NCJ Number
5370
Journal
JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL LAW, CRIMINOLOGY AND POLICE SCIENCE Volume: 62 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1971) Pages: 430-436
Date Published
1971
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THE HOSTILITY WITH WHICH POLICE ARE CONFRONTED IS, IN PART, ATTRIBUTED TO MISCONCEPTIONS WHICH THEY HAVE ACCEPTED ABOUT THEMSELVES.
Abstract
BELIEFS THAT POLICE REPRESENT THE LAW, MAKE PEOPLE GOOD, PREVENT CRIME, OR THAT THE CHIEF MUST COME THROUGH THE RANKS, ARE IDENTIFIED AS MYTHS WHICH HAVE RESULTED IN CITIZEN ALIENATION AND POLICE INEFFECTIVENESS. POLICE, IT IS STRESSED, CAN NO LONGER FUNCTION IN A SELF-CONTAINED VACUUM. THEY CAN NOT EXPECT THE PUBLIC TO ACCOMMODATE THEIR SELF AND SOCIAL PERCEPTIONS. THE ROLE AND IMAGE WHICH THE POLICE PERFORM AND PROJECT NEEDS TO BE REEXAMINED. POLICE, IT IS EMPHASIZED, SHOULD BECOME AWARE OF THEIR OWN LIMITATIONS, AND SHOULD COORDINATE THEIR EFFORTS WITH THOSE OF OTHER MUNICIPAL AGENCIES AND INSTITUTIONS.