Introduction
The police is the guardian of society and should uphold the rights of people. Unfortunately, because officers have to deal with criminals who are also a part of the community, the police are often opposed to society. A conflict that exacerbates public distrust of the police arises, and, ultimately, this leads to unethical and sometimes even illegal behavior of officers. The purpose of this essay is to investigate the situation associated with the Newark PD, identify the causes of conflicts and find ways to solve them.
Reasons for the Unethical Behavior of Police Officers
Behavior of Individuals
Speaking about the conflict points related to the police, people note the behavior of specific officers in particular situations. It is always easier to find guilty personalities than to look for problems in the whole system. However, the police officer should clearly remember and follow the legislation no matter the circumstances. Unfortunately, laws and codes do not fully cover what often happens in the streets. Such a situation was unfolding in Newark, a small city, in which the number of criminal offenses almost exceeded that in New York by five times (Frontline: Policing the Police). However, the severity of the situation in this city is not an excuse for neglecting the rights of citizens.
Nevertheless, for the sake of ridding the streets of crime, many officers themselves go to illegal measures. Among such actions are random searches without reason, as well as extremely crude detentions. The behavior of the officers ultimately leads to an even higher level of distrust among the population. Besides, there are cases for which the blame lies entirely with the officers. For example, one of the illegal and unnecessary arrests was an arrest of an 8-grade schoolboy, which ended for a boy with a broken arm (Frontline: Policing the Police). Thus, we can conclude that in terms of unethical and illegal decisions, police officers who neglect the law for the sake of a quick resolution of the case can be blamed.
The Subculture of the Department
It cannot be denied that the blame for what is happening in Newark lies not with individuals, but with the unit as a whole. Authorities were exceeded not only by individual officers, but also by most of the department, and this was considered the norm. Also, there was a problem of organization, as the film clearly shows the deplorable state of the communication center that receives calls from citizens (Frontline: Policing the Police). On the other hand, officers did not fill out reports, as they would have to indicate all cases of illegal use of force. Thus, one can note the lack of organization within the units that directly affects the effectiveness of the police.
There is also the problem of the formation of a specific subculture within the department. This culture was formed by those officers who have been working for many years. According to D’Souza, Weitzer, and Brunson, these officers themselves do not see any mistakes in their work, and they believe that they should use force during arrests more often (2019). It can be concluded that the problem of police unethical behavior under consideration is a global problem of the whole department. Consequently, it is necessary to carry out changes in the entire Newark police structure.
Recommendations for Policy Changes
It is necessary to make several changes and adopt a number of policies governing the work of the police. First of all, it is essential to establish the organizational work of the departments since the coordination of communications is of great importance. Accordingly, it is necessary to introduce a means of monitoring the effectiveness of the police officer. This also includes control over paper circulation since strict discipline can also contribute to reducing unethical behavior.
On the other hand, the reform of the internal structure and culture of the department should be the most critical. The police continue to use the same methods, and they have not evolved, despite the change in the environment. As Donner, Lorie, and Wesley write, it is necessary to focus on retraining officers, and developing their self-control (2016). One of the focuses of the new policy should also be the active collection of information by building trusting relationships with citizens (Frontline: Policing the Police). It is public distrust of law enforcement agencies that is a critical problem in this situation, and everything possible must be done to correct this condition.
Conclusion
Thus, we can conclude that the reason for the unethical behavior of officers is the culture formed in the unit. It is necessary to reorganize the outdated structure of the police department by retraining or replacing officers. It is also essential to reorganize the communication and legal system within the police, which will help adjust it following the circumstances. Finally, it is worth noting that the basis for all changes both within the police and in society is the availability of information.
References
Donner, C., Lorie A., & Wesley G. (2016). The relationship between self-control and police misconduct: A multi-agency study of first-line police supervisors. Criminal Justice and Behavior 43(7), 841-862.
D’Souza, A., Weitzer, R. & Brunson, R.K. (2019). Federal investigations of police misconduct: A multi-city comparison. Crime. Law and Social Change, 71(5), 461-482.
Jaboby, J. (Director). (2016). Frontline: Policing the police. Web.