After reading Reuss-Ianni’s chapter 3, I decided to investigate the effects of neighborhood context and police aggressiveness. To support this argument, I plan to use textbook along with a peer-reviewed article. I am also interested in learning more about the code of silence covered briefly in Burns (2013), chapter 3 and to accomplish this, I will be doing an internet-based research on how the code of silence diminishes police integrity.
Topic #1
Neighborhood Context Effects and Police Aggressiveness
Peer-Review Article Source
The ethnographic study by Reuss-Ianni, (1983), was fascinating; it not only provided a detailed description of the organizational hierarchy of the precincts but also described the daily activity of precincts and neighborhood’s …show more content…
As a result, they are exposed to a greater number of negative interactions with the community. William Terrill and Michael D. Reisig (2003), peer-reviewed article “police officers are significantly more likely to use higher levels of force when suspects are encountered in disadvantaged neighborhoods….” This article further supports the fact that neighborhood context influences the level of force and bad decisions made by officers when they fear for their safety. One example that comes to mind is the case of officer Peter Liang, a rookie who had just graduated from the police academy and was recently working in the field. According to the New York Times (n.d.) website, officer Liang fatally shot Akai Gurley in Louis H. Pink Houses located in East New York as he and his partner were patrolling the building’s stairwell. This complex is considered one of the most dangerous projects in the city. Although officer Liang did not use physical force and instead fired his gun when he heard noises coming from the dimly lit stairway, the “bullet bounced off a wall and killed Akai Gurley.” Although, some may argue his reaction was based on fear and insecurities, and it’s not the most rational or appropriate way to act. In my opinion, it takes practice and experience when deciding the …show more content…
The expectation is to help one another even in life threatening situations. Burns (2013) refers to the code of silence, also known as the blue wall of silence, as a “solidarity that exists among officers and requires that officers neither report nor incriminate fellow officers.” (p. 140). But, this team of spirit that exists among officers is misinterpreted because the perception is that officers can cover-up violations to citizens’ rights, engage in corruption or commit crimes and chose not to report their partner’s unethical behavior to the department to avoid being disciplined, sent to jail, but most importantly because they need to have the continued support of fellow officers. Without the support of others, officers will more likely be reluctant to put themselves in harm’s
Topic #1
Neighborhood Context Effects and Police Aggressiveness
Peer-Review Article Source
The ethnographic study by Reuss-Ianni, (1983), was fascinating; it not only provided a detailed description of the organizational hierarchy of the precincts but also described the daily activity of precincts and neighborhood’s …show more content…
As a result, they are exposed to a greater number of negative interactions with the community. William Terrill and Michael D. Reisig (2003), peer-reviewed article “police officers are significantly more likely to use higher levels of force when suspects are encountered in disadvantaged neighborhoods….” This article further supports the fact that neighborhood context influences the level of force and bad decisions made by officers when they fear for their safety. One example that comes to mind is the case of officer Peter Liang, a rookie who had just graduated from the police academy and was recently working in the field. According to the New York Times (n.d.) website, officer Liang fatally shot Akai Gurley in Louis H. Pink Houses located in East New York as he and his partner were patrolling the building’s stairwell. This complex is considered one of the most dangerous projects in the city. Although officer Liang did not use physical force and instead fired his gun when he heard noises coming from the dimly lit stairway, the “bullet bounced off a wall and killed Akai Gurley.” Although, some may argue his reaction was based on fear and insecurities, and it’s not the most rational or appropriate way to act. In my opinion, it takes practice and experience when deciding the …show more content…
The expectation is to help one another even in life threatening situations. Burns (2013) refers to the code of silence, also known as the blue wall of silence, as a “solidarity that exists among officers and requires that officers neither report nor incriminate fellow officers.” (p. 140). But, this team of spirit that exists among officers is misinterpreted because the perception is that officers can cover-up violations to citizens’ rights, engage in corruption or commit crimes and chose not to report their partner’s unethical behavior to the department to avoid being disciplined, sent to jail, but most importantly because they need to have the continued support of fellow officers. Without the support of others, officers will more likely be reluctant to put themselves in harm’s