1. Chapter One Police and Society
The Police in America
Chapter One
Police and Society
© 2013 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.
McGraw-Hill

2. The Goals of the Book
The purpose of this book is to provide the necessary background information about policing to help you, the reader, discuss such innovative programs as community policing, problem-oriented policing, zero-tolerance policing, and team policing. The book does not argue for or against any one of these innovations in policing.

3. Definition: Law Enforcement Agency
A General Service Law Enforcement Agency:
Prevents crime
Investigates crime and apprehends criminals
Maintains order
Provides many other miscellaneous services

4. Definition: Police Officer and Peace Officer
A police officer is a nonmilitary person who is employed by a government agency and has the legal status of a peace officer.
A peace officer is a status granted to individuals who have certain powers not available to ordinary citizens and who provide certain legal protections. A peace officer can be police, probation, parole, or corrections officer.

5. Myths About Policing The Crime Fighter Myth
Enforce the Law
Investigate Crimes
Arrest Criminals
Perpetuating the Crime Fighter Image
Entertainment Media
News Media
Police themselves
Unreasonable jurors
CSI Effect

6. The Realities of Policing
Complexity of the Police Role
Ambiguities
Discretion
Conflict
Studies of Police Work
The Police Service Study
Standards for Police Work
The American Bar Association

7. American Bar Association, Standards Relating to the Urban Police Function
Identify criminal offenders and criminal activity and, when appropriate, apprehend offenders and participate in subsequent court proceedings
Reduce the opportunities for the commission of some crimes through preventive patrol and other measures
Aid individuals who are in danger of physical harm
Protect constitutional guarantees
Facilitate the movement of people and vehicles
Assist those who cannot care for themselves
Identify potentially serious law enforcement or government problems
Create and maintain a feeling of security in the community
Promote and preserve civil order
Provide other services on an emergency basis

8. Citizen Calls for Police Services

9. Factors that shape the police role
Police are 24/7
People call and police promise to respond
Police are generalists
Authority to use force
Police are part of the system of social control

10. Alternative Possibilities
Problem-Oriented Policing
Community Policing
Zero-Tolerance Policing
Honest Law Enforcement
These topics will be discussed in future chapters.