Issues in Policing

Running head: CRITICIAL ISSUES

Critical Issues in Policing

Jeremy Hall

CJA/214

Dr. Cornelius Perry

August 22, 2012

Critical Issues in Policing

The critical issues law enforcement face each day, change over time some issues are small, and some are huge. There are a number of critical issues in policing. This paper will discuss the dangers of policing and how it affects police officers; less-than-lethal weapons and the benefits that it has for officers and our community; past, present, and future technology of policing and some of the benefits that they entail; homeland security and law enforcements relationship, and police corruption.

Dangers of Policing

To begin, the dangers of policing are clear every day. Not only does an officer have to be very physically fit but mentally sharp as well. They must possess a quick reaction time, and have good reflexes. Police officers will have to attend calls where they will deal with weapons, alcohol, drugs, and violence. It is not uncommon for officers to become injured on duty. Officers will also deal with people who have various diseases, such as AIDS or hepatitis. Officers will be exposed to contagious bodily fluids, and must take precautions to protect themselves. Other dangers can include highway dangers. It is perhaps one of the greatest dangers that officers face, as they are on patrol constantly. For example, driving code 3 to emergencies increases the risk tenfold. Even with lights flashing and increased speeds of officers, there is always a driver not aware of what is going on and can cause collisions based on negligence.

According to statistics compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 72 officers were killed by perpetrators in 2011, a 25% increase from the previous year and a 75% increase from 2008. The 2011 deaths were the first time that more officers was killed by suspects than car accidents, according to data compiled by the International...