The Police

I would like to develop a concept about policing with a series of arguments.One definition of the police is, "The governmental department charged with the regulation and control of the affairs of a community, now chiefly the department established to maintain order, enforce the law, and prevent and detect crime." A security guard on the other hand is defied as "A person hired by a private organization to guard a physical plant and maintain order."

Recently in New York City, Judge Jack Weinstein sentenced former Detectives Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa to life in prison. They were convicted of working in conjunction with the Mafia amongst other things. Here in the United States there have always been complaints by citizens, especially in ethnic communities of heavy handed tactic by police. One of the attributes of a failed state as defined by the United Nations is that the police or security forces act more as agents to keep a government in power rather than protecting the citizenry and maintaining order.

If I were a wealthy man with a large estate or compound and assets to protect I would likely hire a private security force or security guards. They would operate within the confines of the law of my locality but within that context they would be working for me. While they may develop procedure because of their expertise, I would be the one who would develop general guidelines. their main function would be to protect and secure my premises. The only time they could override or basically push me around was if it were in my best interest from a security standpoint. So if there was a known or suspected danger the would perhaps prevent me from leaving the complex. What if it got to the point where my security chief got so powerful that for no apparent reason he started to decide if I could use my pool, or walk on this walkway or use this or that building. What type of scenario would that be?

Policemen are society's security guards. Now please do not take this as a slight. There is a tendency to mock and denigrate security guards. When this comparison is made, I am talking more about function as opposed to status. Of course policemen have powers of arrest and investigation etc. For the most part though we see them as our frontline partners in the war against crime. In a lot of places however police have forgotten that: (1) They have been hired by the community and (2) We are partners in this together. In some situations police department have expanded their role by force and in others it is the public who has abdicated its role as overseers of our protectors.

What is the end result of this? We find that in many places the police have become bullies. In fact there have been instances in New York city where police have had disputes with firemen, and simply because he has the power of arrest in a non criminal dispute the firemen were arrested for 'disturbing the peace" I like the police, we need them they are actually a necessity. Because they perform a vital service however does not give them the right to abuse and intimidate the citizenry.

I therefore take this opportunity to congratulate all cops who place themselves in harms way for our protection. I however remind those who would intimidate, be disrespectful and bully the public that we are the bosses .