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Sarah Neil

Professor Malcolm Campbell

UWRT 1103

9/26/19

Topic Proposal: The People vs. The Police

Introduction/Overview

I will be examining methods and resources used by law enforcement in America, as well

as addressing the tension between police officers and the communities they serve in. According

to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, law enforcement describes the individuals and agencies

responsible for enforcing laws, maintaining public order, and public safety. Unresolved tension

between law enforcement and the communities they police can spark protests and unrest in a

matter of hours. According to Vera Institute of Justice, relations between police and many of the

communities they serve —particularly communities of color— are among some of the greatest

challenges facing contemporary American society.

The concept of a formal police force is modern in America. According to Time Magazine,

volunteers carried out the bulk of policing until the 18th century. Their job was to look out for

citizens who committed acts that society frowned upon and for behavior that was rooted in evil.

It wasn’t until the 20th century that police forces became institutionalized departments that

focused on police professionalism. Institutionalizing police forces across America allowed

departments to establish better methods of organization and communication. However, it also

allowed corrupt officials to incorporate their unjust values into the structure of the system.

Crime historian Samuel Walker argues that many of the crime-control tactics that modern

police departments use provoke tension between the police and their communities. These
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tensions may also have developed from the creation of the police force’s imposing image. The

Pentagon Program called 1033 gives surplus military grade weapons and vehicles to police

forces, some argue that this has led to the “militarization” of police forces across America. Mark

Lomax who is the executive director of the National Tactical Officers Association, claims that

the militant appearance of police officers erodes the public’s trust in law enforcement agencies.

Those in opposition of the 1033 program, argue that the increased access to military gear

encourages departments to use military force against civilians. Peter Kraska, who is the chair of

criminal justice studies at Eastern Kentucky University, argues that the use of military supplies

diminishes the distinction between the military and the police. Those who defend the use of

military surplus supplies, argue that it provides police departments with a variety of advanced

tools to use in emergency situations. The 1033 program grants access to equipment that can be

used to enhance the safety of officers in dangerous situations. Harold Eavenson of The National

Sheriffs’ Association, argues that the 1033 program provides police departments access to

protective gear like additional bullet-proof vests, Kevlar helmets and upgraded safety equipment

that they could not afford with public funding. Another argued benefit of the program is that that

vehicles and large pieces of equipment that the program supplies to police forces are used for

disaster relief missions. Localizing disaster relief increases public safety because assistance can

be delivered quickly, as opposed to waiting for state or federal relief to arrive. Police officers

have the potential to face high risk and dangerous scenarios. Advanced technology and weaponry

allow police forces to face scenarios like a gunman wielding rapid fire automatic weapons or

high-level drug raids safely.

On September 22, 2016, the streets of Charlotte looked like a war zone. Protestors and

police officers lined up in the street ready to clash with one another. This protest began after the
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deadly police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. According to an NBC News article, police claimed

Scott was armed and failed to comply with verbal commands to drop his weapon. The police

department’s use of lethal force led to deadly protests in the streets of Charlotte where

demonstrators spoke out against the over-policing of people of color and the militarization of

police departments. According to NBC News, police fired tear gas to diffuse the crowd,

illustrating what can happen when tensions between the police and community members reaches

its boiling point. I found a New York Times opinion article that provided insight on William

Barber II’s response to the Charlotte protests. William Barber II is president of the North

Carolina N.A.A.C.P., his opinion is that systematic violence is what perpetuates the tension

within communities and law enforcement.

People have debated structural injustice in the criminal justice system since the start.

Within the last 30 years, there was a prevalent example of structural injustice when it came to the

war on drugs. The law unfairly targeted communities of color during the war on drugs through

the strict measurements of certain drug crimes. At one point, the penalty for possession of 5

grams of crack cocaine (commonly associated with poor minority groups) was a mandatory 5-

year prison sentence. On the contrary, the possession of powder cocaine (associated with wealthy

white drug users) was only punished with 5 years of prison if it was over 500 grams of the drug.

The unfair punishments and crime criteria that minorities faced during the war on drugs is an

example of structural injustice in the criminal justice system. This scenario falls under the

conflict theory of justice. The book Introduction to Criminal Justice: Practice and Process,

defines the conflict theory of justice as methods powerful groups use to create laws that protect

their values and interests in diverse societies. Chapter five of the Leading on Opportunity Report,

focuses on structural injustice in the criminal justice system and outlines measures we can take to
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combat tensions between law enforcement and the communities they police. One way a greater

unity can be achieved is through community outreach in areas disproportionately affected by

crime. The Charlotte Mecklenburg police department extends the olive branch by implementing

programs like Coffee with a Cop. This program allows the formation of trust and transparency

between officers and members of the community.

For my preliminary research, I reviewed articles from ABC News, The New York Times

and Time Magazine. I also found articles using the database CQ Researcher that I found through

the Atkins Library website. I found information regarding social injustice and criminal justice

reform in the Charlotte community in my research using the Leading on Opportunity Report. I

also conducted research using the Bureau of Justice Statistics website to find a definition of law

enforcement and review crime statistics through the organization’s data collections and surveys.

Initial Inquiry Question(s)

Do certain tactics used by law enforcement increase tension between the police and the

communities they serve in? Are communities of color over-policed? How does this affect the

success of these communities? Are police forces across America reflective of the demographics

of the communities they serve in?

My Interest in this Topic

I’m interested in the relations between police officers and the communities they serve

because I am pursuing a career in law enforcement. I want to be knowledgeable in the criminal

justice field so I can serve my community in the true spirit of the law. My cousin is a police

officer in Fairfax County Virginia; after he became a police officer I began to consider a career

in law enforcement. Having a family member who is a law enforcement officer has encouraged
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me to pay close attention to news reports about conflicts between officers and members of their

communities that sometimes lead to violence.

I already know that not all cops act in the spirit of the law and this can lead to undesired

tension within communities. However, I hope to learn how the different methods and resources

used by law enforcement effects the relationship they have with their communities. I also want to

form an understanding of what political protests aimed at the criminal justice system have to say

about the needs of Americans. I also would like to know how tension with law enforcement

effects the success and growth of communities across America.

Next Steps
I will reference a book from Atkins Library titled The police in America, an introduction

by Samuel Walker to incorporate a critical view towards modern police tactics. Also, I will use

the Atkins Library database to search for academic journals that can explain legal procedures and

how they are being interpreted. I will also look at newspaper articles from around the country,

including but not limited to The Charlotte Observer and The New York Times to provide

examples of recent protests and police brutality. I will also search for Time Magazine articles that

provide historical and modern explanations of policing in America.