The main difference between these officers and those at the state or federal level is they are the initial enforcement front for all criminal laws. Police Chiefs are usually appointed by the mayor but sometimes elected to office. They can be anywhere from a detective to a dispatcher to jailers that protect us as citizens and enforce laws passed at all levels of government. Their activities are generally limited to the jurisdiction they're assigned to, as opposed to officers at the state or federal level. State enforcement officials are normally elected by county voters in most states.
The IPCC is funded by home office but remain independent from the government. They act as a check on the police and investigate in many ways, one way is supervising a case being inspected by the police force. Complaints include police corruption, racism and incidents involving death or injuries. The IPCC has investigators for different regions meaning complaints can be death with quickly. The DVA carries out security checks on people wishing to join the armed forces, MOD and other government departments.
One can see the importance of civil service to the American policing system because the need for a check and balances system, which does not give one person or group complete control to make decisions. In comparison, the police are not left totally in the dark with no say in the hiring or promoting of officers. The police are usually the ones advising the civil service of the need for the position, relaying information on the job description, job requirement, and the required testing for the position (U.S. Department of State, 2012). The police help with the hiring or promoting process by dispensing some of the testing and handling some of the recruiting as well. Often, throughout the hiring or promoting process the civil service will keep in close
Running Head: Police Discretion Position Paper Police Discretion Position Paper John Doe CJA 333 June 11, 2011 Instructor’s Name Here An important aspect of policing is the use of discretion. Discretion is decision making when dealing with situations that has no clear rule of action. Criminal laws do not specify every circumstance. However, law enforcement train to use the right discretion for situations they may encounter. Problems could come up when officers are on the work scene, and encounter specific situations where they lack proper training.
Police interact with the private lives of citizens on a daily basis. The main operational function of the police is the protection of life and property, maintaining social order, investigating crime and preventing it. The job of a police officer consists of many duties to include being a mediator, a counselor and community organizer. The ultimate goal is to provide quality and professional service that is effective and efficient to prevent crime (Walker & Katz, 2008). Police Departments and federal government agencies are similar in organizational structure and administrative style.
Although, both agencies have similarities among them, there are significant differences. This paper will discuss those similarities as well as differences in roles, policies as well as their relationship of each role to the criminal justice system. Both public policing and private security involve securing individuals as well as property, and areas. However, public policing involves various duties and roles such as, “during their shift, they may identify, pursue, and arrest suspected criminals; resolve problems within the community; and enforce traffic laws” (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2009). Public policing also involves the response to emergency calls through the call system and at times, they must be present in court as the result of citations given for violating a specified law by citizens.
Police Discretion Police Discretion Police officers encounter daily situations that require police discretion. Some situations have not even been thought about, regarding laws governing these situations. This is where police discretion comes into play. According to Stevens (2004), “discretion is the empty area in the middle of a ring consisting of policies and procedures”. Also as defined by Young (2011), “Police discretion is the capacity an individual police officer possesses to make a choice among a number of possible courses of action”.
Police have the authority to make a decision between two or more choices. Ethical issues with regards to law enforcement have been a central part in the development of the structure of the police authorities. Police discretion is a tool used by officers which gives them the ability to utilize the law of the letter or not to enforce it to the letter of the law. Discretion in enforcing offenses allows an officer to interact with people who are making mistakes, and correct those gently restoring order without disrupting the smooth functioning of every ones lives. Discretion also allows an officer the flexibility to accept that everyone makes mistakes.
A duly licensed law enforcement officer generally has the authority to enforce the law 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but only after establishing his or her identity as a police officer. The designation "off-duty" only means the officer is not working a regular shift for the police department, not living as a private citizen with any authority whatsoever. An off-duty police officer can be employed as a private security guard and still have the power to arrest offenders or in many circumstances carry a concealed weapon. This does not mean, however, that an off-duty police officer can use his or her authority for personal reasons. When not in uniform, a police officer has the same limited rights as any other citizen when it comes to personal responsibility and behavior.
The State Troopers which are also known as Highway Patrol or State Police have jurisdiction throughout the entire state they reside in, although the mainly stick to patrolling areas that are operated and maintained by state level agencies such as highways and state government buildings. The County Sheriff office operate and maintain the county jails and patrol along other unincorporated areas that are within the county, they also provide services to cities that have contracts with the department as local police. Some departments such as the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department will also provide search and rescue services. Local/City police patrol and serve the cities and within city limits. Each of the state policing organizations follow their state's Penal Code.