POLICE ROLE DESCRIPTIONS IN THE MEDIA

Police Role Descriptions in the Media

Police Role Descriptions in the Media

This paper is all about the four diverse police role descriptions from the media: (a) the Crime Fighter, (b) Societal Servant, (c) Order Maintainer, and (d) Crime Preventer. By the four roles it will be discussed whether they are a “actual” or “image” represented, and then wrap up with good media relation strategies.

First Story

The first story is of a Crime Fighter. In Tampa, Florida a deputy sheriff was fired, and all of his pending cases may be tainted after an internal investigation showed he may have wrongfully arrested drivers. An internal review showed that he may have falsified reports to portray innocent individual as impaired drivers. He halted more than 300 motorists on marred beating back charges from October 2005 to October 2006 (Radelet and Carter 2004). The officials said he failed to follow standard procedures after DUI arrests. This story to me fits the actual life role of a police officer who was doing what he was supposed to be doing, but got caught not following the proper procedures for doing so.

Second Story

The second story relates to that of a Societal Servant. Police officers are being trained to consider with homeless individual exhibiting unstable behavior. In spite of dragging a homeless person to jail otherwise calling an ambulance, police officers are discovering how to recognize symbols of mental illness and solicit a series of questions so as to permit them to attach them to more proper services. The police say hundreds could be directed to the right assistance to assist get them off the streets (Melnicoe & Menning 1999). This goal is to train at least six officers for each of three shifts so one intervention officer is on duty at all times. In the ...