/8D6M-K23U (“The only way to diminish police violence is to reduce contact between the public and the police.”). … Open this footnote Close Abolitionists emphasize that the police are an institution designed to surveil and control marginalized populations, particularly black people. 15 Open this footnote Close this footnote 15 See, e.g. , Mychal Denzel Smith, Abolish the Police. Instead, Let’s Have Full Social, Economic, and Political Equality , Nation (Apr. 9, 2015), https://perma.cc/Z3CN-TPGM (“What do you do with an institution whose core function is the control and elimination of black people specifically, and people of color and the poor more broadly? You abolish it.”); Paul Butler, Chokehold: Policing Black Men 6 (2017) (“American cops are the enforcers of a criminal justice regime that targets black men and sets them up to fail.”). … Open this footnote Close Accordingly, the aim should be abolishing the police and other arms of the “prison industrial complex” in order to reimagine public safety. 16 Open this footnote Close this footnote 16 See, e.g. , MPD150 , Enough is Enough: A 150 Year Performance Review of the Minneapolis Police Department 40-41 (2020), https://perma.cc/5T8Y-NPJ9 . … Open this footnote Close The abolitionist project is both pragmatic—for example, reducing police presence should also reduce police killings—and existential—in that it reflects a long-term goal of replacing police with alternative means of ensuring safety. 17 Open this footnote Close this footnote 17 Kaba, supra note 14; Butler , supra note 15, at 234-35. A thick vision of police abolition emerges from the deep intellectual history of scholar–activists like Angela Davis and Ruth Wilson Gilmore, each of whom argues that transforming policing and incarceration in the United States has to be an economic project. See Ruth Wilson Gilmore, The Golden Gulag: Prisons, Surplus, Crisis, and Opposition in Globalizing California 11 (2007) (framing prison expansion as central to the changing political economy). See generally Angela Y. Davis, Are Prisons Obsolete? (2003) (critiquing the prison–industrial complex). … Open this footnote Close

When abolitionists talk about responding to police violence, they often point to the Illinois Reparations for Police Torture Victims Act drafted by survivors and activists in response to the heinous acts of torture by the Chicago Police Department under the leadership of the late Jon Burge. 18 Open this footnote Close this footnote 18 See, e.g. , Allegra M. McLeod, Envisioning Abolition Democracy , 132 Harv. L. Rev. 1613, 1623-27 (2019) (pointing to the reparations ordinance as an example of how abolitionists would “react to the most awful forms of violence”—in this case, violence perpetrated by the police); see also Georgetown Law, Police Abolition: What Does It Mean?—Georgetown Law’s “Rethinking Policing” Series , YouTube (June 24, 2020), https://perma.cc/AHL3-XSJJ (to access the video, click “View the live page”) (comments of Justin Hansford at 14:47-16:05, noting that abolition is a “very generous” approach and recognizing that “it’s perhaps the case that justice looks like reparations more so than justice looks like retributive justice”). … Open this footnote Close Passed in May 2015, this legislation provides non-financial reparations for survivors and their families, including an official apology, free psychological counseling, free education at the City Colleges, and job training; it mandates that public schools teach about the torture in eighth- and tenth-grade curriculums; and it approves creation of a permanent memorial in the city. 19 Open this footnote Close this footnote 19 G. Flint Taylor, The Long Path to Reparations for the Survivors of Chicago Police Torture , 11 Nw. J.L. & Soc. Pol’y 330, 348-51 (2016). … Open this footnote Close In addition, the City of Chicago set aside $5.5 million to financially compensate living survivors of the torture. 20 Open this footnote Close this footnote 20 Flint Taylor, How Activists Won Reparations for the Survivors of Chicago Police Department Torture , In These Times (June 26, 2015) https://perma.cc/Z627-V6V9 (noting that the $5.5 million should allow approximately $100,000 per survivor, regardless of whether the statute of limitations for an individual to bring a civil suit against the city had run). … Open this footnote Close

The ordinance did not directly defund the police, yet the funding for the reparations ordinance did not derive from the coffer of money set aside by the city to cover police liability cases either. 21 Open this footnote Close this footnote 21 See id. (emphasizing that the city paid individuals who could not pursue civil lawsuits); Kristen Gwynne, Chicago to Pay $5.5 Million in Reparations for Police Torture Victims , Rolling Stone ( May 6, 2015, 10:27 PM ET ) , https://perma.cc/4QNZ-RD9W (“Chicago has allotted $5.5 million to be doled out to dozens of police torture victims—a drop in the bucket compared to the $100 million spent on restitution for lawsuits linked to Burge’s abuse, and the $20 million spent defending him and his team.”); see also Joanna C. Schwartz, How Governments Pay: Lawsuits, Budgets, and Police Reform , 63 UCLA L. Rev . 1144, 1176-77 & nn.102-04 (2016) (noting that the city of Chicago requires its police department to pay for police liability cases, but allocates funds for that responsibility directly into the police budget and covers overages when needed). … Open this footnote Close In Chicago, that coffer is set aside in the police budget to fund civil lawsuits that the City anticipates will result from police misconduct each year. 22 Open this footnote Close this footnote 22 This is the coffer of money out of which § 1983 claims, subject to any qualified immunity defense, would be compensated. See Schwartz, supra note 21, at 1176 n.102. In recent years, much legal scholarship has explored the shortcomings of qualified immunity on empirical and legal grounds. See, e.g. , Fred O. Smith, Jr., Formalism, Ferguson, and Qualified Immunity , 93 Notre Dame L. Rev. 2093, 2095 (2018) (discussing groundswell of support for reexamining the doctrine of qualified immunity). For a discussion of the limited significance of qualified immunity reform for the larger project of achieving social justice, see Fred O. Smith, Jr., Beyond Qualified Immunity , 119 Mich. L. Rev. Online 121 (2021) (recognizing the merits of expanding possible liability against individual police officers, but explaining its limits in addressing systemic practices and proposing other judicial reforms that could “serve to shape the incentives, knowledge, and ultimately, the actions of policymakers in ways that could meaningfully reduce injustices, inequality, and unnecessary death in the criminal legal system”). … Open this footnote Close The funding for the ordinance, in contrast, requires the city to pay torture victims with general taxpayer dollars. Regardless of whether the reparation ordinance deters police from engaging in wrongful behavior in the future, both its financial and non-financial conditions require the City of Chicago to invest in the futures of the marginalized communities most impacted by police violence. In effect, then, the reparation legislation requires the city to allocate taxpayer dollars otherwise available for the city to spend on policing and instead increase funding for alternative ways to connect and understand one another. 23 Open this footnote Close this footnote 23 In 2017, for example, the Chicago police department received 38.6% of the city’s $3.7 billion general fund budget. The city allocated just 2.1% of that same fund to the Department of Family and Support Services, which includes violence reduction programs. See Ctr. for Popular Democracy, Law for Black Lives & Black Youth Project 100, Freedom to Thrive: Reimagining Safety & Security in Our Communities 23 (2017). … Open this footnote Close

From the abolitionist perspective, defunding the police is a first step toward abolishing the police. It is a demand to enact “nonreformist reforms” of the police, by beginning to divest from police and from the expanding carceral state. 24 Open this footnote Close this footnote 24 As MPD150 succinctly stated in 2020, “We (and so many others in this movement [to abolish the police]) don’t want to just rebrand cops, or privatize cops, or make cops ‘nicer.’ The goal is a city without police, and defunding police is one tool we have to reach that goal.” MPD150, supra note 16, at 48. For a definition of “non-reformist reforms,” see Amna A. Akbar, Demands for a Democratic Political Economy , 134 Harv. L. Rev. F. 90, 101 (2020) (“non-reformist reforms require a ‘modification of the relations of power,’ in particular ‘the creation of new centers of democratic power.’” (quoting André Gorz , Strategy for Labor: A Radical Proposal 8 & n.3 (Martin A. Nicolaus & Victoria Ortiz trans., 1967))). … Open this footnote Close Importantly, abolitionists neither seek to eliminate police tomorrow nor to exist in a world without replacements. 25 Open this footnote Close this footnote 25 See Kaba, supra note 14 (“[D]on’t get me wrong. We are not abandoning our communities to violence. We don’t want to just close police departments. We want to make them obsolete. . . . We can build other ways of responding to harms in our society.”). … Open this footnote Close Rather, they seek to create ways to connect that are sensitive to the needs of the most marginalized in society, particularly intersectionally vulnerable black people. In the long term, such a world would not include police, in any form or for any function. 26 Open this footnote Close this footnote 26 See, e.g. , Bernard E. Harcourt, Introduction to 3/13: Police Abolition , Abolition Democracy 13/13 (Oct. 3, 2020), https://perma.cc/MV6R-4B2R (urging the replacement of police with “violence interrupters”). … Open this footnote Close Defunding the police moves society in that direction.

