Running head: POLICING

Critical Issues in Policing

Dimetrius Nash
CJA/214
23 March 2014
Kevin Marshall

Introduction
Police force is a body of persons put up by the state that empowers them to enforce the
law, limit disorder and protect property. There powers are inclusive of the use of legitimate force.
The manner in which the police officers carry out law enforcement is policing. However, law
enforcement is not the only form of policing. Policing includes a range of activities in various
situations, but the major ones relate to preserving order in the country. The police force is a form
of public sector, and for this reason their salaries come from the taxpayers. Other parts of the
world face police corruption.
Dangers that law enforcers face during policing
The police officers face a lot of danger while carrying out their duties. The efforts of the
police officers carrying out their duties expose them to danger. For instance, policing makes
them face the possibility of getting shot. There have been reports of death cases of the police
officers. Death of these innocent officers often takes place when they are on duty. The death is
painful since they are innocent and they die while maintaining law and order in the country and
protecting its citizens.
The other danger of policing is stress. The police officers have a hierarchy that they
report hence it is a requirement that they carry out their duties to avoid sermons from their
bosses. The effort put into law enforcement stresses them out, since they have to overcome all
form of challenges. In other cases, law offenders tend to get violent and device tricks that make it
possible for them to evade the force of the law. In such a situation, the officers have to analyze
the scenario and come with a way of solving the problem. The officers are getting pressure from
the top management stresses them out which can lead to diseases like heart attack.

The officers put on heavy belts and ballistic vests. The belts contain pepper sprays,
batons, a radio, handcuffs and a handgun. These equipments are very heavy weighing up to 20
pounds, putting a lot of stress on the feet, knees, back and hips. Making use of the patrol car,
they have to enter and get out of the patrol car close to 20 times per day wearing the equipment.
For this reason, most officers injure themselves to an extent of not being able to exercise law
enforcement.
The officers work under extreme temperatures when carrying out their duties for a long
period. Depending on if they are controlling the traffic when an accident occurs in extreme heat
or providing security in a crime scene at freezing temperatures, they operate under the mercy of
the elements. The officers in most cases lack the time to rest at the station before having to attend
to another call, for this reason they end up standing under the extreme conditions without
hydration or appropriate protection they may require (McCoy, 2009).
The weapons that police use in policing
In recent cases, the police force has been trying to make use of less-lethal weapons in law
enforcement. Less-lethal weapons are not likely to injure or kill a human being. The police has to
apply force in other cases, which increases the risk of accidental causalities. The less-lethal
weapons come into reduce the risk to the lowest level. The use of these weapons mostly takes
place in situations where there is a restriction of the use of lethal force is illegal, when the
policies call for minimum casualties. Less-lethal weapons have come up due to the advancement
in technology.
Light is one of the weapons that are applicable in achieving the goals and objectives of
the police force. It is a fact that intense beam of light disorients and distracts people, flashing the

light directly to ones eyes will disorient them temporarily. This practice is of great use to law
enforcers in arresting suspects in a safer manner. The light disables, confuses and dominates the
suspect making it easy to arrest him or her.
Law enforcement tools and equipments
Police officers can make use of the new technology by adopting methods and equipments
essential in controlling criminal activities. The new devices that are available are tools such as
GPS and new efficient communication systems. Body armor and less-lethal equipments are also
new technology devices that will improve the safety of the public and the police. This equipment
makes it easier for the officers to conduct their operations. They assist in fighting criminal
activities in achieving effectiveness. The police carry out advance research of development of the
equipments and technology so as to be at par with the crimes that involve technologies. This
gives them an upper hand in fighting emerging crimes in this world that is increasingly becoming
of high technology.
Issues of homeland security and law enforcement relationships
Homeland security has taken strides in creating an environment which makes it possible
for a relationship to exist with other security agencies. The relationship will come in handy in
ensuring that enforcing the law in the country is possible. The relationship comes along through
information sharing (Conser, et al, 2013). Sharing information is a key thing to Homeland
security, an environment that faces threat will thrive if there is a partnership between the states,
federal and local police. Information sharing, integration and making its access automatic will
result in the achievement of the visions of security agencies and the government.
Critical issue in policing that is of high concern

The issue that is of major concern on policing is the way police officers carry out law
enforcement. Corruption cases have in the recent years sabotage the outcome of criminal cases.
Law offenders go scot free due to corruption, influential individuals tamper with the criminal
cases through bribing the officers. This compromises the requirements that the officers have to
meet. Individuals seeking justice are not able to get it hence lacking confidence in the justice
system (Ross, 2012). The citizens lack faith in the police in ensuring that criminal activities are
at their minimal. The issue of corruption is of relevance to this discussion since it has an adverse
effect on policing. Corruption has a negative effect in policing, and it will derail the process of
reducing the crime rates significantly.
Conclusion
The police force is an important section of every country. Security is paramount to
growth and relevance of the country to the entire world. A country that lacks measures to curb
insecurity will experience a decline in the growth of the economy this is because investors will
shy away from the country. This discussion is essential in understanding the issue of policing and
the improvements that can enable policing to be effective and efficient.

References
Conser, J. A., Paynich, R., & Gingerich, T. (2013). Law enforcement in the United States.
Burlington, Mass: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Ross, J. I. (2012). Policing issues: Challenges and controversies. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett
Learning.
McCoy, A. W. (2009). Policing America's empire: The United States, the Philippines, and the
rise of the surveillance state. Madison, Wis: University of Wisconsin Press.