Discriminatory In Policing

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Discriminatory Practices in Policing The role of a police officer is to respect, protect civilians and enforce the law (McKee, 2015). According to McKee, (2015), “The concept dates back to ancient times when societies used appointed officials to maintain order and resolve disputes. Over time, it has evolved and become more complex, reflecting changes in society and the development of new technologies and strategies,” (McKee, 2015). While an officer’s ability and role are to prevent and solve crimes, they are also expected to maintain public order and preserve peace in the country (Owens, 2020). However, as time passes, there have been more incidents in the United States regarding police discriminating against individuals of a different race, …show more content…
It often results in individuals being subjected to unjustified searches, interrogations, or arrests based solely on their race or ethnicity” (McKee, 2015). Racial profiling, also known as discriminatory practices, has been a very common thing for quite a while now with police officers. Not only does profiling violate an individual’s rights, but it makes it harder for officers to combat crime and for those to trust in the officers. According to Braga and et al, (2019), “Weak police–minority community relationships are rooted in a long history of discriminatory practices and contemporary proactive policing strategies that are overly aggressive and associated with racial disparities,” (Braga, et al, 2019). An example is an incident that occurred in 2014 which involved a police officer murdering a black man. According to Pract (2022), “A white officer murdered the 18-year-old Black American Michael Brown. Investigations showed that the young man was unarmed. The event sparked protests across the country,” (Pract, …show more content…
An officer may additionally be faced with criminal charges for their actions (McKee, 2015). Even though there have been training programs designed specifically to prevent discriminatory practices happening and consequences to those who do take advantage of their power, there are still several cases regarding police making brutal or wrong decisions (McKee, 2015). Nevertheless, officers continue with their actions regarding discrimination. According to Owens, (2020), “The police are biased against some groups and spaces and not others. Consequently, some races and places, some ethnicities, and quarters, receive much more involuntary surveillance, intervention, and harm by the police than others,” (Owens, 2020). Law enforcement have proven to have personal and police cultural bias in their propensity. Close and Mason 2007. Biased police officers circle way back to the past where they were known as a dangerous class (Owens, 2020). Instead of enforcing the law, they would focus on controlling individuals and have tendencies towards aggression (Owens, 2020). In conclusion, a police officer is a law enforcement official who is responsible for maintaining peace and order in society (Owens,