INTEGRATED PROFESSIONALISM - A MODEL FOR CONTROLLING POLICE PRACTICES

• NCJ Number: 56173
• Journal: Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 7 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1979) Pages: 93-97
• Author(s): B R PRICE
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: International Assoc of Chiefs of Police
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A MODEL OF INTEGRATED PROFESSIONALISM IS PROPOSED FOR THE PURPOSE OF INVOLVING THE POLICE ADMINISTRATOR AND LINE PERSONNEL IN A SYSTEM OF SELF-REGULATION THAT WILL ENHANCE THE PROPER USE OF POLICE DISCRETION.

Abstract

EXTERNAL REMEDIES FOR POLICE ABUSES SUCH AS EXIST THROUGH THE COURTS OR GOVERNMENT LIABILITY FOR OFFICER MISCONDUCT PROVIDE INSUFFICIENT DETERRENCE, LARGELY BECAUSE THEY REACT TO AN ACCOMPLISHED EVENT RATHER THAN PREVENT THE OCCURRANCE OF SUCH EVENTS. THE MORE IMMEDIATE PREVENTIVE STRATEGIES TO COMBAT POLICE ABUSES MUST BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF POLICE ADMINISTRATORS WHICH WILL LEAD TO TRAINING AND DISPOSITIONS TOWARD RESPONSIBLE ACTION BY LINE PERSONNEL. THROUGH THEIR LEADERSHIP, POLICE ADMINISTRATORS CAN ARTICULATE CLEAR STANDARDS OF POLICE CONDUCT, ESTABLISH THE NECESSARY INTERNAL RULES AND PROCEDURES, DEVELOP APPROPRIATE SANCTIONS, AND SET A CLIMATE OF RESPECT FOR THE LAW. THE POLICE ADMINISTRATOR IS MOST LIKELY TO FULFILL THIS ROLE IF HIS OR HER STATUS IS PROFESSIONALIZED TO BECOME EQUAL WITH THAT OF OTHER ADMINISTRATORS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE POLITICAL SECTOR. PROFESSIONALISM CAN THUS INDIRECTLY CONTROL POLICE PRACTICES BY IMPROVING THE SELF-IMAGE AND SELF-CONFIDENCE OF THE OCCUPATION AND ITS INCUMBENTS. BECAUSE TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND A CODE OF ETHICS DESIGNED TO CREATE AND PRESERVE PATTERNS OF PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR ARE ALL PART OF PROFESSIONALISM, IT IS TO BE EXPECTED THAT PROFESSIONALISM IN POLICE RANKS WILL FOSTER THE INTERNALIZATION OF RESPONSIBLE STANDARDS FOR BEHAVIOR BY THE STREET OFFICER. IN A PROFESSIONAL ATMOSPHERE, BOTH SUPERVISORY INFLUENCE AND PEER PRESSURE WORK TOWARD THE EXERCISE OF SELF-DISCIPLINE IN THE PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES. THIS USE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERTISE IN CONJUNCTION WITH ETHICAL STANDARDS MEANS THAT POLICE APPREHENSIONS WILL BE LAWFULLY EXECUTED AND THE POTENTIAL OF ENDANGERING OTHER CITIZENS OR THE POLICE THEMSELVES IN THE PROCESS WILL BE MINIMIZED. (RCB)