B. Police Recalibration

To defund the police can also mean supporting the idea that we need to reprioritize existing public resources to create healthier communities. Significant amounts of public resources go toward police, yet more policing does not always make a community safer, particularly when considering economically disadvantaged black and brown communities. Other forms of public spending could increase safety more effectively while also creating a more equitable society. While abolitionists seek to transform society by ending policing, recalibrationists seek to transform it by altering police responsibilities. Those changes can occur through reductions in funding to police.

As an example, consider Chicago Alderperson Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez’s recently proposed legislation to expand the city’s public mental health infrastructure using funds taken from the Chicago Police Department budget. 27 Open this footnote Close this footnote 27 City Council Order 2020-242 (Chicago, Ill., Sept. 9, 2020) (unenacted). … Open this footnote Close Since 2011, Chicago has closed or privatized over half of its city-run health clinics due to cuts in state and city funding. 28 Open this footnote Close this footnote 28 Mattie Quinn, This Is What Happens When a City Shuts Down Mental Health Clinics , Governing (Sept. 27, 2018), https://perma.cc/XP5R-LBSQ (to access, click “View the live page,” then click “CONTINUE TO SITE”). … Open this footnote Close In their stead, the Cook County jail has emerged as a primary mental health resource for marginalized Chicagoans. 29 Open this footnote Close this footnote 29 See id. … Open this footnote Close Sanchez’s proposed legislation would create a publicly funded and operated Chicago Crisis Response and Care System that would be housed within the Chicago Department of Public Health. 30 Open this footnote Close this footnote 30 Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg, Chicago Lawmakers Push to Build Team of Emergency Responders Who Aren’t Police , Appeal (Sept. 28, 2020), http://linkhttps://perma.cc/4VH5-6ZU6 . … Open this footnote Close It would also establish twenty-four-hour crisis response teams throughout Chicago. 31 Open this footnote Close this footnote 31 Id. … Open this footnote Close And it would designate other social welfare actors, rather than police officers, to respond to mental-health-related calls for help. In so doing, the legislation could reduce police violence by reducing the incidence of police responding to people in mental health crises. 32 Open this footnote Close this footnote 32 See id. (noting that the proposed reforms are inspired in part by fatal encounters between the police and black youth experiencing mental health crises). … Open this footnote Close

This reform would explicitly defund the police. The funding for this mental health services system would be appropriated from the Chicago Police Department budget, including its overtime budget. 33 Open this footnote Close this footnote 33 Id. … Open this footnote Close Thus, the police budget would provide city funding to supplement the mental health services currently provided in large part at the Cook County jail. 34 Open this footnote Close this footnote 34 See Quinn, supra note 28 (emphasizing that the county provides mental health services in Chicago by default because the state and the city have slashed funding for such services). Significantly, the public health initiative would not be housed in the police department or any other criminal justice arm of the government, even if the police budget provides funds for it. Weill-Greenberg, supra note 30. … Open this footnote Close This approach would directly impact police functions as well. In effect, the reform would narrow the scope of what Chicagoans expect police officers to do in their city.

Like abolitionists, policymakers urging recalibration-oriented defunding reforms are deeply concerned with structural marginalization. As an example, the lack of mental health services in Chicago has disproportionately affected race- and class-marginalized populations. 35 Open this footnote Close this footnote 35 See Quinn, supra note 28 (noting that two of the mental health facilities closed by the city were located in already-underserved, low-income black and brown neighborhoods). … Open this footnote Close Yet Rodriguez Sanchez’s proposal would also explicitly produce organizational reforms within the Chicago Police Department by creating new public infrastructure to take over some of the activities police currently undertake by default. 36 Open this footnote Close this footnote 36 See Megan Quattlebaum & Tom Tyler, Beyond the Law: An Agenda for Policing Reform , 100 B.U. L. Rev. 1017, 1027 (2020) (proposing that Americans begin police reform discussion by deciding what they want police to do, and, potentially, “to reduce police officers’ functions down to the smallest, hard core of violent and other serious crime problems . . . for which we see no other possible response.”). … Open this footnote Close In so doing, it would free up existing resources for police to engage in some of the kinds of responsibilities recalibrationists expect police officers to continue doing. 37 Open this footnote Close this footnote 37 See id. at 1027-28. … Open this footnote Close In that sense, the legislation complements the work of legal scholars that look at policing like any other public good. 38 Open this footnote Close this footnote 38 See, e.g. , Tracey L. Meares, Synthesizing Narratives of Policing and Making a Case for Policing as a Public Good , 63 St. Louis U. L.J. 553 (2019) [hereinafter Meares, Narratives ]; Tracey L. Meares, Policing: A Public Good Gone Bad , Bos. Rev. (Aug. 1, 2017), https://perma.cc/Y5U2-8E83 [hereinafter Meares, Public Good ]. … Open this footnote Close To recalibrationists, the point of reductions in police funding is not the long-term elimination of all police; rather, it is the transformation of their function in society. 39 Open this footnote Close this footnote 39 See Tracey L. Meares & Tom R. Tyler, The First Step Is Figuring Out What Police Are For , Atlantic (June 8, 2020), https://perma.cc/3RAH-JSHX; Monica C. Bell, Police Reform and the Dismantling of Legal Estrangement , 126 Yale L.J. 2054, 2066-67 (2017) (critiquing the shortcomings of the legitimacy frame to police reform and proposing a “legal estrangement perspective [that] treats social inclusion as the ultimate end of law enforcement”). … Open this footnote Close

Thus, the distinction between the first and second meanings of defunding the police is nuanced. While abolitionists may consider Rodriguez Sanchez’s proposed legislation to be part of their agenda, recalibrationists would not consider the abolitionist-oriented reparations ordinance to be part of their agenda. Both seek to build alternative ways to ensure safety in communities, yet recalibrationists seek to explicitly change police organizations as well. Because abolitionists envision a long-term end to policing, such transformations are, at best, a side effect. For recalibrationists, the effect on policing is the point. From the recalibration perspective, to defund the police can be a first step toward foundationally transforming police, which can in turn transform society, too.

