Policing
1
Policing
Your name
Your school
Policing
2
Policing
It certainly is not easy to just list the role and function of police in our communities. The
straightforward, operational end of the work of the police might be simple to explain, but that
does not really tell the whole story. Policing is a scenario like many other professionals whose
work is with the public. One thing is a list of duties and functions to be performed, but another is
the day-to-day connection with people and their activities, families, homes, and often the
intimate details of their lives
The following could be said to be a list things which comprise the general role of the
police in a community:

To prevent and control conduct widely recognized as threatening to life and property

To aid individuals who are in danger of physical harm, such as the victims of violent
attack

To facilitate the movement of people and vehicles through and around the community

To assist those who cannot care for themselves, the intoxicated, the addicted, the
mentally ill, the physically disables, the old, and the young

To resolve conflict, whether it be between individuals, groups or individuals, or
individuals and their government

To identify problems that have the potential for becoming more serious problems

To create and maintain a feeling of security in communities
Policing
3
The functions then would be what do the police do to actually carry out their role in the
community. One of the most important is patrol. By patrolling in a certain area, police can carry
out the role of preventing and controlling problems that might arise. There is also something
called directed patrol which is monitoring an area for a certain reason, such as “keeping an eye
on” a business who has had many break-ins, or on a park where there is violence expected.
Crime Mapping is used by analysts in law enforcement agencies to map, visualize, and
analyse crime incident patterns. It is a key component of crime analysis and policing strategy.
Mapping crime, using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), allows crime analysts to identify
crime hot spots, along with other trends and patterns. This allows those on patrol to go where
they are most needed.
Another type of patrol is called “aggressive.” It s considered a patrol strategy which
maximizes the number of police stops and watches while on patrol. The idea of course, would
be a deterrent to crime and to fully notify the community, or at least particular elements of the
community of a very assertive police presence.
Foot patrol is, of course, what we have seen in the old movies and what does not seem to
exist any more. But, in certain jurisdictions, walking police are a presence, and the advantages
of policing by foot patrol is coming back. To many people in the past, having a police officer
walking and talking among members of the community gives a certain feeling of well-being and
of knowing the officer as a person.
Along with patrol, another of the function of policing would be investigation. Police
have the job of finding both suspects and witnesses, and also the actual arrest of criminals. Both
at the scene of a crime, and throughout the investigative process, they collect, preserve, and
Policing
4
analyze the evidence connected with the incident. Sometimes this continues right up to the date
the person goes on trial. Police investigation also involves talking to witnesses, writing up
paperwork, recovering stole property, and of course testifying in court if necessary.
Police detectives work in a slightly different way. They do not wear uniforms, so can be
anonymous if they choose. They usually have set hours and do not do patrol work, but rather
have an office and a desk. They still investigate crime and do all the things that are mentioned
above. It is a higher rank that a regular police patrol officer.
• Describe various types of police agencies at the local, state, and federal level and the roles and
functions of each
Across the U.S. there are various police agencies at the local, state, and federal level. The
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is well known as the intelligence driving and threat
focused national security and law enforcement organization of the U.S. government. Its purpose
is to protect and defend the country against terrorist and foreign intelligence threats, to uphold
and enforce the criminal laws of the United States. It also provides leadership and criminal
justice services to federal, state, municipal, and international agencies. The FBI works around
the country and the entire world. There are 56 field offices in the United States and 380 smaller
offices in cities and towns across the country.
Each state has a state police body which is particular to that state. They have statewide
authority for law enforcement and criminal investigations. For the most part, they enforce traffic
laws on state highways and interstate highways, provide security for the state capitol and state
officers, provide different types of support for local police and other duties as well. Some states
generalize this force under the “Department of Public Safety” and some use the term “state
Policing
5
police.” Whatever the name, this police agency general has full police power throughout the
state.
More locally, the county or parish in each state generally has a sheriff with a full
policing department and this is the agency which patrols and keeps the peace in the rural areas of
the counties, as well as supervising the jail in their particular area. As in the state police forces,
each county has full right to establish their county police force as they see fit. Sheriff
departments also assist the local police if necessary and work with all the government agencies
such as departments of natural resources.
Of course, cities and towns have police forces which works to “protect and serve” inside
limits of the municipality. They provide for the citizens by doing everything from writing traffic
tickets to arresting felons, and looking for lost children. When most people think of police, these
are the officers that come to mind.
The aforementioned are the general levels of police work but of course there are so many
other agencies and institutions that provide for the safety of the citizens—college safety officers,
town marshals, customs officers, U.S. marshals, and many others.
Policing
6
References
"Regulation and Regulatory Agencies." 2005 Encyclopedia of Science, Technology, and
Ethics. Gale.
Shane, J. M. (2007) "Community Policing: Partnerships for Problem Solving, fourth edition."
The FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin. U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation