Issues, Historical Development

Peak, Chapter 1

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Airman shot by San Bernardino deputies (L.A. Times, 2/1/06)

On January 29, 2005 a 21-year old man was shot by a SBSO deputy after the vehicle hewas riding in crashed during a pursuit.

Witnesses say that a deputy orderedElio Carrion, 21, an Air Force security officer, to the ground and that Carrion complied. There is confusion about subsequent events, but a grainy videotape made by an onlooker suggests that Carrion was told, possibly by another deputy, to get up. When he did so, the first deputy fired, striking Carrion three times. Carrion will recover. The videotape recorded Carrion’s pre-shooting comments, that he was “on the deputy’s side”, expletives shouted by the deputy at Carrion, and Carrion’s protests after he was shot, that he was complying with the deputies.

Deputies were trying to stop the Corvette for speeding. Its driver has an extensive driving record. Neither he nor Carrion were armed or wanted for a crime.

LAPD Shooting ofDevin Brown

On 2/6/05 an LAPD officer shot and killedDevin Brown at the end of an early-morningpursuit. The 13-year old was driving a stolencar. He was later determined to have beensmoking marijuana.

Once the vehicles came to a halt, Brownjammed his car in reverse and backed up rapidly, strikingthe police car and causing substantial damage.

The officer said he fired because he thought that Brownwas trying to crush him with his vehicle. Although theofficer’s statements drew scorn from residents and themedia, a late-coming witness said that the officer, who hadexited his car, was nearly “sandwiched”, lept out of the wayat the last moment and instantly began firing.

On 12/5/05 the L.A. County DA issued a detailed report on the incident. The DA refused to charge the officer, concluding that his use of force was not unreasonable under the circumstances.

Chief Bratton and the PoliceCommission disagree

On 1/31/06 the LA Police Commission voted 4-1 that the officer who shot Devin Brown violated departmental policy, which allows officers to shoot at a vehicle only if it presents an immediate danger.

This decision came soon after ruling by Chief Bratton that the shooting was justified. The D.A. previously declined to file charges against the officer

The Commission based its decision on the officer’s position when he opened fire. A reconstruction showed that the rounds entered the car at an angle, placing the officer to its side.

Before John Mack’s appointment as the Police Commission’s chairperson, the “civil rights activist and long-time LAPD critic” called the shooting unjustified.

Early British policing

Shire-reeves, later known as “Sheriffs”,represented the Crown in rural areas, where theysupervised military, police and tax collection

Constables had similar duties in urban areas– Rotating, unpaid position– The well-off paid others to serve– At night unpaid “watchmen” helped enforce the law

In the 1800’s social changes brought on by urbanization and the Industrial Revolution greatly increased crime and called for new measures of control

Strong public opposition to professional police– Threats to liberty– Fear of even harsher sanctions (223 crimes carried the death penalty)

“Bobbies”

London, 1829: First professional, paid police force London divided into 17 precincts, each with a boss,

4 inspectors, 16 sergeants and 165 constables Constables wore a uniform and carried a truncheon Rules of the founder, Sir Robert Peel included:

– Military organization and Government control– Hiring officers on a probationary basis– Careful selection and training– Good appearance, moderate temper– Keeping records of crime and deploying accordingly

Bobbies faced hostility and organized opposition Public support increased as officer behavior grew more moderate

Early American Policing

Political framework– Republicanism – govt. accountable to all, not just the privileged– Preference for local control

Imported Sheriff and constable/watchman models from England– Like in England, citizens refused to serve, hired others– 1751: Philadelphia organizes first paid police force– January 8, 1828: Watchman Steve Heimer is the first PPD officer

killed on duty, Like England, during 1800’s urbanization and industrialization

greatly increased urban crime and unrest

Death of Mary Rogersand the New York PD

July 1841, New York City: Mary Rogers, anemployee of a cigar store, disappears. Mary’sbody is found floating in a river. Her death wasunsolved but is attributed to a botched abortion.

In 1844 her death spurred the establishment of a paid,full-time police force in New York City

– Patronage positions - selections made by Aldermen in each Ward– Chief without real authority over officers– Officers initially without uniforms - only ID is copper badge (“coppers”)– Ten years before all officers wore uniforms– Major departure – officers had sidearms

Development ofAmerican police

Patronage for selection and advancement– Chiefs had little authority– Political corruption infused decision-

making Local control, no mobility Training mostly OJT Heavily decentralized, autonomous

precincts Intimate with community – worked soup lines, helped immigrants

– Closeness a double-edge sword, as it promoted corruption and interfered with the chain-of-command

Determinism –What is the environment?

U.S. officers feloniously killed

Guns Other Total1995. 62 12 741996. 57 4 611997. 68 2 701998. 58 3 611999. 41 1 422000. 47 4 512001. 61 9 702002. 51 5 562003. 45 7 52 490 47 537

G.B officers feloniously killed Guns Other Total1995. 2 0 21996. 0 0 01997. 3 2 51998. 0 1 11999. 0 2 22000. 0 2 22001. 0 2 22002. 0 1 12003. 1 2 3 6 12 18

Population: 60 million

Population: 295 million

Professionalization –began 1800’s

Remove police from politics Police executives in charge Distance officers from citizens

– Improve equity, reduce corruption Focus policing on law enforcement Scientific administration (Taylor’s management principles)

– Develop standard procedures: “routinize” police work– Reduce discretion where possible– Task specialization: special assignments and units– Measure output: quantifiable results (arrests and crime rate)

Chief August Vollmer –Berkeley PD

Bicycle, then motorized patrol Records system Scientific investigation

– 1920: lie detector– 1924: fingerprint system

Modus Operandi system (track criminals by their methods) Formal police training

– 1916: Established UC Berkeley School of Criminology Applicant psychological and aptitude testing Recruit college graduates Against the tide: encouraged police to do social work

1931 – Wickersham Commission onLaw Observance and Enforcement

Spurred by high crime, gang wars, policeabuses (“third degree”) and corruption

Recommendations– Get politics out of law enforcement– Select Chiefs and officers on merit– Minimal physical standards– Improve salaries and working conditions– Good training– Professionalize, specialize

Hire women Crime prevention and crime investigation bureaus

William H. Parkerand the LAPD

Hired as a patrol officer in 1927 In the 1930’s L.A. was beset by municipal

corruption under the regime of MayorFrank L. Shaw, who was recalled in 1938

Became Chief in 1950, revamped the Department into the epitomeof the “professional model”

– Dismissed numerous abusive and incompetent officers– Implemented modern organizational principles– Imposed rigorous civil-service driven officer selection process– Greatly improved training– Instilled discipline and esprit de corps

Urban disorder ofthe 1960’s – 1970’s

Urban unrest, including the Watts riot ofAugust 1965 led many to question theassumptions of the professional model.

A series of Government studiessuggested that poor policepractices contributed todisorder and recommendedchanges:

– More minority officers– Higher educational standards– Enhance officer training– Improve oversight and discipline– Focus on community relations

Evolution of policing

1970’s – Team policing– Officers as generalists, provide all services in a fixed area– Handicapped by lack of investigative knowledge

Community meetings Neighborhood police stations Foot and bicycle patrols 1980’s - Community policing 1990’s - Problem-solving approach COPPS (combining the above)

Check this link for a

definition of Community

Policing

Summary: Criticisms of the“crime fighting” approach

Police agencies are isolated and unresponsive Police have overlooked other obligations to the community Officers have become detached from the citizens they serve Police officers stereotype persons and are careless about

using force To-do list

– Defuse tensions in inner cities– Narrow the distance between police and the public– Improve police-citizen relations, build trust– Share information to learn more about local problems