C. Police Oversight

Defunding the police could also fit within the managerialist idea that we need to reprioritize allocation of our constrained public resources to better shape the behavior of police departments and individual police officers. That police lack accountability is a well-established problem in legal and policy circles. Managerialists suggest that funding can be the lever to create needed police accountability. 40 Open this footnote Close this footnote 40 See, e.g. , Inimai Chettiar, Lauren-Brooke Eisen, Nicole Fortier & Timothy Ross, Brennan Ctr. for Just., Reforming Funding to Reduce Mass Incarceration 12-17 (2013) (“Weaving together dollars, incentives, and policy goals can serve as a potent lever for change” that “could be applied throughout the criminal justice system.”). … Open this footnote Close By attaching funding to technocratic metrics that measure lawful or effective policing, managerialists aim to “use the power of the purse” to shift policing practices. 41 Open this footnote Close this footnote 41 See id. at 12. … Open this footnote Close While incentivizing adherence to such metrics need not lead to reductions in funding to police departments, managerialists suggest that it could. 42 Open this footnote Close this footnote 42 See id. at 14 (“If agencies do not achieve ‘success,’ the consequences would be a reduction in funding , some other negative impact, or possible termination .”) (emphasis added). … Open this footnote Close In this sense, the manipulation of success measurements may reduce currently guaranteed funding to state and local police departments while incentivizing different department-wide, systemic policing policies. 43 Open this footnote Close this footnote 43 As of 2016, there were 599,548 employees of local police, 359,843 employees of county sheriffs, and 91,097 state police employees. Shelley Hyland, U.S. Dep’t of Just., NCJ 251762, Full-Time Employees in Law Enforcement Agencies, 1997-2016 , at 2 tbl.2 (2018). This tracks the observation that policing remains a mostly local matter. Rachel A. Harmon, Federal Programs and the Real Costs of Policing , 90 N.Y.U. L. Rev. 870, 877 (2015) (“Though subject to state and federal law, police departments are overwhelmingly funded by local governments and governed by the local political process.”). … Open this footnote Close

Policies that fit within this interpretation of defunding the police are rarely described as such, though they surely could have that effect. As an example, in June 2020, then-President Donald Trump promulgated Executive Order 13929, requiring police departments to adopt “use-of-force policies [that] prohibit the use of chokeholds . . . except in those situations where the use of deadly force is allowed by law” in order to receive a certification that allows access to federal grant money. 44 Open this footnote Close this footnote 44 See Exec. Order No. 13,929, 85 Fed. Reg. 37,325, 37,325-26 (June 19, 2020). … Open this footnote Close At the time, most state governments and localities did not regulate police chokeholds. 45 Open this footnote Close this footnote 45 Prior to summer 2020, only a handful of local municipalities and state governments regulated police chokeholds. See Trevor George Gardner & Esam Al-Shareffi, Regulating Police Chokeholds , 111 J. Crim. L. & Criminology Online (forthcoming 2021) (manuscript at 11-12, 14) (on file with author) (noting that prior to Floyd’s death in May 2020, only four states and the District of Columbia regulated the police chokehold through statutory law while eighteen of the fifty largest municipalities in the country had enacted some type of regulation over police chokeholds). … Open this footnote Close In effect, then, Trump’s single act could have eliminated federal funding for the majority of police departments across the country. Similarly, two congressional bills introduced in the summer of 2020 seek to incentivize chokehold regulation at the state and local level by withholding federal funds from law enforcement agencies that refuse to take action. 46 Open this footnote Close this footnote 46 JUSTICE Act, S. 3985, 116th Cong. § 105 (2020); George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020, H.R. 7120, 116th Cong. § 363 (2020). … Open this footnote Close

Should either of these bills pass, it would have the same effect as Trump’s executive order—conditioning funding upon enactment of specific police policies. While local police departments are largely funded by local taxes, federal funding has expanded in recent decades. 47 Open this footnote Close this footnote 47 See, e.g. , Harmon, supra note 43, at 882-84 (discussing intermittent influxes of federal funds to local law enforcement agencies since the 1960s); Brian A. Reaves, U.S. Dep’t of Just., NJC 248677, Local Police Departments, 2013: Personnel, Policies, and Practices 8 (May 2015), https://perma.cc/UF75-C3EV (finding that seven in ten police departments include a community policing component that enables federal funding). … Open this footnote Close The possible reduction of federal funding to a state or municipality is significant. 48 Open this footnote Close this footnote 48 See Vera Inst. of Just., The Impact of Federal Budget Cuts from FY10-FY13 on State and Local Public Safety: Results from a Survey of Criminal Justice Practitioners 2-12 (2013), https://perma.cc/8MQ8-RFX8 (reporting survey responses of state and local law enforcement agencies expressing serious concern about reductions in federal funding to local law enforcement); Nat’l Conf. State Legislatures, NCSL Fiscal Brief: State Balanced Budget Provisions 2 (Oct. 2010), https://perma.cc/X64P-4CJV (“Most states have formal balanced budget requirements with some degree of stringency, and state political cultures reinforce the requirements.”). … Open this footnote Close States and localities will change—and have changed—their policies to maintain federal funding. That police departments can reclaim their status for federal funding does not negate the fact that the law could reduce or withdraw funding from police departments.

Unlike the first or second interpretations, the managerial or oversight interpretation of “defunding” is oriented around the lawfulness or effectiveness of the police. The point of funding reform is not to change society, but to make police better at the existing panoply of tasks society expects them to do. That is, the central purpose of this kind of defunding would be to control individual officers through systemic reforms. 49 Open this footnote Close this footnote 49 See, e.g. , William J. Stuntz, The Political Constitution of Criminal Justice , 119 Harv. L. Rev. 780, 844-45 (2006) (suggesting that Congress should spend its energy funding local officials who do most of the work in controlling crime). … Open this footnote Close If manipulating funding streams reduces the significance of structural marginalization, that is a welcome side-effect of the reform. But it is not the central purpose. Thus, proponents of the managerialist frame are more likely to speak of individual bias and discretion. And they are more likely to consider structural forces that subordinate racial minorities to be beyond the reach of police reforms. So while there is nothing wrong per se with police lawfulness or efficiency or the intersection between the two, this oversight perspective creates a foundation for lawmakers and policymakers to embrace reforms that obscure and entrench structural inequality enforced through criminal law—a foundation that those adhering to the first and second meanings seek to contest. 50 Open this footnote Close this footnote 50 As a case in point, adherents to the managerialist frame often embrace proactive policing because it is ostensibly efficient—a contested claim—even though it has deleterious effects on society that are disproportionately borne by marginalized communities. Compare Chettiar et al., supra note 40, at 10 (encouraging expansion of proactive policing), with Meares, Public Good , supra note 38 (demanding that we “abandon the project of ‘proactive policing’”), and Butler , supra note 15, at 91-97 (explaining the racialized effects of “stop-and-frisk,” a cornerstone of proactive policing). … Open this footnote Close

D. Fiscal Constraints

Finally, defunding the police could relate to the idea that resources are scarce in the public sector, so all government agencies have a responsibility to tighten their belts. 51 Open this footnote Close this footnote 51 This framing builds on a long history of police departments facing budgetary constraints as part of a trend toward “budget-cut criminal justice reform.” See generally Mary D. Fan, Beyond Budget-Cut Criminal Justice: The Future of Penal Law , 90 N.C. L. Rev . 581 (2012). Whether this is a good or bad thing has been debated. For critiques of this trend as contrary to efforts to address mass incarceration, see Jessica M. Eaglin, Against Neorehabilitation , 66 SMU L. Rev . 189, 194 (2013) (critiquing emergency, cost-conscious sentencing reforms because they fail to “provid[e] a significant change in the problematic policies that led [the United States] to the current crisis”); Marie Gottschalk, Caught: The Prison State and the Lockdown of American Politics 26 (2015) (lamenting that “the Great Recession has spurred excessive hopes that the United States is at the beginning of the end of mass incarceration because the fiscal costs are too high to sustain,” and pointing to broader “political, economic, and institutional forces that . . . sustain the carceral state”). … Open this footnote Close The primary aim is reducing costs, not transforming policing institutions, though fiscal-constraint-type reforms tend to have that effect as well. Under this interpretation, defunding the police is just that—an effort to reduce government spending in the area of criminal administration without any commitment to changes in practices and policies.

