Many studies on police behavior in America have been undertaken in America. Findings have indicated that there many factors such as race, gender, education, and ranking of the police officer influence the attitude or behavior of the police officers. The motive for conducting studies on police behavior was fueled by the stagnated and changing behavior among law enforcement officers. As such, the police department represents an arm of the American government charged with the authority and powers to use coercive force on troublesome people within the community (Morton, 2010). Equally, the USA PATRIOTIC Act of 2001 increased their powers and capabilities of performing random searches and seizures on suspected individuals even it means the application of physical force. However, such actions have in the recent past been heavily criticized for violating the civil rights of American Citizens.
The major responsibility of a police officer is to maintain order by investigating those who are suspects of committing a crime and as well, to lead the prosecution by presenting evidence in the court of law. Additionally, they are responsible for providing help to the public whenever there is an emergency that threatens the safety of the citizens such as riots. Other than providing security to the public, they are also responsible for providing security and protection to the government officials during public functions. The first police department began between 1838 to 1845 in Boston and New York City. By then public did not appreciate or take the police officers seriously and as a result it led to a lot of corruption. By the 19th to 20th century, the police department had undergone many changes in which it had units that were specialized (Bittner, 1985). A student in Vollmer introduced Professionalism that helped to reduce corruption in the police department. Wichita Kansas was the first place where professionalism applied and later the police department of Chicago.
The strategies used in the professionalism are that the police officers were being reshuffled from one community to another so that they do not get allies or friends to facilitate corruption issues. This strategy presented an exceptionally bright idea but the problem is that most of the leaders were autocrats; therefore, it was nearly impossible to put this reform to use (Morton, 2010). Tension arose in the 1960’s between the citizens and the police officers this led to an all-out riot and the civil disobedience towards the police officers that led to the formation of the Kerner Commission. This commission investigated the happenings and concluded that hostility between the minorities in America and the police was the principal cause of the social anomie. After the investigation, the commission recommended that more minority people in America be hired. This moved was aimed at the creation of more trust between the minority and the police officers because the minority police officer will be able to understand them better.
Speaking of police categories, different types of police officers exist with the police force and they are categorized based on their level education and training. Based on recommendations from the Kerner commission, only individuals with high standards should be hired into the police force. As such, hiring of police officers based level of education increased the percentage of police officers from 20 to 65 from the period of 1960-1988 (Morton, 2010). More minority police officers emerged with better training and education thereby enabling them to provide services to the community (Buerger, 2004). Research suggests that these officers in terms of behavior in the working area are better to the uneducated officers therefore; they are able to deal with difficult and exceedingly complex situations or cases as they present themselves during their lines of duty.
Gender is another factor that influences the behavior of police officers. Since the 1970s, the number of female officers has increased and in the recent survey of the mid 1900s, it indicated that in the city departments about 13 percent of the police officers are women (Buerger, 2004). Most researches have shown that people have different views of women officers’ behavior. For this reason, women tend to be less aggressive when dealing with the suspects or citizen thus gaining trust and therefore they are able to obtaining more information needed for their cases. Due to their positive attitude, they are able to perform better as compared to their male officers counterparts.
People who believe that the female officers should not be hired hold the perception that lack of aggressiveness might become a challenge on their abilities to provide safety on their part and as well, to those they are charged with the responsibility of protecting. They tend to be more of social workers than being law enforcement officers. In situations that require the use of force and coercion, female officers are more likely act in a gentler manner. However, more often the male officer is able to control the situation where there is violent and most people tend to trust them more in such areas (Bittner, 1985).
In terms of police composition, African American and Hispanic officers have increased over a period. Since the 1970s to 1993, 17 percent are of African American decent while 48 percent are Latin Americans decent. The reform shows that these police officers tend not to discriminate against their own kind. This is due to the facts that most white police officers more often tend to discriminate against the minority. It also shows that the minority officers have a much better rapport with the minority community and therefore they are able to handle the suspects with less force while arresting them or interrogating them (Bittner, E. 1985). Most reformers in police behavior believe that when the police officers are Educated then they will have a different approach to the suspects such as using less force when arresting the suspects or making them use alternative means to arrest suspects. Contrary to the researchers reforms it has shown that most educated police officers handle criminals in the same manner like using of excess force. In 1977, researchers conducted this investigation and came to this conclusion (Buerger, M. 2004).
The Post September 11 situation is characterized increased aggressiveness among police officers due to the enactment of stringent security measures and standards. Most of the police officers have become paranoid therefore, they tend to use more force when handling the citizens. Example of such a case is when a police officer chased a 23-year-old Preston McCann because he tried to help an old woman who had a flat tire (Morton, 2010). The police officer was supposed to help the old woman but instead tried to revoke her driving license also arrested the man who tried to help the woman. Subsequently, Preston McCann was sentenced to one-year probation when he appeared in court.
Conclusion
A lot of research conducted about police behavior in America it has shown that there are so many factors that the police officers undergo that causes them to react in different manners. These factors are what determine their behavior and that is what researchers try their level best to make reforms that change the behavior of the police officer for the better.
References
Bittner, E. (1985). The capacity to use force as the of the police role. Rowman and Littlefield.
Buerger, M. (2004). Educating and training future police officer. The FBI law enforcement Bulletin.
Morton, B. (7/7/2010). Police state. Baltimore: City paper.
