The role of the police officer is complex and requires a combination of special characteristics, which involve quick decision making, invisible work, "dirty work," and danger.
Distinguish among James Q. Wilson's three operational styles in policing.
Wilson's three operational styles in policing are legalistic, which emphasizes violations of the law and the use of arrests to resolve community disputes; watchman, emphasizing informal means of resolving disputes and using arrest only as a last resort; and service, which emphasizes helping in the community over enforcing the law.
List the four major functions of police departments.
The four major functions of police departments in the United States are patrol, investigation, traffic, and drug enforcement.
List the drug enforcement strategies of local police agencies.
Although the particular drug enforcement strategies employed by individual agencies vary widely, the most common strategies are street-level enforcement, mid-level investigations, major investigations, crop eradication, smuggling interdiction, problem-oriented and community policing strategies, drug demand reduction, and asset forfeiture.
Explain the main components of community policing.
The three main components of community policing are community partnership, problem solving, and change management.
Identify four steps in a community policing approach to problem solving.
Community policing relies heavily on problem solving. The four steps in a community policing approach to problem solving are often referred to as SARA: Scanning—identifying problems, Analysis—understanding underlying conditions, Response—developing and implementing solutions, Assessment—determining the solutions' effect.
Define terrorism and identify different types of terrorism.
Terrorism has been defined as the systematic use of terror or unpredictable violence against governments, publics, or individuals to attain a political objective; the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives; or premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents, usually intended to influence an audience. Two broad categories of terrorism are domestic terrorism and international terrorism. Specific types of domestic terrorism are right-wing terrorism, left-wing terrorism, special interest terrorism, and individual terrorism. International terrorism is divided into state-sponsored terrorism, formalized terrorist organizations, and loosely affiliated extremists and rogue international terrorists.