Some of the recent budget changes to the New York City Police Department (NYPD) illustrate the cost-reductionist interpretation of defunding the police. In the face of severe financial deficits brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on the economy, Mayor Bill de Blasio set out to reduce police funding as early as April 2020. 52 Open this footnote Close this footnote 52 See Jeffery C. Mays, Virus Forces a “Wartime” Budget on N.Y.C., with $2 Billion in Cuts , N.Y. Times , https://perma.cc/VZ36-WVXW (updated July 1, 2020). … Open this footnote Close And in response to the protests following the death of George Floyd, in May, New York City Council members pledged to cut New York City’s police spending by $1 billion. As the Council explained, these cuts would “limit the scope of the NYPD” and “show our commitment towards moving away from the failed policing policies of the past.” 53 Open this footnote Close this footnote 53 Press Release, Joint Statement from Speaker Corey Johnson et al. on Proposed Cuts to the NYPD Budget (June 12, 2020), https://perma.cc/A67Q-XZC4 . … Open this footnote Close Despite these rhetorical commitments, the 2021 New York City budget reflected a deeper commitment to reducing city costs than to transforming policing or society. 54 Open this footnote Close this footnote 54 When asked whether these reforms would “defund” the police, Mayor Bill de Blasio explained, “If you are not spending the money on that agency, if money that agency was planning to spend is no longer in their budget, that is savings by any measure.” Dana Rubinstein & Jeffery C. Mays, Nearly $1 Billion Is Shifted from Police in Budget That Pleases No One , N.Y. Times , https://perma.cc/V2BU-246L (updated Aug. 10, 2020). … Open this footnote Close The city made plans to cut $350 million in overtime pay for NYPD officers. 55 Open this footnote Close this footnote 55 Id. … Open this footnote Close It also has delayed the hiring of approximately 1,160 new police officers and intends to reallocate the $400 million fiscal responsibility for school safety agents from the NYPD to the Department of Education. 56 Open this footnote Close this footnote 56 Id. … Open this footnote Close

This fiscal-constraint interpretation of defunding the police likely conflicts with efforts to address structural marginalization as such reforms tend to entrench the marginalizing structures. For example, the NYPD budget cuts implemented by de Blasio will shift responsibility for the school safety line from the NYPD back to the Department of Education. 57 Open this footnote Close this footnote 57 Note that Mayor de Blasio’s administration characterizes this transition as “a multiyear process,” so school safety officers remain within the NYPD budget for at least part of the 2020-21 fiscal year. Joe Anuta, School Safety Agents Will Stay Under NYPD This Year, Despite City’s Claims of $1B Cut , Politico , https://perma.cc/85FY-737M (updated July 2, 2020, 10:47 PM EDT). For context on the origins of New York City’s existing school-safety program, see Randal C. Archibold, New Era as Police Prepare to Run School Security , N.Y. Times (Sept. 16, 1998), https://perma.cc/GWH2-ECD2 . … Open this footnote Close But the Department of Education was already spending some $300 million underwriting the program. 58 Open this footnote Close this footnote 58 Communities United for Police Reform, The Path Forward: How to Defund the NYPD, Invest in Communities & Make New York Safer 13 (June 16, 2020), https://perma.cc/J4EH-E48A (calling for the elimination of police in schools to permit the reinvestment of over $300 million into the Department of Education); Rubinstein & Mays, supra note 54 (explaining that the Department of Education pays the NYPD for in-school security services). For an insightful call to critique school policing through a public health lens, see Thalia González, Race, School Policing, and Public Health , 73 Stan. L. Rev. Online 180 (2021). … Open this footnote Close This reallocation potentially reduces educational resources by $100 million without significantly reducing police funding or fundamentally altering the idea of safety in schools. Indeed, budget constraints have been the catalyst for numerous reforms that exacerbate structural marginalization. For example, a fiscal-constraints orientation can facilitate the expansion of proprietary, data-driven technology to allow police to continue proactive policing at a lower cost while avoiding critical engagement with whether the practice should continue at all. 59 Open this footnote Close this footnote 59 See Andrew Guthrie Ferguson, The Rise of Big Data Policing: Surveillance, Race, and the Future of Law Enforcement 20-33 (2017) (noting the expansion of data-driven policing technologies in response to budgetary constraints). … Open this footnote Close Perverse incentives can catalyze police departments to close budget gaps in ways that exacerbate structural marginalization—for example, by increasing citations and other forms of regressive levies on the poor, 60 Open this footnote Close this footnote 60 See U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Civ. Rts. Div., Investigation of the Ferguson Police Department 5-10 (2015) (noting perverse financial incentives that shaped policing in problematic ways). … Open this footnote Close selling arrest records for a profit, 61 Open this footnote Close this footnote 61 See, e.g. , James B. Jacobs, The Eternal Criminal Record 197 (2015). For an insightful explanation of the racially discriminatory implications of the creation and expanding use of criminal records outside the criminal justice system, see Eisha Jain, The Mark of Policing , 73 Stan. L. Rev. Online 162 (2021). … Open this footnote Close providing specialized services to wealthy communities for a fee, 62 Open this footnote Close this footnote 62 Monica C. Bell, Anti-Segregation Policing , 95 N.Y.U. L. Rev. 650, 724-27 (2020) (describing the Expanded Neighborhood Policing program in Dallas, Texas). … Open this footnote Close and more.

The third and fourth interpretations are similar in important respects. Like managerialists, cost-reductionists may not consider themselves to be defunding the police. Rather, both envision themselves as embracing principles of good management. Both focus narrowly, emphasizing the allocation of money within police budgets. Both are committed to actively funding police departments rather than intentionally removing funding from their budgets. In this sense, managerialists and cost-reductionists are both a world away from abolitionists and recalibrationists. However, managerialists and cost-reductionists diverge in one very important way. While managerialists are concerned with shaping individual officers’ behavior through systemic reforms, cost-reductionists are preoccupied with savings. Any influence that the cost-cutting measures have on systemic practices, such as increased efficiency in police work or alterations in persistent officer conduct, is a welcome benefit. But it is not the primary aim.

II. “Defund the Police” as Discourse

To “defund” is a plastic and malleable term in the context of policing. Each of the above reforms could literally defund the police, yet only some of these reforms fit within the frame of grassroots activists’ demand to “defund the police” in this moment. That many would not interpret some of these reforms as defunding the police illuminates the simple point that the meaning of “defund the police” is socially and historically situated. Thus, when considering whether and what kinds of legal reforms can satisfy the demand in this moment, we must begin by understanding both what the demand means in social context, and why the demand is politically and historically significant. As this Part points out, the demand to defund the police emerged as part of a critique of the structural marginalization of race- and class-vulnerable people and its enforcement through criminal law. Because activists use words central to the historical shift in government practices as the means to critique that marginalization, the entire discourse challenges existing worldviews. The intersection of this discursive critique with debates about police reform creates genuine confusion.

Americans changed the function of government at the end of the twentieth century. We shifted from a social welfare state to something else, 63 Open this footnote Close this footnote 63 See, e.g. , Elizabeth Hinton, From the War on Poverty to the War on Crime: The Making of Mass Incarceration in America 10-11 (2016); Katherine Beckett, Making Crime Pay: Law and Order in Contemporary American Politics 9-10 (1997). … Open this footnote Close often termed neoliberalism. Though that term can mean many things, it generally expresses a shift toward market logics in government activities, the privatization of public functions, the slashing of the social safety net, and the expansion of the carceral arm of the state. 64 Open this footnote Close this footnote 64 See Bernard E. Harcourt, The Illusion of Free Markets: Punishment and the Myth of Natural Order 42-43 (2011). … Open this footnote Close At times, this transformation has been explicitly driven by anti-black racism. 65 Open this footnote Close this footnote 65 See Michael Omi & Howard Winant , Racial Formation in the United States 211-21 (2013) (situating the neoliberal political project and racial exclusion as co-constitutive of one another). … Open this footnote Close But regardless of intent, 66 Open this footnote Close this footnote 66 See generally Naomi Murakawa & Katherine Beckett, The Penology of Racial Innocence: The Erasure of Racism in the Study and Practice of Punishment , 44 L. & Soc’y Rev. 695, 696-700 (2010) (critiquing the narrowing of conceptions of racism alongside the expansion of the carceral state). … Open this footnote Close its effects have most impacted the most marginalized in the United States. 67 Open this footnote Close this footnote 67 See, e.g. , Kaaryn Gustafson, The Criminalization of Poverty , 99 J. Crim. L. & Criminology 643, 715 (2009) (critiquing the criminalization of poverty and suggesting that this trend “highlights economically and legally institutionalized ideologies of neo-liberalism, racism, sexism, and the dehumanization of the poor.”); Loïc Wacquant, Punishing the Poor: The Neoliberal Government of Social Insecurity 16 (2009) (urging study of penal policies as an “essential chapter” in the sociology of the state and social stratification). … Open this footnote Close Yet neoliberal logics make that marginalization seem natural, when in fact it is very much constructed by shifts in legal policies and transformations in government presence.

