Police Role Descriptions in the Media

Throughout this document research conducted by the media will be used to discuss two particular categories involving law enforcement officers: the crime fighter and social servant. Moreover, the responsibilities, consequences, expectations, and affective methods that can be implemented for the purpose of improving crime fighters and social servants will be provided.

According to Smith (2007), Individuals who takes on the role as a "crime fighter" require a personal level of thrill-seeking to fulfill a much needed rush. Studies from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Report displayed the average officer who lost his or her life in the line of duty was neither a new recruit nor veteran, but rather an officer who had served approximately 10 years as a law enforcement agent. In addition, research further displayed these same officers who met the 10 year mark had never been involved in any life threatening situations. With this said professionals believe officers who are subjected to routines, such as minor traffic stops will eventually ignore the survival training taught in the academy and will let their guard down; therefore, placing the officer at a high-risk for injury or death. Another main concern with non-serious routine encounters is the fact, a large portion of officers will begin to over emphasize and implement practices that were designed to increase personal safety. Letting one's guard down and over-emphases are both considered to be the main cause for officer related deaths in the United States while on duty (Smith, 2007).

Police officers are thrill seekers by nature, individuals who have a special mindset, one who is willing to jeopardize their own lives and personal safety for the welfare of others. Crime fighters are more apt to engage in a dangerous situation rather than to flee. For the officers who go without any thrill-seeking stimulation for an adequate period, when the opportunity arises to engage in high-risk life threatening situations, the officer will often ignore procedures designed to reduce the risk officer safety. Crime fighters are expected by society, law enforcement, professionals, and political figures to be capable of handling virtually any situation. Crime fighters at one point may be dealing with a small motor vehicle accident and at the blink of an eye become involved with a major crisis, such as the tragic events that took place on September 11, 2001 on the World Trade Center or the U.S. Pentagon (Smith, 2007).

According to Shadow (2008), crime fighters are often faced with making decisions that include the use of deadly force. One case that took place on August 23, 2008 at Texas involved a 19-year-old boy who was gunned down by a local law enforcement official while driving his pickup truck. Though there were no witnesses to clarify the incident that took place, the officer stated the 19-year-old tried running him over while pulling into the young man's driveway. The media stated this was false as a result of where the officer was positioned when the shooting took place. Furthermore, the media continued to state the officer was able to fire into the passenger side of the truck which clearly displayed the officer could not have been in any immediate danger (Shadow, 2008).

A few preventative measures that can be done to reduce the risk of officer injury, death, and health-related issues are: a continuance of education, training, healthy eating habits, and physical fitness (Smith, 2007). I believe the view provided by Smith and Smith (2007), is extremely accurate and describes the crime fighter a great deal regarding the crime fighter. Officers do, in fact, let their guards down over time, and die at a young age due to the stresses that come with the job and a lack of self-interest to care for one's health properly.

The role of a police officer has many functions but one that is expected and demanded by taxpayers is that of a social servant. When officers take on the role of social servant, the expectations become exceedingly wide-ranging. A vast majority of 911 calls made to the local and state law enforcement agencies are for non-serious issues. Examples of non-serious 911 calls made to local police departments throughout the United States that require the need for social service consisted of but was not limited to: plumbing issues, flat tires, animals, noises, delivering of babies, power outages, accidents, directions, information regarding numerous topics and much more. The police officer is expected to be trained to deal with almost any situation as a result of being first on the scene to almost all situations (Shadow, 2008).

According to Bangor Maine's Daily News, the Bangor police department takes the role of social servant to another level. The Bangor police believe serving a community can be further accomplished through online networking. My Space and Face Book are two of the networks the Bangor police department uses for the purpose of communicating with a vast array of society. The Bangor police post information regarding wanted individuals, anonymous tips concerning drug and gang related activity, recent drug busts, a knowledge database that offers tips for safety and so forth. Moreover, the Bangor police department stated when Face Book was founded in February 2004 it had approximately 350 million users, half of which were logged on at any giving day, and for an estimated time 55 minutes or more (Ricker, 2009).

I believe both Shadow and the Bangor police department have described the roles and duties an individual officer may perform as a social servant. Additionally, online networking is ingénues and is just another means for law enforcement to provide community policing to the online gurus who exist throughout the country and world.

After carefully reviewing opinions and facts gathered and presented by news media and individuals, I have come to realize law enforcement officers no matter what the situation stand will be scrutinized. When, in fact, an officer is called upon to take the role as a crime fighter and to protect society from those willing to commit wrongdoing a negative or positive label will be issued by separate portions of society. On the same token, officers are expected to serve a given community in which one serves and by doing so must stand up to the expectations of the individual who is requesting service. The media are experts at their jobs and have the ability to persuade the minds of many.

References

Ricker, N. (2009). Bangor Daily News: Bangor Police Getting Social. Retrieved January 16, 2010, from http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/133668.html

Shadow, M. (2008). Police Role Descriptions in the Media Relating to: Crime Fighter, Social Servant, Order Maintainer, Crime Preventer: Crime Fighter. Retrieved January 16, 2010, from http://socyberty.com/law/police-role-descriptions-in-the-media-relating-tocrime-fighter-social-servant-order-maintainer-crime-preventer/

Shadow, M. (2008). Police Role Descriptions in the Media Relating to: Crime Fighter, Social Servant, Order Maintainer, Crime Preventer: Social Servant. Retrieved January 16, 2010, from http://socyberty.com/law/police-role-descriptions-in-the-media-relating-tocrime-fighter-social-servant-order-maintainer-crime-preventer/

Smith, D., Smith, B. (2007). Policeone.com: Deadly Routine. Retrieved January 16, 2010, from http://www.policeone.com/patrol-issues/articles/1212835-Deadly-Routine/