Revolution in Policing
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Law enforcement officials play an important role in our communities. They undertake efforts to ensure justice for the approximately 8.25 million criminal offenses each year. They also conduct over 10 million arrests a year in an effort to ensure public safety and include individuals accountable for violating the law. The American public respects their local law enforcement agencies but have progressively come to view police as warriors and enforcers, not guardians. In fact, almost a third of the public now view their local police as serving an enforcer role instead of a protector role. Public confidence and trust in law enforcement have also decreased since the early 2000s. Public perceptions of police might only continue to erode as departments progressively assume roles more akin to an occupying military force or tax collectors rather than supporters of peace and safety in the community. There is a better way and some police departments are implementing best practices to ensure public safety in their local communities.
In the early 1800s, the founder of modern policing, Sir Robert Peel is believed to have said, “The police are the public and the public are the police.” This statement reflects the dual role that members of law enforcement keeps in our society. Police officers are both parts of the community they serve and the government protecting that community. The purpose of law enforcement in a free society is to promote public safety and support the rule of law so that individual liberty might flourish. Trust and accountability between law enforcement and the communities they are sworn to protect are essential to advancing these goals.
The government has the power to exercise force in achieving its ends but could do so in a way that protects the rights of community members and supports the rule of law. Proper policing practices require that law enforcement to build positive relationships with their community, respect civil liberties, and avoid tactics that encourage the use of excessive force against citizens. (1) The police play a crucial role in maintaining public order and safety! Stay updated on these other sectors as they could be the global leader in innovative public safety technologies and services! This article could enlighten your thoughts!
As we move further into the 21st century, digital ethics and trust might become a primary issue for police. Community members and officers might require that the data used and collected, the methods of analyses utilized and performed, and the technology used are secured and ethical. Recent examples of how digital ethics and trust could play out are found in Chicago and New Orleans. Police departments in both cities found themselves explaining their use of algorithms to potentially help create lists of high-risk individuals. The two primary concerns emerging from these cities were around transparency in what data was used and how the algorithm was generated, and how the results were used. The injudicious use of data, analytics, or technology by a police department could erode public trust and make it even more difficult to police effectively in the 21st century. Police leaders must begin now to understand digital trust and its implications to their organizations and profession. (2) What a mind-blowing concept! Isn’t that perfect? This captivating topic could energize your brain!
How policing might be changed by technology is uncertain. But police leaders might obviously be faced with making difficult decisions around future technology. I believe that a Digital Ethics Framework could be crafted for use by police executives and their contributors to potentially help guide discussions on technology. Now is the time for the profession to start thinking about these issues and building digital trust. Do you seek even further information? It’s where you might find out more about what’s going on. Check the disclaimer on my profile and landing page.
Source 1: https://charleskochinstitute.org/stories/role-of-police-in-america/
Source 2: https://www.policefoundation.org/technology-and-police-operations/