Discursively, the social meaning of “defund the police” emerges from “[o]ne of the most contested planks” of the Black Lives Matter movement: the call to “invest/divest.” 68 Open this footnote Close this footnote 68 See Brentin Mock, The Price of Defunding the Police , Bloomberg: CityLab (July 14, 2017, 4:00 AM PDT), https://perma.cc/P8KG-Z8L2 . For more on the origin of the Black Lives Matter movement, see Jelani Cobb, The Matter of Black Lives , New Yorker (Mar. 7, 2016), https://perma.cc/8RJ8-9KL6 . … Open this footnote Close According to the Movement for Black Lives’ policy platform, this means “investments in Black communities, determined by Black communities, and divestment from exploitative forces including prisons, fossil fuels, police, surveillance and exploitative corporations.” 69 Open this footnote Close this footnote 69 Invest-Divest , Movement for Black Lives , https://perma.cc/H8FG-9L3F (archived May 6, 2021). … Open this footnote Close In recent years, the “invest/divest” demand has morphed into the demand to “defund the police.” 70 Open this footnote Close this footnote 70 See, e.g. , Mock, supra note 68. … Open this footnote Close In the wake of George Floyd’s death on May 25, 2020, “defund the police” emerged as a new slogan among protestors of police brutality alongside the slogan “Black Lives Matter.” As activist and law professor Justin Hansford explains, the call to defund the police developed not only as a symbolic call to affirm black lives, but “a substantive slogan that includes the [policy] proposal” for how to do it. 71 Open this footnote Close this footnote 71 Georgetown Law, supra note 18, at 48:10-49:03. … Open this footnote Close

Thus, the social meaning of defunding the police embeds a critique of the historical transformation in government logic. The demand to divest and invest is a demand to address structural marginalization, 72 Open this footnote Close this footnote 72 Akbar, supra note 24, at 110-11. … Open this footnote Close which in turn illuminates its disproportionate concentration among black people. Treating police violence as a symptom makes the racialized nature of structural marginalization visible. 73 Open this footnote Close this footnote 73 See Devon W. Carbado, Blue-on-Black Violence: A Provisional Model of Some of the Causes , 104 Geo. L.J. 1479, 1482 (2016) (encouraging readers “to view police violence against African-Americans as a structural phenomenon and not simply as a product of rogue police officers who harbor racial animus against black people.”). … Open this footnote Close So, to the extent that public discourse orients around what to do about policing, it is too narrow in scope. The place to start is with the structural marginalization of black people that we all have been conditioned not to question. From this perspective, disagreements between abolitionists and recalibrationists, while important as an academic matter, are less significant as a policy matter in this moment. One can support reforms that would directly redress the structural marginalization of black people through criminal law without demanding total police abolition. 74 Open this footnote Close this footnote 74 See Bell, supra note 62, at 760-65; Bell, supra note 39, at 2147-49. … Open this footnote Close

But even this insight does not resolve the controversy surrounding the phrase “defund the police,” because the fact that the demand is so controversial requires deeper analysis. That, as a discourse, to defund the police is jarringly confusing illuminates the epistemological implications of neoliberalism. Government did not simply change; we changed it by thinking differently and accepting different concepts as logical and beyond question. 75 Open this footnote Close this footnote 75 Cf. Lewis R. Gordon , African-American Philosophy, Race, and the Geography of Reason, in Not Only the Master’s Tools: African American Studies in Theory and Practice 43 (Lewis R. Gordon & Jane Anna Gordon eds., 2006) (emphasizing that shifts occur in social meaning alongside shifts in power). … Open this footnote Close Two central concepts that changed are policing and defunding, which operate not only as things or acts, but as sub-worldviews that sustain neoliberalism. As a discourse, the call to “defund the police” destabilizes these concepts. It demands that we engage with worldviews we are all trained not to see, let alone question.

Start with policing. That the demand to defund the police challenges our worldview about policing is quite obvious, but bears explaining. Police offer “an interpretive lens through which people make sense of, and give order to, their world.” 76 Open this footnote Close this footnote 76 Meares, Narratives , supra note 38, at 561 (quoting criminologist Ian Loader and sociologist Aogán Mulcahy). … Open this footnote Close This ontological commitment emerges from a way of thinking that suggests the place where government should exist—the thing it is good for—is first and foremost criminal law enforcement. 77 Open this footnote Close this footnote 77 See, e.g. , Harcourt, supra note 64, at 196-203 (asserting that “carceral developments” in the United States have been “facilitated by—not caused by, but made possible by—the rationality of neoliberal penality: by, on the one hand, the assumption of government legitimacy and competence in the penal arena and, on the other hand, the presumption that the government should not play a role elsewhere.”). … Open this footnote Close This worldview has influenced politics and social policy in numerous ways, in part by driving politicians and policymakers to frame social issues as crime issues. 78 Open this footnote Close this footnote 78 See, e.g. , Jonathan Simon, Governing Through Crime: How the War on Crime Transformed American Democracy and Created a Culture of Fear 4-5 (2007); Aya Gruber, The Feminist War on Crime: The Unexpected Role of Women’s Liberation in Mass Incarceration 70-72 (2020). … Open this footnote Close That is, we came to see the world through policing. It emerged as the last place to critique and the first place to invest local finances.

The term also challenges our assumptions about defunding and the government. In the United States, we similarly ascribe an interpretive lens to the demand to defund. The concept has deep roots in efforts to transform the welfare state in the United States since the 1970s. 79 Open this footnote Close this footnote 79 The term was used on the legislative floor in the late 1970s in relation to affirmative-action legislation that would require most federal grant recipients to obtain 10% of “the articles, materials, and supplies which will be used” in the funded project from “minority business enterprises.” 123 Cong. Rec. S7156 (Mar. 10, 1977) (remarks of Sen. Brooke) (“This section shall not be interpreted to defund projects with less than 10 percent minority participation in areas with minority population of less than 5 percent.”). … Open this footnote Close By 1982, the term was commonplace in news and media debates about “liberal causes” ranging from abortions, to education, to unionism, and more. 80 Open this footnote Close this footnote 80 See Richard A. Viguerie, Opinion, Defund the Left , N.Y. Times (Aug. 11, 1982), https://perma.cc/FU2G-PZHS (claiming that “conservatives believe that defunding the left should be a principal priority of the Reagan Administration.”); see also Nan Aron, Liberty and Justice for All: Public Interest Law in the 1980s and Beyond 14 (1989) (describing the Reagan Administration’s political philosophy of drastically reducing the domestic role of the federal government as part of a larger effort to “‘defund[] the left,’” including by “cut[ting] off sources of public funding for public interest and legal services organizations”); Jeff Shear, GOP Catch Phrase for the ‘90s: “Defunding the Left” , Balt. Sun (Apr. 23, 1995), https://perma.cc/XP24-KNHR (chronologically locating efforts to “defund the left” as emerging between 1981 to 1985, when Michael Horowitz was chief counsel at the Office of Management and Budget). … Open this footnote Close In law-and-policy parlance, then, to defund means to destroy, 81 Open this footnote Close this footnote 81 See Saletan, supra note 7 (“ Defund is generally applied to organizations you want to cripple or eliminate, not reform.”). … Open this footnote Close specifically in the public sector. The connotation is negative and exclusionary. It suggests an absence of government resources and, more precisely, an absence of government all together. That is, to defund has been a political tool to increasingly subject the U.S. population to market forces. It is the embodiment of neoliberalism.

