American Municipal Policing: A Briefing for Foreign Dignitaries

Copyright 2009 Hi Tech Criminal Justice

American Municipal American Municipal PolicingPolicing

A Briefing for Foreign A Briefing for Foreign DignitariesDignitaries

By Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD By Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.)(ret.)


American Municipal PolicingAmerican Municipal Policing

The purpose of this The purpose of this presentation is a presentation is a brief overview of brief overview of the nature of how the nature of how American Municipal American Municipal policing and how it policing and how it may differ from may differ from other countries. other countries.


American MunicipalAmerican Municipal

Policing differs from Policing differs from

most other countries in most other countries in

that it is:that it is: localized, yet legally localized, yet legally

governed nationally;governed nationally; driven by officer driven by officer

initiated activities; initiated activities; and, and,

Managed in a top-Managed in a top-down manner.down manner.


A local PhenomenonA local Phenomenon

American Policing is accomplished at American Policing is accomplished at the local levelthe local level

There are more than 18,000 State There are more than 18,000 State and Local law enforcement agenciesand Local law enforcement agencies

While controlled at the local level, While controlled at the local level, law enforcement activity in the law enforcement activity in the United States is governed by the US United States is governed by the US ConstitutionConstitution


National GovernanceNational Governance

While accomplished atWhile accomplished at

the local level, the local level, AmericanAmerican

Municipal Policing isMunicipal Policing is

empowered by the USempowered by the US

Constitution.Constitution.


The 4The 4thth Amendment Amendment

““The right of the people to be secure in The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”persons or things to be seized.”


Primary ConceptsPrimary Concepts

Reasonable SuspicionReasonable Suspicion Probable CauseProbable Cause DiscretionDiscretion


Reasonable SuspicionReasonable Suspicion

Police Officers use Police Officers use Reasonable Reasonable Suspicion to detain Suspicion to detain and conduct limited and conduct limited searches.searches.


Probable CauseProbable Cause

Probable cause is Probable cause is used to make used to make arrests and arrests and conduct searches.conduct searches.


DiscretionDiscretion

A Hallmark of A Hallmark of American Policing American Policing is a police officer’s is a police officer’s authority to authority to intervene and act.intervene and act.

A police officer A police officer chooses:chooses: Do I intervene?Do I intervene? What do I Do?What do I Do? How do I do it?How do I do it?


Managing Police OfficersManaging Police Officers

InfluenceInfluence Command Command

EmphasisEmphasis LeadershipLeadership SupervisionSupervision TrainingTraining

ControlsControls RulesRules RegulationsRegulations PoliciesPolicies ProceduresProcedures


InfluenceInfluence

Command Emphasis – Making things Command Emphasis – Making things more important than others.more important than others.

Leadership – Influencing human Leadership – Influencing human behavior toward organizational goals.behavior toward organizational goals.

Supervision – Leadership and Supervision – Leadership and management when there is an management when there is an organizational relationshiporganizational relationship

Training – Initial and in-serviceTraining – Initial and in-service


ControlsControls

Rules – proscription about behaviorRules – proscription about behavior Regulations – proscription about thingsRegulations – proscription about things Procedures – step-by-step instructionProcedures – step-by-step instruction Policies – statement of expected Policies – statement of expected

organizational outcomeorganizational outcome


Impact of PolicyImpact of Policy

Use of ForceUse of Force


Elements of Model PoliciesElements of Model Policies

WorkableWorkable Adaptable to trainingAdaptable to training Written in a positive mannerWritten in a positive manner Incorporate relevant lawIncorporate relevant law Pre-tested to assure understandPre-tested to assure understand TrainingTraining ExamplesExamples

American PolicingAmerican Policing

Click on the image of Click on the image of “A Concise History of “A Concise History of American Policing” American Policing” for detailed for detailed information on the information on the development of law development of law enforcement in the enforcement in the United States.United States.


Education

American Municipal Policing: A Briefing for Foreign Dignitaries