The Positive Role Of The Police And Public Relations

The police are required to enforce the law, maintain order, and provide community service. Given each of these factors, law enforcement needs community trust and cooperation of the public to be truly successful. If trust and respect for the police are gained through good public relations, citizens are more likely to be responsive to police efforts. While many officers are there to be a positive role model, there are always going to be a few bad apples affecting the public relations component. Sadly, investigations in the police rules of law in the 1930s and 60s found officers deficient in civil rights, due process, brutality, force, corruption and community relations areas. Due process is afforded to each individual to be free from unreasonable

Poor public relations damages community relations, which is a result of the professionalization of police forces and technological advances further isolating officers from their communities. However, poor public relations has led to the use of community policing and problem-oriented strategies to get police more involved with community members in forming partnerships to implement preventative measures and reduce the fear of crime. Such can be viewed through adding foot patrols, youth and police activities, neighborhood watch programs, and liaison programs with community leaders, yet the success of these programs remain uncertain (Alder, et al., 2013, pp.

While department do implement background checks, issue lie detector tests, physical, and psychological test in their recruitment process, many candidates are only required to have a high school diploma. Some researchers argue that those who have a higher education communicate and make better decisions while others argue that higher education results in officers leaving the field because of dissatisfaction with the job (Alder, et al., 2013, p.