Public perception toward police



Despite the Fact that the theory that there is no relation between the amount of police and crime rates has been disproved time and again, the dominant liberal media continue to present these notions because they concur with their own anti-police prejudice. Unless police engage the debate over the effectiveness of police, the public will continue to be misinformed. Many members of the media value the police. Professor James Q. Wilson of UCLA, Professor John DiIulio of Princeton, and Professor Gary Kleck of Florida State are just some examples of distinguished academicians who favor increased police presence. However, it would be very difficult to find any quotes from them in the mainstream media. The onus is on the police to find a way for pro police views to be communicated to the average citizen.

In such an environment the rank and file police officer cannot depend on politicians for support. They cannot depend on the media for a voice. However, neither can they disregard public opinion. For in the words of Abraham Lincoln " Public opinion in this country is everything." (Hough, 33-41)

Police officers have only a set of narrowly defined objectives- and a body of law that is continually subject to revision and interpretation- to guide them. Given the urgency of the plight in which police usually find themselves, it is a wonder that the police are able to perform their duties with as little controversy as they do. There is no question that many time police are forced act intuitively. Yet, this is not the characterization of police that is rendered to the public. Police work is rarely presented to the public in a positive light. The mainstream liberal media seem to think that police work is not entertaining unless it is in a quandary.

Police work is intrinsically reactive. A police officer is never called when things are going well. They are only called when there is a problem-usually a critical one. It is only natural that police receive the criticism that they do. After all, any occupation charged with the responsibility of bringing order out of chaos or enforcing the rules- baseball umpires, building inspectors, referees, etc.- are going to be controversial positions.

The best way for police to deal with this assault on their image is by taking a proactive approach to public relations. Not the public relations done via the police administration, which is ...