Relationship between Public and Private Police CJS/250 Robert Krause July 22, 2012 In the world of security, there exist two distinct branches that work toward the same goal of safety for the people in each community. These two branches are public police and private police. Public police are easily seen, they are governed by a set of rules that helps protect them as well as the population. Private police is a growing industry. In some communities they hold many of the same powers as the public police and are intended to uphold the same standards as their public counterparts.
The number one objective of public police agencies is to prevent crime and public safety. Studies suggest that public police officers see private security officers as unequal partners in the prevention of crime. Private police officers; however, see themselves as equal partners in the prevention of crime (Law Library, n.d.). Although the two have a different opinion of what the other can do, an agreement can be reached that in certain instances there does need to be a supportive effort
CJS 250 May 15, 2011 John Feltgen Relationship between Private and Public Police The relationship between private and public police officers has been a topic of debate for decades. Both have a responsibility to provide a certain level protection to the public and still societal views of private and public police can be blurry. However, one view remains constant and that is society has just as much need for private police protection as they do public police protection. An understanding, positive working relationship between both private and public police is beneficial for all parties involved. Although some similarities between public and private police exist, there are some differences that cannot be overlooked.
Police are said to have a “we-they or us-them” worldview. This in-group, we (police) v. they (civilians). Solidarity is associated with the idea of police subculture, but in practice the more general term culture is commonly used to describe everything police share in common. Not many have an accurate understanding of what police officers go through while working in high stress and dangerous environments. Police officers are taken for granted and people rarely think of the personal, mental, and physical sacrifices that police make in order to protect our community.
Often time’s private police are hired for certain communities, especially minority neighborhoods because they feel that the public police do not know how to handle themselves in a minority community where they are not from because they do not understand the needs of those in the neighborhood (Clifford, 2004). Security professionals believe that traditional policing does not work for African American neighborhoods (Clifford, 2004). Law
In addition, it is not uncommon to observe police officers working part-time jobs with private security officials in order to safeguard valuable assets. Certain jurisdictions throughout the States, have giving special private security officers arrest powers as a result of the lack of public security officers available. One major difference that has been slowly but steadily changing is the mandatory training required for both the public and private security officers. The training and education a public police officer must complete in order to be hired by any department, is on average far more in-depth than that of a private security officer who usually is forced to submit to a standard drug test and a basic back ground criminal investigation check. But the educational opportunities that exist in modern day, the availability of these educational opportunities and the
Relationship between Private and Public Police CJS/250 October 23, 2011 Relationship between Private and Public Police Public and Private Police are two different factors that contribute to the safety of society, even though they are both used to protect and serve; they however have different capabilities Public Police is known as military forces, or law enforcement. Private Police is known as firms that are privately owned and operated; they tend to contract their services to companies that need an extra set of eyes and ears to protect their business or community. There has always been a thin line between public and private police, especially when it comes to the way society see them, public police are viewed as the protectors they go through training, and more authority to make arrest, search and seize property, and work with the community to gain their trust. Private Police is viewed in a negative way, they are seen as just the eyes and ears to many companies, and they don’t possess the same authority as public police. The relationship between public and private police has changed over the years, in certain areas they now work together with protecting the public.
For instance, you called the police because your husband just assaulted you. This example was used because the mindset that most couples have is that the police should never be called in order to address a domestic violence situation; thus, the victim of this type of violence suffers on a consistent basis. Law-enforcement involvement with minorities is rarely voluntary. Most minorities only call the police as a last resort; therefore, when the police are called the situation is usually out of control. The main reason presented for minority citizens not calling for police assistance is the belief that everyone involved in the situation will be arrested.
Police Ethics and Deviance CJS 210 People look at police officers everyday and usually associate them as “heroes” or “the good guys.” Usually police officers are exactly that; the good guys. But, that is not always the case. There is corruptness in the criminal justice system. It is something people have to look out for and know that it is out there. Many police officers have good ethics.
Law enforcement officers need to uphold the law in order to enforce it, so police officers must have a strong sense of right and wrong and they must generally exhibit and encourage good behavior to the public. This sense of right and wrong and the desire to do good in the community is perhaps the most important trait a police officer needs to have. Police officers often find themselves in high-stress, volatile situations. At the other end of the spectrum, they deal with a lot of mundane, routine patrols. They deal with dishonest and dangerous people, and also victimized and abused people.