Police Roles

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses how media portrayals have contributed to a public perception of police officers as crime fighters. The paper shows that, while these portrayals are correct in acknowledging this important role, the media tends to overshadow the other equally important roles of police officers. The paper therefore takes a look at all four roles of police officers: as crime fighters, crime preventers, maintainers of social order and finally as social servants. The paper provides examples of how police officers fill these different tasks.

From the Paper:

"A large part of the role of police officers falls under the category of maintaining order. When social conditions are at an optimum level - such as low or controlled levels of crime - it is vital to ensure that the status quo is maintained. As the Broken Windows theory of crime states, if social order deteriorates as seen in conditions such as an increasing number of broken windows in the community, then more serious criminal activities are sure to follow."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Kimberley Jackson. (2006). "On the beat." Anacortes American January 16: 6.
• McGreevey, Patrick and Richard Winton. (2007). "FBI joins L.A. policing effort in war on gang crime." Los Angeles Times January 19: 1.
• Radin, Charles A. (2007). "Police boost forces to stop unruly fans." The Boston Globe. January 20: A1.
• San Antonio Police Department. (2006). Downtown foot and bike patrol. Retrieved January 20, 2007, from Official Website of the San Antonio PoliceDepartment Web site: http://www.sanantonio.gov/saPD/bike.asp?res=1024&ver=true

More papers on Police Roles:

• Descriptive Essay # 112992 : "Police Roles"
• Analytical Essay # 126925 : "Reality vs Image and Police Roles"
• Article Review # 69569 : "Police Roles in the Media"

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