The real controversy around defunding the police, then, arises not just from the demand that we address structural marginalization; it arises also from the demand that we suspend the assumed meaning of both concepts to interrogate policies without a preconceived notion about their meaning. As a discourse, to defund the police creates the space to politically and normatively question the status quo. These words challenge power where force ends—in our minds. 82 Open this footnote Close this footnote 82 Cf. Gordon, supra note 75, at 41-42. … Open this footnote Close Without a doubt, we should expect deep resistance, which the public is demonstrating in droves. For example, mainstream media publishes vehement critiques of the call to “defund the police.” 83 Open this footnote Close this footnote 83 See, e.g. , Bass, supra note 7; Saletan, supra note 7. … Open this footnote Close Public polling suggests significant ambivalence toward “defunding the police,” but receptiveness to investing some money in programs other than policing. 84 Open this footnote Close this footnote 84 Giovanni Russonello, Poll Watch, Have Americans Warmed to Calls to “Defund the Police”? , N.Y. Times , https://perma.cc/J864-SAN9 (updated Aug. 4, 2020) (finding that “wording matters” in public polling, and noting that 53% of participants in one poll opposed “reducing funding for police departments” while 41% of participants in another poll supported redirecting money from police departments and putting it toward mental health, housing, and other social services”); Saletan, supra note 7 (comparing alternative formulations of the call to defund the police within the same polls to illuminate that “the phrase is lethal”). … Open this footnote Close Policy advocates from across the political spectrum hesitate to embrace the phrase even if they support reforms that may reduce police presence. 85 Open this footnote Close this footnote 85 See, e.g. , Michael D. Tanner, “Defund the Police” Is a Bad Slogan, but Some Aspects Are Worth Considering , Cato Inst . (June 16, 2020), https://perma.cc/A998-KP48 (“Rather than sending police, it seems social workers or others with appropriate training should respond” to certain tasks like “wellness checks, mental illness, drug overdoses, [and] dealing with the homeless”); Saletan, supra note 7 (“Police need to be reformed. . . . And you can make a strong case that if we were to invest wisely in education, employment, mental health, and controlling drug abuse, we wouldn’t have to pay cops to deal with problems that are better managed by social services. But “Defund the police” doesn’t help us make that case. It sets us back [politically].”); see also Lopez, supra note 9 (urging parallel tracks between defunding and reforming the police). … Open this footnote Close These facts suggest that the substance of more structural critiques in this moment has gained some public support. But the demand for power over the words that shape dominant worldviews has not.

Some suggest that this reflects the shortcomings of the demand, rather than the shortcomings in dominant worldviews. For example, some argue that protestors should say something different, so that the public may embrace their demands. 86 Open this footnote Close this footnote 86 See, e.g. , Saletan, supra note 7 (emphasizing the “benefits of replacing [the slogan ‘defund the police’] with more thoughtful language”). … Open this footnote Close That critique is flawed. It points the finger at activists for not creating a slogan that fits comfortably within existing worldviews. 87 Open this footnote Close this footnote 87 Indeed, this framing builds from another dominant worldview that positions black people as the problem in need of fixing, against which existential phenomenologists have long fought. Gordon, supra note 75, at 27 (“Africana existential phenomenology addressed the problematic of problem-people and the demand of a decolonized methodology in several ways,” including a commitment to ontological suspension); see also, e.g. , Naomi Murakawa, The First Civil Right: How Liberals Built the Prison State 13-14 (2014) (critiquing both liberal and conservative criminal-justice-reform agendas in the twentieth century as adhering to different, but complementary, framings of black people as problems in need of carceral fixes). … Open this footnote Close Others say that precision in the substantive ask is the most important component of the demand in this moment. 88 Open this footnote Close this footnote 88 Stephen Proctor, Barack Obama Clarifies His Criticism of “Defund the Police”: “Not the Point I Was Making” , Yahoo! Entertainment (Dec. 16, 2020), https://perma.cc/SPB9-8UHB (quoting former President Barack Obama as saying on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah , “The issue to me [with defund the police] is not making [people] comfortable, it is, can we be precise with our language enough that people who might be persuaded around that particular issue to make a particular change that gets a particular result that we want, what’s the best way for us to describe that?”). … Open this footnote Close Such a critique demonstrates willingness to consider substantive distinctions between policies, but also resistance to critical reflection on existing worldviews. But these worldviews—our commitments to the present—also demand change. We live in a world where structural factors expose black people to the threat of police violence. 89 Open this footnote Close this footnote 89 Carbado, supra note 73, at 1483-84 (describing six dynamics that lead to police violence against black people: social forces, surveillance, police culture, legal actors and processes, qualified immunity, and government indemnification of police violence). … Open this footnote Close Our worldviews—that which makes this reality seem natural—cannot possibly be sound. 90 Open this footnote Close this footnote 90 See id. at 1480-81 (critiquing the framing of “black on black violence” through the provisional theory of “blue on black violence”). … Open this footnote Close The demand to defund the police invites critical reflection on two worldviews that sustain the structural scaffold of our present. As a discursive matter, that alone is a worthy endeavor.

Yet this Essay goes further by encouraging the public to embrace the uncomfortable space where we cannot rely on preconceived ideas when interrogating social reforms in this historical moment. By illuminating how diverging interpretations of defunding can lead to different legal reforms, this Essay demonstrates that the very notion of defunding the police is socially and politically constructed—it is a concept that acquires meaning through social and historical interpretation. This insight should remind us that local funding to the police is a distributive project shaped by independently constructed concepts, and that those concepts can obscure normative and political questions about the kind of society in which we want to live. Seeing the concepts as constructed rather than naturally occurring creates the space to engage with those deeper questions. It denaturalizes our understanding of this present. As such, embracing the state of confusion the demand produces is an important component in thinking about the transformative project of imagining different, more inclusive futures going forward. 91 Open this footnote Close this footnote 91 It is distinct from, but complementary to, the growing legal scholarship on democratizing policing and the political economy. See, e.g. , Akbar, supra note 24, at 115-17; Jocelyn Simonson, Power over Policing , Bos. Rev. (June 8, 2020), https://perma.cc/N9D8-68SA . … Open this footnote Close

Conclusion: Why “Defund the Police”?

To defund the police can mean many things. As a substantive policy, it provides a path to abolition for some, and a path to police transformation for others. For still others, it provides a pathway to continue transforming governance by making police more effective or, at least, by saving constrained public resources. This Essay illuminates how these substantive meanings of defunding reforms can challenge or entrench structural marginalization. It asks that we remember that the place to start in thinking about reforms in this moment is, quite simply, structural marginalization, not policing or defunding.

Yet, as a matter of discourse, the term “defund the police,” also means something else entirely. This Essay illuminates how and why the demand to defund the police challenges existing worldviews. That public discourse even debates the question, “why ‘defund the police’?” signals the possibilities this challenge presents. To those activists on the ground demanding that the public should critically reflect on the assumptions that shape this present, thank you. To the protestors that took to the streets during the summer of 2020 in the midst of a pandemic to demand that these questions would not be ignored, thank you. This Essay invites us all to see the expansive possibilities that the demand seeks to evoke going forward.

* Professor of Law, Indiana University Maurer S c hool of Law. This Essay was written for the 2021 Policing, Race, and Power Symposium hosted by the Stanford Law Review and the Stanford Black Law Students Association, and for the cross-journal Reckoning and Reformation Symposium. For helpful comments on earlier versions of this essay, the author thanks Trevor Gardner, Eisha Jain, Aaron Littman, Tracey Meares, Sunita Patel, Nirej Sekhon, and Aaron Tang.

The featured image “ Minneapolis Police Officer in Squad Car – Shooting Crime Scene ” by Tony Webster is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 .

Criminal Law: Racial Profiling by Police Essay

Despite the measures taken to address the inequality issue, the issue of racial profiling remains a part and parcel of the modern world. The phenomenon is referred to as the use of race as the main pretext for the police to take actions such as interrogation or make decisions such as the choice of the key suspects. As a rule, when detecting the primary factors affecting the changes in the racial profiling rates among the representatives of the law enforcement, one brings up the concepts of race and social class, stating that these variables affect the perception of the issue among the members of the police.

The link between the tendencies for racial profiling among the members of the police and the concept of race as it is represented in modern society is quite evident. Although tremendous efforts were made to address the racial discrimination problem, it still exists on several levels, from households to political institutions. The prejudices that swarm in the modern interpretation of race impact the judgments made by the members of the police.

Similarly, the concept of the social class that is currently viewed as acceptable in society, affects the increase in racial profiling rates among the police members. As long as the representatives of ethnic and racial minorities are associated with a specific social class that is viewed as a threat to the wellbeing of the rest of the society, the issue will remain unresolved.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2021, April 8). Criminal Law: Racial Profiling by Police. https://ivypanda.com/essays/criminal-law-racial-profiling-by-police/

"Criminal Law: Racial Profiling by Police." IvyPanda , 8 Apr. 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/criminal-law-racial-profiling-by-police/.

IvyPanda . (2021) 'Criminal Law: Racial Profiling by Police'. 8 April.

IvyPanda . 2021. "Criminal Law: Racial Profiling by Police." April 8, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/criminal-law-racial-profiling-by-police/.

1. IvyPanda . "Criminal Law: Racial Profiling by Police." April 8, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/criminal-law-racial-profiling-by-police/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Criminal Law: Racial Profiling by Police." April 8, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/criminal-law-racial-profiling-by-police/.

• Particle Swarm Optimization: Definition
• “Swarm” by Bruce Sterling: Plot and History
• Science Fiction Literary Analysis
• Identity and Gender Politics in Woolf's The Mark on the Wall
• Young Suspects' Interrogation and Wrong Convictions
• Interviews and Interrogations
• Criminal Profiling: The Key Aspects
• Racial Profiling by Police: Effects and Possible Remedies
• Humans and Nature in Poems by Gary Snyder and Mary Oliver
• The Concept of Criminal Interrogation
• Juvenile and Special Category Offenders' Rights
• Conflict & Crime Control vs. Consensus & Due Process Model
• Prison Life: Understanding and Opinions
• Ewing v. California: Law Case
• Criminal Justice Administration and Police Functions

Calls for Post Office police probe after BBC story

F ormer sub-postmasters and politicians have called for the Post Office to face a police investigation after BBC News revealed the company knew of flaws in its Horizon IT system.

A document shows bosses and lawyers knew of issues in 2017 , but kept arguing sub-postmasters were to blame.

Kevan Jones MP, who advises ministers on Post Office compensation, said "the police need to start looking at this".

The Post Office earlier said it would be "inappropriate to comment".

More than 900 sub-postmasters were wrongly prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 due to supposed losses flagged by the faulty Horizon IT system used in its branches.

Between 2018 and 2019, the Post Office was taken to court by 555 sub-postmasters led by Mr Bates, who successfully argued they had been wrongly prosecuted.

An internal draft report obtained by the BBC reveals the Post Office knew in 2017 that the Horizon programme could be flawed.

The draft report refers to findings being discussed with "Post Office management" and investigators at the time.

Despite that, the Post Office continued to defend the costly case with £100m of public money.

• Secret papers reveal Post Office knew its court defence was false

Mr Jones, a Labour MP who sits on the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board, described the Post Office's actions in the 2018-19 court case as "an abusive use of public cash against innocent people".

He told BBC Radio 4's World Tonight programme: "I do now think the police need to start looking at this. More will obviously come out at the public inquiry but there's enough out there now to start looking.

"Unless people are brought before a court of law and asked what they knew and why they took such actions, then that won't be justice."

The draft report, which was commissioned by the Post Office in March 2016 and compiled by accountancy firm Deloitte, was not disclosed during the court case.

Lawyers for Tim Parker, who was chair of the Post Office at the time, told the BBC the Post Office's legal team liaised with Deloitte about the report and were responsible for handling, distributing and disclosing it.

He said the Post Office's lawyers were also involved in the "strategy and day to day management of the litigation".

This raises questions as to whether Post Office lawyers met their responsibilities to not mislead the court.

Mr Jones continued: "If [Post Office lawyers] knew about it, surely they've put themselves in a very difficult position in terms of their legal obligation to release all information to the court."

Tory peer Lord Arbuthnot, who has been a vocal campaigner on behalf of sub-postmasters, said he believes some connected with the scandal deserve a "long spell in jail".

He described the handling of the Alan Bates court case as "a perversion of the course of justice".

Two former sub-postmasters who were part of that landmark case said they wanted the police to investigate the matter.

Lee Castleton - who was forced into bankruptcy after wrongly being taken to court by the Post Office - said: "It really is 'how low can they go' time.

"I hope it drives more impetus in the police to start to investigate wider than just scape goats."

Janet Skinner, who was jailed for nine months in 2007, described the findings of the investigation as "gut-wrenching and sickening".

She told BBC Radio 4: "They sent people to prison with no evidence - and the amount of evidence that's going against them now, there needs to be this form of investigation."

A spokesperson for Mr Parker said he had "sought, considered, and acted upon the legal advice he was given" as chair.

Fujitsu Group - which manufactured the Horizon software - said it was fully cooperating with the public inquiry and will be working with the UK government on "appropriate actions, including contribution to compensation".

A Post Office spokesperson said in response to the BBC investigation: "We are deeply sorry for the impact of the Horizon IT Scandal on so many people's lives and continue to pay redress to victims as swiftly as possible, with £179m paid to around 2,800 Postmasters to date.

"Alongside financial redress for victims, there must also be accountability. The best forum to achieve this is the statutory public inquiry, chaired by a judge with the power to question witnesses under oath. The next phases of the inquiry will examine the issues raised here and it would be inappropriate to comment outside of that process."

Are you affected by the issues raised in this story? Share your experiences by emailing [email protected] .

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:

• WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803
• Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay
• Upload pictures or video
• Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy

If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at [email protected] . Please include your name, age and location with any submission.

Recommended

Disturbing footage shows nypd cop jonathan diller screaming in pain on street after he was fatally shot by career-criminal suspect .

• View Author Archive
• Get author RSS feed
• Email the Author

Contact The Author

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

Slain NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller can be seen writhing and screaming in pain just seconds after he was shot in the stomach by an alleged career criminal while on the job in Queens, disturbing surveillance footage shows.

Three gunshots can be heard echoing down the relatively quiet Far Rockaway street as Diller, 31, appeared to tussle with suspect Guy Rivera, 34, near the open passenger door of a dark gray Kia Soul, according to the  footage shared Wednesday by the Instagram account @ny_scoop.

Diller can be seen dragging himself behind the car and collapsing on the pavement, while Rivera falls out of view onto the sidewalk.

Diller’s partner – who was on the driver’s side of the car – then fired two return shots, at least one of which struck Rivera in the back, according to cops.

In the seconds after the shots rang out, Diller’s partner pulled a man later identified as Lindy Jones, 41, from the driver’s seat and yelled at him to “get on the f–ing floor” before putting him in handcuffs.

Another officer appears to try to help Diller – who is screaming and occasionally moaning what sounds like “Oh, God!”

A swarm of cops soon descended on the troubling scene, and several of them carefully lifted Diller and loaded him into an unmarked police vehicle.

Diller – a father of one with three years on the force – was shot once in the stomach below his protective vest, police later said.

The fallen officer was taken to Jamaica Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

How Post readers can help

You can help Officer Jonathan Diller’s 1-year-old son via the Silver Shield Foundation, which will help fund his future education. Diller, 31, was shot and killed during a traffic stop in Queens, leaving behind his wife, Stephanie, and baby Ryan.

The Silver Shield Foundation was launched in 1982 by late New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner for the families of NYPD officers and FDNY firefighters who lose their lives in the line of duty.

You can make a contribution at  silvershieldfoundation.org/donate  or send it to: Silver Shield Foundation, 870 UN Plaza, 1st Floor, New York, NY 10017.

Rivera was later taken from the scene via ambulance. He has not been charged.

A sign a few feet behind the Kia indicated that the car was parked in a metered zone. Police initially said it was parked at a bus stop.

When Rivera arrived at the hospital, doctors discovered a shiv stashed up his rectum, a source told The Post Tuesday.

The ex-con – who has 21 prior arrests – may have stashed the weapon because he thought he was going to be arrested later that day for a different crime and wanted protection in jail, the high-ranking source explained.

Rivera was released from prison in 2021 following a five-year stint for drug charges.

