Chapter 9: Issues in Law Enforcement and Police Behavior

In Colorado, more than 100 police officers lost the right to wear a badge because they have committed such misdemeanors and felony involving crimes. There have been myths and stereotypes about police like racial profiling which is an alleged practice whereby police stop and search minorities for minor violations significantly more often than whites. Everyone agrees that the police should always prevent crimes but feel that they neglect their jobs as police men/women. Police stress is an Emotional pressure that is produced by the nature of police work such as public apathy, exposure to criminals, and injury to fellow officers. Police officers are viewed as cynical because motivated by self interest. Just like cynicism is a belief that human conduct is motivated entirely by self interest. A cynical person attributes all actions to selfish motives and has a pessimistic outlook on human behavior. Cynicism is a by product of anomie in social structure which is a normlessness or lack of attachment felt by some people toward their society. Just like what Niederhoffer explained. "As the cynic becomes increasingly pessimistic and misanthropic, he finds it easier to reduce his commitment to the social system and its values. If the patrolman remains a "loner," his isolation may lead to psychological anomie and even to suicide." That's why he pointed out that that suicide rates are 50 percent higher among police officers than in the general population. Police discretion is the ability to choose between arrest and non-arrest solely on the basis of the officer's judgement. Selective enforcement is an unwritten policy in which police are not required to fully enforce all laws as written. Police pursuits is police chases of suspects immediately after a crime has been committed. Clearance rate is the proportion of open crime cases that are solved through the arrest of a suspect by police. There are also some forms of police corruption like police corruption which Illegal acts or omissions of acts by police officers who, by virtue of their official position, receive (or intend to receive) any gain for themselves or others. Nonfeasance is a form of police corruption involving failure to perform a legal duty and misfeasance is a form of police corruption involving failure to perform a legal duty in a proper manner. Finally is malfeasance which is the form of police corruption involving commission of an illegal act. Police Brutality is the use of excessive physical force by police in carrying out their duties.