I think it starts with the schooling and training of police officer recruits in whatever police academy they attend. That's where the changes need to be made.
Example:
I worked with a young man in the medical profession once and he made the decision he wanted to become a police officer. As he still held his job part time while he attended the police academy I was able to observe changes in his personality and demeanor over time. By the time he graduated from the academy he had changed from the personable congenial co-worker into a sharp worded hard power player with a sense of superior authoritative attitude. Instead of serve and protect it seemed his mission had become demand and obey.
It can only be surmised that these changes in him came about due to his schooling and training at the academy because he certainly didn't come from a family or personal background that would warrant such harsh changes in him.
So, as stated, I strongly feel that there need to be changes made in police officers training starting at the very begining of their schooling. With continuing mandatory education & training perhaps every 6 months along with a sit down evaluation and job performance review yearly. Also, with continued complaints against a police officer, or 3 strikes, their off the force. As with most every other business an employee with this type of record is terminated.
A police officer can take your life. A doctor can take your life.
In order to recruit the best and the brightest we need to start at the very beginning, the recruitment and the pay. Who gets to be a police officer? This should be a lifelong job, filled with training and retraining on new findings as the science develops.
I worked as an organizer in Baltimore for 25 years. I often saw the police officer that walked a beat carrying a big stick, no gun. He was experienced, over 40. He knew everyone and everyone knew him: apartment dwellers, shop owners, homeowners, vendors, ect. He was there to serve and protect. Likewise we still had "Hokie Carts" in Baltimore in the 1990's! Along the state roads, those corridors that look like spokes in a wheel, eminating from the downtown center.
These folks swept away the trash that accumulated on sidewalks and kept it from blocking storm drains that lead to increased flooding. They were union and got job security with pay raises.
When these people were gone, crime and drugs skyrocketed.
I think it starts with the schooling and training of police officer recruits in whatever police academy they attend. That's where the changes need to be made.
Example:
I worked with a young man in the medical profession once and he made the decision he wanted to become a police officer. As he still held his job part time while he attended the police academy I was able to observe changes in his personality and demeanor over time. By the time he graduated from the academy he had changed from the personable congenial co-worker into a sharp worded hard power player with a sense of superior authoritative attitude. Instead of serve and protect it seemed his mission had become demand and obey.
It can only be surmised that these changes in him came about due to his schooling and training at the academy because he certainly didn't come from a family or personal background that would warrant such harsh changes in him.
So, as stated, I strongly feel that there need to be changes made in police officers training starting at the very begining of their schooling. With continuing mandatory education & training perhaps every 6 months along with a sit down evaluation and job performance review yearly. Also, with continued complaints against a police officer, or 3 strikes, their off the force. As with most every other business an employee with this type of record is terminated.
Just some thoughts.
A police officer can take your life. A doctor can take your life.
In order to recruit the best and the brightest we need to start at the very beginning, the recruitment and the pay. Who gets to be a police officer? This should be a lifelong job, filled with training and retraining on new findings as the science develops.
I worked as an organizer in Baltimore for 25 years. I often saw the police officer that walked a beat carrying a big stick, no gun. He was experienced, over 40. He knew everyone and everyone knew him: apartment dwellers, shop owners, homeowners, vendors, ect. He was there to serve and protect. Likewise we still had "Hokie Carts" in Baltimore in the 1990's! Along the state roads, those corridors that look like spokes in a wheel, eminating from the downtown center.
These folks swept away the trash that accumulated on sidewalks and kept it from blocking storm drains that lead to increased flooding. They were union and got job security with pay raises.
When these people were gone, crime and drugs skyrocketed.