Styles and Strategies of Policing

The watchman style relies upon the informal methods to resolve disputes and is frequently found within the poorer communities. This style is dominated by informal police interventions which use methods such as persuasion or threats rather than the usual arrest. These areas are powder kegs ready to blow up so the officers must use caution since their number one priority is to maintaining public order.

Lastly, we have the service where the emphasis is usually placed upon the community as opposed to law enforcement. The service style is intended upon helping the community in a close hand in hand effort complimented by working closely with the local social service agencies. These officers usual prefer to use a referral rather than to arrest the offenders or initiate formal court actions. The service style is prominently found in the more wealthy communities.

We can not say with any certainty that each officer selects one or the other of these styles since each would react differently according to the situation but rather they tend to develop a delicate balance composed of a little of each. I personally feel that there is no specific style that is better then the others. The legalistic approach would best serve the community in general. Rules are rules and the law should be obeyed. If minor infringements are continually overlooked then we may as well not have the law on the books at all. However, we must tamper our zealousness with compassion and attempt to place those individuals who desire help to the proper authorities for disposition therefore a measure of service must be included as well.

In view of the terrorist threat which continually menaces our society since the destruction of the Twin Towers on 9-11, it is felt that certain concessions have taken place within these styles. The issue of terrorism is a fairly new subject in the field of criminal justice and has been initiated in a methodical manner into our police directive. With a disaster of that proportion it is inevitable that changes would necessarily take place. I feel the largest change has occurred within the confines of the Legalistic style officers. They have developed a more intense method of completing their patrols then they previously had employed. They now are aware that foreign as well as homegrown enemies are actively performing their trade within America’s boarders. By the use of systematic terrorist violence these people attempt to attain their political objective at the expense of innocent people while their actions are frequently intended to influence a specific audience. The patrols have gained a new insight and are now particularly vigil for suspicious individuals or property that could be the handiwork of terrorist agents. They respond in a quicker but safer manner to alarm activations or reports of unusual activities.

Their coordination with their homeland security counterparts has increased greatly. They now freely exchange information as they work closely within a joint effort of law enforcement. Aggressive patrol has been increasing within the field while some citizens still complain that the process is an inconvenience to them when random traffic stops are conducted. They often forget how the actions accomplished could perhaps save their lives.

Although Wilson may have initially established the ramp for law enforcement styles he was quickly joined by people such as John Broderick with his four versions of the police community with William Muir and his input to the topic close behind. There is never a shortage of categories to place our law enforcer’s into. I suppose the ultimate definition would be how the officers themselves would define their style of policing. 

Copyright @2010 Joseph Parish

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