Pros And Cons Of Militarization Of Law Enforcement

Improved Essays
Militarization of Law Enforcement
Militarization of law enforcement has been a recently debated topic in society. There are several pro and cons associated with this idea. Militarization of the police has been going on for several years. There have been several studies conducted showing that militarization has played a key role in “professionalizing the police” (Bieler). The results showed that it helps the image of the officer and their discipline. It helps improve the legitimacy within the department. Another benefit related to this topic is that it can help improve the “effectiveness and sensitivity of policing” (Wood). The officers gain skills that could be used in community engagement and combating certain threats. The main argument in

Related Documents

  • Superior Essays

    “Broader training and psychological testing of officers and uniform reporting standards for accusations of brutality” are recommended to be best in solving this dilemma of the excessive use of force (Sullivan). Developing mental health issues after being appointed as a police officer can play a big and ultimately negative part on how police handle and react in dangerous situations. For example, a police officer who has developed generalized anxiety disorder after five years of being in the police force may react to situations differently, and negatively, compared to someone who does not have it. According to Worden, it is implicitly presumed that the outlooks or personalities of these officers are at the root of their seemingly distinctive behavioral patterns (152). Even though having more requirements or restrictions may cause us to have less police officers as a whole, it will be safer for us all to have officers who are proven to be mentally stable and able to handle any situation they were trained for with their experience rather than with any mental…

    • 1811 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Knowing that there are programs out there to help make the community look better, be safer, and educate people gives citizens the impression that their police department is actually doing something and that they do care. The more effort that is put into organizing the programs the more likely they’ll be to help out police when they ask for it. It is easier to get along with the community you are serving if you have formed some type of bond or trust with them. The graffiti patrol makes the community look better by removing things that make a neighborhood look as if it is inhabited by vandals. The Police Explorer program teaches teens how to develop their leadership skills while they help out their community.…

    • 1348 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Police culture, within criminology, is comprised of the overarching occupational philosophy and the individual officer personality type. Throughout the decades, the occupational philosophy of police culture has been molded by ‘core characteristic’ labels such as mission-oriented, suspicious, pessimistic, masculine, isolated and conservative. These labels have created an ‘ideal-type’ of culture that has lasted through time. What has risen through these molding characteristics is an occupational philosophy which includes concepts such as the thin blue line, an ‘us versus them’ mentality and the cop code of silence (Reiner, 1985). Recently there has been a shift outside of criminology, realizing that the idea of police culture has shifted from being “an internalized set of values which motivates people’s decisions and actions” to being a “resourceful tool on which people rely to make sense of situations they navigate in everyday life” (Campeau,…

    • 815 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Police brutality is becoming a major problem in today’s society. It has been an ongoing issue throughout the world. As society grows, the existence of police brutality become more of an issue. The issue posed by illegal use of power is ongoing reality for people of a disfavored race or sexual orientation. Police brutality remains as one of the most divisive human rights in the world.…

    • 106 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Decent Essays

    235321 English II Period 1 Mrs. Fersdahl March 29, 2016 Cop Army Police Soldier The Controversy Theres many reasons why cops should be militarized and many reasons why they should not but which side should prevail? Many people do not want police militarized due to a military mindset scary vehicles and unneeded deaths. But there is also many reasons they should be such as saving lives making the job easier and having a clear mind.…

    • 591 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    A report from the Cleveland police shows that the culture of abusive policing is very deeply embedded in the police forces. Police departments are resistant to change, and the problem is not what the weapons are used, but rather how many officers want to operate with impunity and a military mindset. As has been pointed out, the police are a reflection of society, but every organisation has its own culture and systems. So that while they are a part of society, they may not actually reflect on the whole of society.…

    • 1008 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Decent Essays

    I do not believe that the privatization of police forces completely compares to most other public services. The only services that I think would even come close would be fire or ambulance service. I feel that the main reason emergency services stand alone is due to the life and death nature of their work. I think the tasks that a Police Officer are responsible for are things that only a highly trained and legally certified person should perform. And, personally, I feel more comfortable knowing that the men and women that are committed to keeping my town safe are armed with the right equipment to quickly stop a violent person.…

    • 130 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The new officers will have a better understanding of what to do when arresting a citizen, instead of resorting to excessive force. This will mean less excessive force complaints, which ultimately will save police departments’ time and…

    • 1054 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Police a force designed by governments around the world to protect citizens and enforce laws for various countries required to have peace. In recent times police brutality in the United States has gone to far when officers try to apprehend criminals in major cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and Washington DC, etc. There have been many major cases of police brutality in the USA, one major case being the death of Freddie Grey in Baltimore. There any many things people are doing to stop police brutality and because of this more police are being caught doing the wrong things. There also has been an increase in more violent protests because of these events.…

    • 1228 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    Before I get into these benefits and disadvantages, I want to provide a brief history of each: The first era I want to address is the political era. This era of policing (1840–1930) was characterized by police officers seeking an intimate relationship with the community and politics greatly influencing the police and how they went about their practices. The police had limited access to technology during this time, so much of their…

    • 2067 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Police brutality and wrongful deaths are huge problems that seem to be occurring more and more often. There are so many instances of police shooting and killing people unnecessarily and punishment for a crime should be decided by law, not an individual. Although, there are situations in which the officer has a split second to make a decision, and when it comes down to the officers life and the criminals, there is only one clear choice. Yet there are many other instances where there should have been other options exhausted before using lethal force. 2.…

    • 2614 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Use Of Deadly Force

    • 225 Words
    • 1 Pages

    Also, limiting the power of police can create a balance between the community and the police department, especially in minority communities which are…

    • 225 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Essay On Becoming Officer

    • 829 Words
    • 4 Pages

    This paper will be an introduction into the behind the scenes of what people thinking of becoming officers should know, the way they speak, the way they crack cases, etc. Most of the nation receives their information on law enforcement from television. That’s why I knew the Maranda rights by heart before I was even 12. Law and Order, Criminal Minds, NCIS, and shows similar to this are why some enter into the law enforcement field they want to be like the famous profilers that solve cases in one hour plus commercials. Yes, I was one of the people that first want to become an officer because of television, nevertheless that is how society learns.…

    • 829 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Police Subculture Essay

    • 1375 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The accepted definition of police subculture is described as a particular set of beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors displayed by those who work in the field of law enforcement. Such values are typically shaped by the experiences that police officers underwent along with many other factors, such as the partners that they worked with, their leaders, and the criminals that they faced. Although, since most of the time that law enforcement officers spend is involved in trying to control crime, it has made the police become wary of the public and has caused them to develop an “us versus them” mindset (Herbert). There is also the “blue curtain” or the “blue wall of silence,” which is something of a code of silence among the police and it only serves…

    • 1375 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In recent years, police brutality has become more severe. It is in the public eye and in the news every day a, new case happens at least once or twice a month. The police are supposed to protect and serve, instead communities are terrified of the law enforcement. This essay will point out recent police brutality and ways us as people can do to prevent more cases and deaths. I will also discuss what and how citizens ' rights are taken advantage of by police.…

    • 844 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays