In this section, we review some of the contemporary issues that are occurring in policing. The responsibility put on police officers puts them in difficult positions each and every day, and thus, these decisions impact not only the individuals they are interacting with and bringing into the justice system but also community members as a whole. Some of these issues include officer-involved shootings, force responses, vehicle pursuits, stereotypes and bias-based policing, use of body cameras, mental health, and controlled substances. This section will provide a report on some of the more pervasive issues facing policing today.

Officer-Involved Shootings

One of the most controversial issues in regard to policing in the 21st century is police shootings. The “police shooting” topic causes much debate and is always in the headlines of every social media site and outlet when it occurs. After an officer-involved shooting, community members want answers, and rightfully so. Unfortunately, police departments cannot immediately provide those answers. The all too familiar “no comment” or “we do not have any information at this time” or only providing limited facts does not appease saddened or angry family members or the general public.

Police departments cannot comment because they may genuinely not know the entire story. Police unions are there to protect officers, and the officers need time between the shooting and when they are required to write the police report on the incident and answer questions about the shooting for a variety of reasons. Therefore, directly after the shooting, when the media or the general public wants answers, there might not be any answers known to give. However, this immediately reads as if the department has something to hide. Whether that is true does not matter in the eyes of many. An investigation must occur before the department can make a formal statement and release body camera or dash-mounted camera footage and information about the shooting. All too often though, this information comes too late.

One case that signifies this all too well is the officer-involved shooting and killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri (Department of Justice, 2015). Initial public reactions were marked by widespread outrage and allegations of police misconduct, leading to protests and civil unrest. However, subsequent investigations, including a grand jury decision and a Department of Justice report, concluded that the shooting was justified based on evidence that proved Brown had assaulted the officer and posed a deadly threat. Despite these findings, the incident left lasting scars on the community, as both property damage and strained relationships between law enforcement and residents underscored the broader issues of racial tensions and police-community relations in the United States. Optionally, see a media excerpt on the case, Michael Brown Shooting: The Evidence [Streaming Video].

Officer-involved shootings are very serious. Officers train and qualify quarterly with their duty firearms and regularly review what is required to respond with lethal force. After every officer-involved shooting, once the investigation is complete, a grand jury, the local prosecutor, or the Department of Justice will review the evidence and determine if the officer’s actions were justified or if they should face criminal charges.

Force Responses and Vehicle Pursuits

Police officers have the ability to use force if deemed necessary. If an officer uses more force than required for the situation, this raises many red flags. The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 authorized the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to initiate civil actions against policing agencies if force response is excessive or constitutes a pattern of depriving individuals of their rights (Conduct of Law Enforcement Agencies, 2022).

One additional issue in police force response situations is that it is difficult to measure. There are many types of force police can use. The force utilized varies from going hands-on with control holds or takedowns to using tools like pepper spray, tasers, or batons to the use of lethal force. Every situation is different because it involves imperfect human beings and can be interpreted differently from those involved to those standing on the sidelines. The courts currently use the Graham v. Connor standards to determine if the force used was “objectionably reasonable” based on the specific circumstances. Ultimately, this means that we must evaluate the actions of an officer by what they reasonably knew to be true at the time of the action.

For example, if an officer used a lethal force response on a suspect who pointed a gun at them and later it was determined the gun was fake, we would judge the officer by what they believed to be true at the time. Not that which we later determined to be true with untold amounts of hindsight, resources, and analysis. Check out Graham v. Connor [Website] if you would like to learn more.

Another police response is in the form of vehicle pursuits, which have dramatically changed over the last decade. It used to be more common for officers to engage in vehicle pursuits during a shift. Officers would get in a vehicle pursuit for many reasons, stemming from locating a stolen vehicle to a driver failing to stop after running a stop sign. Because of the many senseless fatalities, many police departments have updated their vehicle pursuit policies and procedures. Although the policies of each department do differ in minor areas, most departments have chosen to only approve a vehicle pursuit in dire situations. For instance, if the driver of the fleeing vehicle was actively engaging in behavior that was placing other community members in immediate dire harm.

Author’s Note

In delving into the discourse surrounding law enforcement practices, it’s essential to consider the language we use and its implications on perceptions and understandings of policing dynamics. One such linguistic nuance lies in the differentiation between “force response” and the more commonly employed term, “use of force.”

“Force response” reframes the narrative, highlighting the reactive nature of law enforcement interventions. This term inherently acknowledges that officers are responding to the actions or behaviors of individuals rather than initiating violence themselves. By adopting “force response,” we shift the focus from an active imposition of force to a necessary reaction to circumstances dictated by others’ actions.

Conversely, “use of force” can inadvertently suggest an inherent predisposition towards aggression on the part of law enforcement. It may inadvertently imply that officers are actively employing force without due cause, rather than responding to situations as they unfold. This subtle linguistic shift underscores the importance of language in shaping perceptions and fostering a more nuanced understanding of law enforcement practices.

By embracing the terminology of “force response,” we reaffirm the principle that law enforcement’s role is primarily one of maintaining order and public safety in response to external stimuli. It underscores the importance of contextualizing police actions within the broader framework of situational dynamics and emphasizes the need for proportionality and accountability in all interactions.

In essence, the language we choose matters. By adopting terminology that accurately reflects the nature of law enforcement interventions, we can contribute to a more constructive dialogue surrounding policing practices and foster greater transparency, understanding, and trust between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve.

Stereotypes and Bias-Based Policing

Human beings are infamous for stereotyping. “We actually form impressions about people within milliseconds to seconds. From a split-second glance at a person’s face, people readily make socially relevant inferences about that individual” (Willis & Todorov, 2006 as cited in Xie et al., 2021).

Stereotyping in policing is almost a foregone conclusion. Community members expect the police to protect them by being not only reactive but proactive. One of the most popular policing methods is to view a situation and proactively make a quick decision on whether or not a crime is about to occur, and if it is, stop it from happening. One of the ways police proactively operate is through stereotyping. “Police officers spend a great deal of time working their beats…one thing is common to all police officers working personalities: in an effort to know who or what is ‘wrong’ on their beat, police officers must know who is ‘right’ or who belongs” (Perez, 2011).

When officers cross the line, they leave out the step of asking the who, what, where, when, why, and how after the stereotyping occurs to confirm their thoughts. At this point, the officer is engaging in a type of implicit bias policing, and this opens many doors to corruption. It is another slippery slope that officers must always be aware of while performing their many duties.

Disparities and Racism in Policing Communities of Color

As we have discussed, policing has had a rocky history and relationship with communities of color. In looking at the disparities in how communities of color have been treated by police and reviewing the systemic issues within the criminal justice system, many organizations are calling for change. One of these organizations is The Initiative: Advancing the Blue and Black partnership [Website]. The article, The Initiative: Partnerships Between Police and Communities of Color [Website] states the goal of the initiative is to bring “together local leaders, communities, and progressive police departments to implement effective community policing solutions to create mutual respect and healthy relationships between police and the communities they serve. Check out these two resources if you would like to learn more. The Initiative was founded on the premise that we must push through our differences and work with each other to heal the community-police divide, re-envision public safety, and build safer communities where we are all seen and heard” (n.d.).

The initiative focuses its change through community-oriented policing which “is a philosophy of policing whereby a police agency organizes itself, trains its officers, and implements policies that prepare officers to engage with citizens to work in a collaborative and proactive manner to further public safety” (n.d.).

In response to these issues, many stakeholders have tried to determine possible solutions. To learn more about the racial issues and additional responses to addressing these disparities and racism check out the Harvard Gazette’s article, Solving racial disparities in policing – Harvard Gazette [Website]. The racism and disparities in policing are difficult to digest for everyone in the community, but especially for those who enter the law enforcement profession wanting to make a difference and break down these issues. OPTIONAL: To hear more about this from former Portland Police Chief Danielle Outlaw’s perspectives, you are welcome to watch Policing in America: The Road to Reconciliation [Streaming Video].

Body Cameras

An overwhelming number of police officers welcome body cameras, just like community members. The camera footage can be reviewed to determine the actual events. “The officer yelled at me and made me feel stupid and used profanity,” is an example of a community member’s complaint sometimes reported to a supervisor. Body camera footage of the incident can indicate the exact opposite. The truth often is that the community member did run the red light or failed to stop at the stop sign and did not want to accept responsibility and pay the fine. Body cameras changed the environment of complaints; however, body cameras also ensure that “grass-eaters” do not partake in temptation. Moreover, those “meat-eaters” are also held accountable for excessive use of force or illegal actions.

Body cameras would seem to be the answer to monitor all police conduct, but the truth of the matter is not so concrete. First, body cameras only show one point of view. Until small drones can hover above the officer, showing a 360-degree view, the accurate recollection of an event can never indeed be known. Second, no matter how full-proof department policies and procedures regulate the use of body cameras, there will always be a user that can turn off the camera, or it can malfunction, in some situations. As technology improves, so hopefully will the view the body cameras record.

Defund the Police

The “Defund the Police” movement emerged in 2020, sparked by the death of George Floyd and others in police custody. Advocates argue that reallocating funds from police departments to community services like mental health care, education, and housing can better address the root causes of crime and reduce reliance on policing. They believe that investing in these areas can create safer communities by preventing crime before it happens. However, critics of the movement argue that reducing police funding could lead to increased crime rates and longer response times for emergencies (Fegley & Murtazashvili, 2023). They suggest that instead of defunding, we should invest more in police departments to improve training, particularly in areas like de-escalation and community relations, to build a more effective and trustworthy police force (Mello, 2021). This debate continues as communities and policymakers seek the best ways to ensure public safety and justice.

Mental Health

As defined by the Mayo Clinic, “Mental illness, also called mental health disorders, refers to a wide range of mental health conditions—disorders that affect your mood, thinking, and behavior. Examples of mental illness include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders, and addictive behaviors” (2019).

Mental illness conditions are plaguing individuals worldwide. There are no boundaries and no discrimination when it comes to who may be taunted by the disorders that come from them. One of the many unfortunate things about mental illness is that sometimes it can cause the individual who is battling it to act in a way that causes others to fear for their or the other’s safety. The illness may also influence the individual’s decision-making and thus lead to the person committing a crime. In these instances, 9-1-1 is often the first person called and in most communities, it is police officers who are sent to respond to these calls.

In the article “Building mental health into emergency responses,” Abramson states, that it is “estimated that at least 20% of police calls for service involve a mental health or substance use crisis, and for many departments, that demand is growing” (Abramson, 2021). In a nationwide survey of more than 2,400 senior law enforcement officials conducted by Michael C. Biasotti, formerly of the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police and the Naval Postgraduate School, around 84% said mental health-related calls have increased during their careers, and 63% said the amount of time their department spends on mental illness calls has increased during their careers. More than half reported the increased time is due to an inability to refer people to needed treatment. Referring to appropriate mental health resources—and following up on progress—takes time and resources that already strained police, especially those from smaller departments, don’t always have.

This article further states, “more police departments are teaming with mental health clinicians—including psychologists—out in the field or behind the scenes via crisis intervention training. When these groups collaborate well, people with mental illness in crisis can access mental health care more easily, police experience less trauma and stress, and clinicians have an opportunity to make an even bigger difference in the community. Early data also indicate that these partnerships are making communities healthier, safer, and more financially secure” (Abramson, 2021).

As Abramson mentioned, Crisis Intervention Teams are one of the current tools being implemented to help police officers and agencies address mental health issues, and better prepare officers. OPTIONAL: To learn more about what some agencies are doing to implement these teams visit Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Programs | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness [Website] and watch the video Meet Police Offers Trained to Respond to Mental Illness Calls [Streaming Video].

Licenses and Attributions for Current Issues in Policing

Open Content, Shared Previously

“Current Issues in Policing” is adapted from “6.8. Current Issues: Police Shootings”, “6.9 Current Issues: Use of Force and Vehicle Pursuits”, “6.10. Current Issues: Stereotypes in Policing”, and “6.13. Current Issues: Body Cameras” by Tiffany Morey in SOU-CCJ230 Introduction to the American Criminal Justice System by Alison S. Burke, David Carter, Brian Fedorek, Tiffany Morey, Lore Rutz-Burri, and Shanell Sanchez, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Modifications by Megan Gonzalez, revisions by Roxie Supplee, licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, include editing for clarity and brevity.

Figure 6.7. Evidence Photos in Michael Brown shooting case by the St. Louis County Prosecutor’s Office is included under fair use.