Police officers play an essential role in every community by ensuring justice, public order, and safety. Policing in the United States has evolved significantly since its emergence in a colonial country. According to Chism, the history of police can be divided into four eras: “the Political Era, the Reform Era, the Community Problem-Solving Era, and the Homeland Security Era” (1). Such an evolvement was shaped by the political and social environment of the US during different periods. This paper aims to define what it means to be a police officer, discuss the legal use of nondeadly and deadly force, and determine the limits placed on police power.
Duties of a Police Officer
Being a police officer means being entrusted with power and complicated tasks to enforce the law and protect the community. Furthermore, this job involves making decisions that have far-reaching effects on the public, which is why an ethical and non-discriminatory approach is required. The duties of law enforcement officers include patrolling designated areas, responding to emergency calls, interviewing witnesses and victims, gathering evidence, investigating crimes, arresting and transporting suspects, intervening in public disturbances, and controlling traffic (Duke 6). In addition, police issue citations, deliver warrants and prepare incident reports. As Chism claims, numerous challenges emerge for people of this profession, such as perpetual risks, stress, exposure to infections, and health-related issues, which increases “the dangerousness of police work” (3). Overall, police officers are always on guard since their primary responsibility is protecting people and property.
Nondeadly Force and Deadly Force
The use of force by the police is a sensitive subject due to the implications of split-second decisions expected from law enforcement agents. There is a distinction between nondeadly and deadly force since the former is not likely to cause significant bodily harm or death while the latter creates a considerable risk of lethal injuries (Duke 5). In the US, it is lawful for police to use force when they reasonably believe that a subject involves a substantial threat of death or serious body damage to themselves or other people. However, as research findings show, the excessive use of force and racial profiling can be observed in the country, contributing to the negative publicity of police officers (National Institute of Justice 2). As reported by Peeples, “black men are 2.5 times more likely than white men to be killed by police during their lifetime.” Racial bias constitutes one of the primary factors contributing to police violence. Hence, it can be observed that American police tend to use excessive force. This issue can be addressed by de-escalation training, the endorsement of body-worn cameras, and a systematic collection of relevant data.
Limits Placed on Police Power
To prevent tragic accidents, the US Constitution and the federal courts placed certain limits on police power. It can only be exercised with respect to individual rights guaranteed in the Constitution and federal law. Furthermore, racial and ethnic bias must be avoided in the decision-making by police officers. As Duke argues, departments aiming to prevent the abuse of power “have chosen to monitor officer behavior through the collection of traffic stop statistics to track” (4). Overall, such limitations are appropriate given the current state of police use of force, but a comprehensive and nationwide approach must be ensured.
To conclude, policing comprises a broad range of responsibilities and rules needed to enforce the law and maintain public order. Being a police officer involves significant risks and challenges along with authority and power. Increased police brutality raises public concern regarding the appropriateness of the use of force. Hence, it is essential to ensure that it is not excessive by placing relevant limitations on police power.
Works Cited
Chism, Kimberly. “Police History, United States.” The Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice, edited by Jay S. Albanese, Wiley, 1st edition, 2014. Credo Reference. Web.
Duke, J. Robert. “Police Operations.” The Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice, edited by Jay S. Albanese, Wiley, 1st edition, 2014. Credo Reference. Web.
National Institute of Justice. Hiring and keeping police officers. US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice, 2004, Web.
Peeples, Lynne. “What the Data Say About Police Brutality and Racial Bias — and Which Reforms Might Work.” Nature, 2021, Web.