NCJ Number
25005
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1974) Pages: 239-249
Date Published
1974
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THE AUTHOR EXAMINES THE CIRCUMSTANCES ASSOCIATED WITH VIOLENT POLICE-PUBLIC ENCOUNTERS IN A SUBURBAN CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND CONTENDS THAT A CERTAIN LEVEL OF VIOLENCE SERVES TO DEFINE AND MAINTAIN THE POLICE ROLE.
Abstract
IT IS STATED THAT EVEN ALLOWING FOR THE OCCURRENCE OF UNJUSTIFIED AND UNPROVOKED VIOLENCE BY THE POLICE, IT REMAINS GENERALLY TRUE THAT POLICE VIOLENCE IS THE PRODUCT OF SITUATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS. THE AUTHOR EXAMINES ALL 63 COMPLAINTS FORMALLY LODGED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AGAINST 38 MEMBERS OF THIS SUBURBAN CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1967 AND JUNE 30, 1970. THE INCIDENCES OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR IN THIS SUBURBAN DEPARTMENT ARE THEN COMPARED TO VIOLENT BEHAVIOR IN A TYPICAL URBAN POLICE DEPARTMENT. IT IS NOTED THAT VIOLENCE IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT, AND THAT URBAN POLICE, AS A CONSEQUENCE, DEAL WITH THE PUBLIC IN A CAUTIOUS, DISTRUSTFUL, AND VIOLENT MANNER. IN SUBURBAN AREAS, WHERE VIOLENCE IS LESS COMMON, THE POLICE FIND THAT VIOLENCE IS NOT IMPLICIT IN THEIR DEALINGS WITH THE PUBLIC AND IS NOT A NECESSARY PART OF THEIR WORK. HOWEVER, IT IS NOTED THAT A CERTAIN SMALL NUMBER OF PATROLMEN IN THE SUBURBAN CHICAGO DEPARTMENT REGULARLY ENGAGE IN RULE-VIOLATING, VIOLENT BEHAVIOR. THE AUTHOR STATES THAT THESE FEW OFFICERS RECEIVE THE TACIT APPROVAL OF THEIR FELLOW, NON-VIOLENT OFFICERS, SINCE THEY SERVE TO SATISFY THE COLLECTIVE NEEDS OF THE PATROLMEN, DEFINE THEIR AUTHORITY WITH RESPECT TO THE PUBLIC, AND FOCUS ATTENTION ON THE POLICE ROLE.