Background of police effectiveness
In the United States, the department of police dates back to the year 1626 when the office of the first sheriff was established in New York City. During this time, police leaders and senior personnel were democratically elected from among the general public. Internal security was left to the office of the sheriff and local militia. The order and regulations governing the police were not as strict back then since there was no code of conduct to oversee the operations of the police officers (Samaha, 2006). The absence of such codes of conduct was the reason behind the ineffectiveness in the police department. The police department, then referred to as the office of the sheriff, was considered the most ineffective department in the public domain. Even so, the ineffectiveness can be ascribed to the actuality that the people had not recognized the role of police. The government did not see the essence of spending heavily on a department whose role was full of subjectivity and discretion. With the increasing rates of crime over time, including the assassinations of presidents and key government officials, the government realized the need to invest heavily in police studies and training, all in the name of police effectiveness.
With the continued emphasis on the effectiveness of police personnel, the roles of the police increased and the government, through the ministry of national security came up with the concept of police partnerships (Bender et al, 2005). These were cooperative relationships between police agencies of different states as well as collaborative relationships between the police personnel and the local residents. This was the beginning of the famous concept of community policing. The establishment of the world police academy was the greatest step towards achieving police effectiveness. The academy introduced such things as random checks and increased the combat capability of the police. Since the intensification of thorough police training and education, there has been a noteworthy improvement in the competence and effectiveness of the police. These have been proofed by the high number of stolen vehicle recoveries and significant reduction of crime, especially in the downtown areas of most parts of principal cities.
Police effectiveness concerns
Among the key concerns of police effectiveness, is the issue of inadequate funding. This has been a key issue since the establishment of police departments. The police department, which is allegedly a corrupt entity, is not well funded by the federal government. This concern has had a depressing impact on the efficiency of the police for quite a long time (Rick & Matthew, 2009). The police do not have the autonomy to control their budgets. As such, they lack adequate equipment required for the even running of their maneuver. An example, which can best illustrate this concern, is the manner in which the police respond to disasters. While the police might be prompt in responding to crime and minor accidents, they are quite ineffective when it comes to such matters of emergency as evacuating people from flooded areas, thanks to the lack of adequate helicopters. This example points to the lack of adequate funding and financial stability.
Another area of concern is the question of discretion. This becomes a subject of apprehension in the sense that the government considerably limits the capacity of the police to use discretionary powers. Discretion has been asserted variously as the capability of an individual to use their innate or professional, and ethical judgmental capacities to make decisions in areas where the law does not apply, or where observation of normal procedures may bring more harm than good (Ericson, 1982). For instance, the police may be torn between opening fire on a dangerous criminal who has held a civilian as a human shield or letting him continue shooting and killing officers. This is one ethical dilemma that requires the police to use discretion and ethical judgment. The fact that the police cannot fully exercise discretionary powers may impact negatively on their effectiveness.
Issues in police effectiveness
There are a number of problems that the police face, which are likely to hinder their effectiveness. These are issues can easily be dealt with if there is proper planning in the department of police and internal security. It is quite clear that the national security is maintained by quite a number of agencies. The main issue is the fact that there is no apparent dissimilarity of the roles played by the various agencies. As such, there is a high likelihood of conflicting interests and responsibilities. Such conflicts emerge where more than one security agencies are handling one case and giving it different approaches (Bender et al, 2005). For instance where the officers of the department of homeland security and those of the central intelligence agency are involved in a matter that was initially in the hands of the police, there is a high probability that the two agencies will undermine the efforts of the police and try to give the case a new approach. This is likely to lower the morale of the police, hence, reducing their effectiveness.
Another key issue affecting the effectiveness of the police is the issue of leadership wrangles among the top officers. This issue has been around since the establishment of the police department. This is a result of human inefficiencies and selfish interests. Such wrangles are a serious setback on the effectiveness of police since the junior officers cannot work effectively under an administration that does not embrace unity of command (Klofas et al, 2008). The structure of police is such that commands are centralized as one move up the hierarchy. When the top men are not in a consensus, there is a possibility of gulfs in the whole force. In addition to the above principal problems, the police’s effectiveness is affected by their antisocial behavior. The most prominent antisocial aspect of the police force is corruption. Taking of monetary bribes and favors in kind, gives the police force a negative public image and makes them ineffective in combating crime.
Suggested solutions
There are many potential solutions that have been forwarded in regard to the above issues. One of the most prominent solutions is the establishment of police autonomy. This is in relation to resource and financial management. It is only through such autonomy that the national security departments be fully equipped with the necessary equipment to facilitate quick responses to situations (Samaha, 2006). Financial autonomy will mean that the force will have to prepare its own budgets and solicit for funds from the government and other worthy sources. This move will reduce the time wasted in following bureaucratic procedures that do not yield much, after all.
Another solution is the introduction of a code of conduct to manage and regulate the behavior of the police personnel. Such a code of conduct is aimed at reducing the possibility of antisocial conduct such as the soliciting for bribes and favors in kind. Such conduct caused serious mistrust between the police and the general public. In simple terms, there has to be trust among the police and the general public for there to be cooperation and effective work relationships (More & Miller, 2011). Additionally, the government should invest more in community policing and police partnerships so as strengthen the effectiveness of police intelligence and quick combating of crimes at the grass roots.
References
Bender, L., Jurkanin, T., Sergevnin, V & Dowling, J. (2005). Critical Issues in Police Discipline: Case Studies. New York: Charles Thomas Publisher Ltd
Ericson, R. (1982). Reproducing Order: A Study of Police Patrol Work. Toronto: University Of Toronto Press
Klofas, J., Stojkovic, S. & Kalinich, D. (2008). Criminal Justice: Administration and Management. Belmont: Thomson Wadsworth
More, H & Miller, L. (2011). Effective Police Supervision (6th Edition). Burlington: Anderson Publishing
Rick, R & Matthew, T. (2009). Does Politics Matter? Cross-National Correlates of Police strength. Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, 32 (4) Pp. 654 – 674
Samaha, J. (2006). Criminal Justice (7th Edition). Belmont: Thomson Wadsworth
