Policing In America Essay

This paper will show four different police departments that are currently hiring or recruiting for police officers. There will be a summary on the research found on the process used to recruit police officers. It will also show their current hiring trends and what hiring practices they have that are successful or not successful. The paper will also go over the different methods departments use to train their new officers and their values.

During the first phases of the police professionalism movement in the early twentieth century, training came to be viewed as a promising means to develop more responsible officers and agencies (Klinger,2012). Conversely, due to the progression of society and emerging of technologies, training has become a basis of American policing as it as it enables and educates enough to carry out their duties in a fair, effective, and lawful manner (Klinger, 2012). This education comes in a formal academy that teaches them all they will know is a matter of months. Once this phase is completed, they are then put out on an apprenticeship with a seasoned officer to learn the tips and tricks of the trade in the real world. Once this phase is completed and successfully passed, they are then granted the title of police officer. Many of the topics and task in the academy are repetitive and mundane; however, there are very important topics that the officers learn

Gaines, L., & Kappeler, V. (2011). Policing in America (7th ed., p. 194). Waltham: Anderson Publishing.

Officer fatigue can be a quite serious problem for police departments. Excess fatigue will generally reduce alertness, decrease performance and worsen mood. These symptoms can reduce officer's performance and safety with potentially life-threatening effects. Patrol officers are expected to remain alert and able to resolve complex, emotional, and potentially dangerous situations. They are expected to be able to multi-task, as well as stay alert during periods of inaction. These activities can be quite difficult for a fatigued officer to complete (Vila 1996). Community oriented policing efforts can be seriously compromised by officer fatigue with excess officer fatigue harming community-police relations (Vila & Taiji 1999).

Throughout history laws and regulations have formed for society to abide by to avoid a world full of absolute chaos. Ultimately leading to the creation of police officers who would enforce these laws and regulations. However, this is one of the world’s most dangerous and stressful professions. Mainly because police officers are expected to put their lives on the line every single day to protect and serve society. Even though this is the case, becoming a police officer has always been a goal of mine. Edward Conlon book called, “Blue Blood” provides amazing insight on what it’s like to be a police officer. This is because Edward Conlon was previously a police officer and based this book around his personal experiences while he was on the job. Since this book is based around first-hand experience and written as they were happening it made me enjoy the book even more. Mainly because these events weren 't over exaggerated. However, since the book is based around stories within stories, I sometimes found it difficult to follow. This book presented many examples of issues that the police face daily and showed that sometimes these issues aren’t easy to handle. Three specific issues that Edward Conlon faced as a police officer that relates to my issues in policing class is dealing with the mentally ill, using discretion, and police training.

Did you know that 3.2% of the United States population is under some sort of control by the criminal justice system? This percentage consists of any offender from small crimes all the way to very large crimes such as murders and federal crimes. The field of criminal justice is very important to our everyday lives. The field is growing and needs more workers to support it.

Perhaps the single-most affecting trend that the American police force and the task of policing has seen in recent years is the laundry list of challenges that the recent economic downturn in the

Police officers have the power and authority associated with their title over the course of the years and experience while serving on the police force.

Law enforcement officers have encountered some very deadly days. The life of a law enforcement officer is one of constantly being aware of your surroundings, dealing with the uncertainty of not knowing the individuals you have to approach, and being able to cope with the visual images seen after vicious crimes. The life of a law enforcement officer, who protects and serves, is both challenging and rewarding. The first law enforcement system was established in Boston, Massachusetts over 350 years ago. During this time in the Colonies that were not heavily populated, the sheriff served as the main law enforcement officer. During the 1800’s, 24-hour law enforcement service and systems similar to what is used today began to emerge (NLEMI). Law enforcement officers face incredible dangers. With over 900,000 law enforcement officers nationwide the Federal Bureau of Investigations reported approximately 1,165,383 violent crimes in 2014. Approximately one law enforcement officer dies every 61 hours (NLEMI).The law enforcement profession is the most challenging and dangerous career, because officers must be aware of every law and action they take at all times, manage constant training and stress, and protecting others as well as themselves in the line of duty.

The history of policing can be traced back to the beginning of time. When looking at the subject of police work there is a large culture and history that follows along with it. There are many topics that can be analyzed when identifying, and describing the elements and the significances that are associated with policing. A large element of the police job that plays a large factor in the work and attributes to the policing culture is the amount of stress that an office will face while performing on the job. Another part of the job that plays a large part in the culture

studies leading to college programs in criminology, criminal law, criminal psychology. Other requirements are to pass written tests designed to measure one's intelligence and general aptitude for police officers. Physical examinations are also required and included test of physical agility, dexterity and strength. An important requirement is that one does not have an arrest record. One must be 21 years of age or older for some department and some municipalities stipulate an age limit of not more than 35 years. Also, one must have good vision, good hearing, and weight proportionate to height. Most regulations require that one is a U.S. citizen, and many police departments have residency requirements. Police officers should anyways enjoy working

Police departments are updating and changing their policies because fatigue among patrol officers are on the rise. There are police departments that work twelve, ten, and some even work eight hours shifts. After their shifts are over the police officer goes to work for a different business, or they are hired for other special events such as concerts, football games, basketball games, and some community events. Some officers are contracted to conduct security work for department stores like Walmart, or Target. After the police officers have finished their shift, they then go to their second employment and then go home for a couple of hours rest and return to the police department for their shift. The officer is then fatigued while on shift, and there are times that no one knows the lack of rest of a person but the police officer, who is then putting other officers at the police department

Basically I can find any police station in town and ask if I can get hired for this job but of course that’s not all I have to do of course I have to fill out an application. Police officers reported an average yearly salary of $56,260, or $27.05 an hour, as of 2011, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This works out to average weekly pay of about $1,082. Their median salary was $54,230, or about $1,043 a week. So police officer get a

Bell, L. B., Virden, T. B., Lewis, D. J., & Cassidy, B. A. examine the impact of a longer-than-average compressed workweek on police officers’ sleep, cognitive abilities, health, quality of life, and work performance. Data collected during the study concluded with an increase in Professional Standards Bureau complaints, decrease in shooting qualifications, increase in vehicular accidents, self-initiated calls, adult bookings, field

Some basic skills you need for this job is being able to write because as a police officer you will be writing reports and creating documents. You need to know how to write because you will also be pulling people over and give them a speeding ticket or any other kind of ticket where you have to document their information. The information that goes on a report would have to be detailed and well written in order for the person to know what they are getting the ticket for. If the ticket