1. The Police in America
Chapter One
Police and Society
McGraw-Hill
© 2013 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.

2. The Goals of the Book
 The purpose of this book is to provide the
necessary background information about
policing to help you, the reader, discuss
such innovative programs as community
policing, problem-oriented policing, zerotolerance policing, and team policing. The
book does not argue for or against any
one of these innovations in policing.
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3. Definition:
Law Enforcement Agency
A General Service Law Enforcement Agency:
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Prevents crime
Investigates crime and apprehends criminals
Maintains order
Provides many other miscellaneous services
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4. Definition:
Police Officer and Peace Officer

A police officer is a nonmilitary person who is
employed by a government agency and has the
legal status of a peace officer.
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A peace officer is a status granted to individuals
who have certain powers not available to
ordinary citizens and who provide certain legal
protections. A peace officer can be police,
probation, parole, or corrections officer.
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5. Myths About Policing
 The Crime Fighter Myth
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Enforce the Law
Investigate Crimes
Arrest Criminals
Perpetuating the Crime Fighter Image
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Entertainment Media
News Media
Police themselves
Unreasonable jurors
CSI Effect
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6. The Realities of Policing
 Complexity of the Police Role
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Ambiguities
Discretion
Conflict
 Studies of Police Work
 The Police Service Study
 Standards for Police Work
 The American Bar Association
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7. American Bar Association, Standards Relating
to the Urban Police Function
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Identify criminal offenders and
criminal activity and, when
appropriate, apprehend offenders
and participate in subsequent
court proceedings
Reduce the opportunities for the
commission of some crimes
through preventive patrol and
other measures
Aid individuals who are in danger
of physical harm
Protect constitutional guarantees
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Facilitate the movement of people
and vehicles
Assist those who cannot care for
themselves
Identify potentially serious law
enforcement or government
problems
Create and maintain a feeling of
security in the community
Promote and preserve civil order
Provide other services on an
emergency basis
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8. Citizen Calls for Police Services
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9. Factors that shape the police role
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Police are 24/7
People call and police
promise to respond
Police are generalists
Authority to use force
Police are part of the
system of social control
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10. Alternative Possibilities
 Problem-Oriented Policing
 Community Policing
 Zero-Tolerance Policing
 Honest Law Enforcement
 These topics will be discussed in future
chapters.
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