Essay On Changing Police Culture

Change, in general, is difficult, but changing a culture will certainly be challenging for the mere fact that it involves changing one’s belief, habits, and values. When people are asked to change their belief, habits, and values for an uncertain future, they perceive change as a threat to their livelihood. Similarly, attempting to change an institutional culture within a police organization will be met with equal resistance. Officers do not resist change per se, but they resist loss; they do not want to give up their habits and what they value. However, if leaders can convey the change openly and show officers what the future will look like, officers will be more willing to follow orders-thus, see higher authority as legitimate. Additionally, when the rank and files seek input from officers regarding changes in policies and procedures and allowed officers to have a voice in the process, they are said to be acting in a procedurally just manner. According to the office of Community Orienting Policing …show more content…
Community members make decisions about police legitimacy based on their perceptions and whether they trust the police; similarly, officers also complain about authorities not listening to them and not concerned about issues that matter to them. According to Police Executive Research Forum (PERF, 2104), “effective policing is the result of strong and positive relationships between officers and the people they serve” (p.10). This concept of community policing, “legitimacy and procedural justice” are essential in terms of achieving culture change. By applying the aforementioned concepts, leaders will be able to build strong and positive relationships with line officers. More importantly, when officers perceive that the organization is looking out for their best interests, they will be more willing to align their goals and vision with those of the