He went off parole the following year.

What to know about the fatal shooting of NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller:

• Diller, 31, was shot and killed during a routine traffic stop in Far Rockaway, Queens, on March 25, 2024.
• Suspect Guy Rivera opened fire on Diller on Monday evening after the cop approached the vehicle Rivera was in for parking in front of a bus stop.
• Diller was shot once in the stomach below his bulletproof vest. The married father of a 1-year-old boy was rushed to Jamaica Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
• Rivera was wounded when Diller’s partner returned fire. The suspect has 21 prior arrests and was found to have a shiv stored in his rectum during the shooting — in apparent anticipation of being sent to jail again.
• Lindy Jones, the ex-con behind the wheel of the car during the shooting, was also arrested after a second gun was found in his car.
• Mayor Eric Adams has renewed his calls for Albany to address criminal recidivism following the shooting involving two suspects with lengthy criminal records.

Follow The Post’s complete coverage of fallen NYPD Officer Diller’s wake

Jones was arrested at the scene. He was charged Wednesday morning with criminal possession of a weapon and defacing a weapon.

Neither Jones nor Rivera had documented gang ties, although the fatal shooting occurred in a known playground for the Gang of Apes.

Keep up with today's most important news

Stay up on the very latest with Evening Update.

Thanks for signing up!

Please provide a valid email address.

By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy .

Never miss a story.

Jones – who was nicknamed “Killa” – also has an extensive rap sheet, including 14 prior arrests.

He was due in court Monday, April 1 for a hearing regarding an incident last year during which he was found with a loaded, illegal firearm.

Jones was arrested at the time, but was released on $75,000 bail after the judge balked at prosecutors’ request for electronic monitoring.

Share this article:

Advertisement

Ukraine Today .org

Today we are all ukrainian.

Desperate Vladimir Putin plunges 22 million Russians into darkness in bitter -22C winter

Moscow is to be plunged into darkness as putin ordered rolling blackouts amid freezing temperatures, according to reports..

By  TIM MCNULTY

07:54, Sun, Jan 14, 2024 | UPDATED: 11:39, Sun, Jan 14, 2024

Moscow to have ‘rolling electricity blackouts’ (Image: Getty)

Vladimir Putin has reportedly ordered rolling energy blackouts across Moscow as temperatures reach – 22C. The blackouts are said to cover the entire Moscow metropolitan area which has a total population of around 22 million. The order issued states that electricity is “not to exceed 12 hours per day” with the blackouts in place from January 14 through March 31 2024, according to  Ukraine  commentator Igor Sushko.

Sushko posted on X: “The entire Moscow metropolitan area, population 22 million, will have rolling blackouts of electricity “not to exceed 12 hours per day” from January 14 through March 31, 2024. – announced by the fascist state.”

It comes after a heating main ruptured at the Klimovsk Specialised Ammunition Plant in Podolsk, about 30 miles south of central Moscow, on January 4. As a result, tens of thousands of Russians are said to be without heat in their homes in the Moscow region due to subzero temperatures.

According to a map published by a Russian Telegram channel and circulated on various social media platforms, the affected areas include cities such as Khimki, Balashikha, Lobnya, Lyubertsy, Podolsk, Chekhov, Naro-Fominsk, and Podolsk.

Residents in Moscow, specifically Balashikha, Elektrostal, Solnechnogorsk, Dmitrov, Domodedovo, Troitsk, Taldom, Orekhovo-Zuyevo, Krasnogorsk, Pushkino, Ramenskoye, Voskresensk, Losino-Petrovsky, and Selyatino, are also experiencing power outages, according to other Russian media reports.

Power outages have been reported in St. Petersburg, Rostov, Volgograd, Voronezh, and Primorsky. Meanwhile, a huge fire t ore through a large warehouse  used by  Russia ’s largest online retailer south of St Petersburg on Saturday morning.

The blaze covered an area of 70,000 square meters, with 50,000 square meters of the Wildberries warehouse collapsing, according to  Russia ’s Emergency Situations Ministry. No casualties were reported.

Videos posted to social media appeared to show employees running down fire escapes and fleeing the scene. A video shot from a passenger jet flying nearby showed flames totally engulfing the warehouse, sending huge plumes of smoke into the sky.

(C)EXPRESS.CO.UK 2024

Share this news from Ukraine Today .org:

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)

Putin: We can better destroy our own grid ourselves…………………………………………………

And the hoarde just follows like blind idiots.

Vote for putler. He will cut your electricity bills for you.

12 hour a day blackouts for 10 weeks? Of course it will be back to normal a few days before the fake election. Perhaps we should send some drones to the north east and give them some of their own medicine….

What wonderful news. How many warmonger morons that are freezing their asses off and sitting in the dark are still for war? Instead of fixing the broken country, the idiots wage an expensive war.

You can bet your life that the area the siloviki live won’t suffer any power cuts.

Of course, not.

They still have warm feelings about killing Ukrainians and stealing their children. That should hold them over…..

they could always go to the front if they’re cold, it gets a bit hot there with the occasional blinding flash of light.

Enter comments here: Cancel reply

Discover more from ukraine today .org.

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

Police arrest woman accused of trying to kidnap baby from children’s hospital

BATON ROUGE, La. ( WAFB /Gray News) - A woman is behind bars after she allegedly tried to kidnap a baby from Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Dinesty Selmon, 21, was arrested and booked as a fugitive by the Bossier City Police Department on Tuesday. She was extradited back to Baton Rouge, booked into jail, and charged with attempted kidnapping and seven counts of unauthorized entry of a business.

According to Baton Rouge police, Selmon cased the hospital for weeks. In that time, she somehow obtained an access card, investigators said, which allowed her to gain entry to several parts of the hospital.

Police said while Selmon was walking the floors of the hospital, she was able to find a room with a baby where the parents weren’t present. It was later learned that the baby was in intensive care and the parents didn’t live in Baton Rouge.

“She may have sought that was a perfect opportunity to go in and act like this child was hers,” said Sgt. Darren Ahmed, with the Baton Rouge Police Department.

Selmon learned the child’s medical history by reading the charts, police said. She then allegedly told her boyfriend she had a baby while traveling out of town and the child needed treatment in Baton Rouge.

“She even took the young man to the hospital to visit with several doctors in hopes to schedule false or fictitious medical appointments for the child,” Ahmed said.

Police said the boyfriend became suspicious of the baby when he came to the hospital and saw the name on the door didn’t match the name Selmon gave him. The boyfriend then told a family friend who is a nurse.

“She apparently picked up on that the apparent girlfriend that he was dating had provided him with some false information and created a fictitious story about a child that absolutely was not his or hers, and that she probably had not even given birth to a child,” said Sgt. Ahmed.

That’s when the hospital learned there was a security breach, according to police.

Selmon and her boyfriend returned to the hospital with his family where they were confronted by security. She was asked for her identification and was asked to leave the hospital after they retrieved the access card.

Selmon was arrested more than two weeks later in Shreveport.

The child was never taken out of the hospital room, police said.

Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital said in a statement, “Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital is committed to providing best-in-class pediatric care and to bringing a Spirit of Healing to our patients and our community. We value the trust the community has placed in us to care for children across the state and the safety of our patients is one of our highest priorities. We are grateful to local law enforcement for their support in this case. All additional questions should be directed to Baton Rouge Police Department.

Copyright 2024 WAFB via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Court papers: argument over littering led to machete attack outside Little Caesars

Correctional officers union ratifies contract, gets pay raises

Fort Drum soldier dies in motorcycle crash

Engaged couple with ‘love for adventure’ killed in crash with allegedly impaired driver

Marijuana vape pen leads to arrests of Beaver River students

Latest news.

Math teacher saves 5th grader from choking on cheese stick during lunch break

In an odd weather year, how was maple season? A progress report.

Former SEC quarterback lost at sea in a kayak for 11 hours says he was ‘at the mercy of the wind’

Truck driver charged with criminally negligent homicide in fatal Texas school bus crash

Trump asks appeals court to review ruling allowing Fani Willis to remain on Georgia election case