Chapter Five

Question 1

Ambiguity of the Police Role Role: What are the concepts governing police work?

Answer 1

Efforts to improve welfare of community and Respect for individual rights, worth, and dignity

Question 2

A good police officer must?

Answer 2

Have common sense
React quickly
Adopt appropriate role
Prioritize role in situations

Question 3

The Police Role: What is police crime-fighting role?

Answer 3

Crime fighting or law enforcement. Depicted by media, public, and police

Question 4

The police Role: What is police order maintenance role?

Answer 4

keeping peace and providing social services and their primary job

Question 5

What was the Police Role in the aftermath of 9/11?

Answer 5

Formation of specialized antiterrorist groups
Order maintenance and social service roles
Police duties as first responders

Question 6

Goals and Objectives of Policing: What are their primary goals?

Answer 6

Maintaining order
Protecting life and property

Question 7

Goals and Objectives of Policing: What are their secondary goals?

Answer 7

1.Preventing crime
2.Arresting and prosecuting offenders
3.Recovering stolen/missing property
4.Assisting the sick and Injured
5.Enforcing noncriminal regulations
6.Delivering services not available elsewhere

Question 8

What is police Discretion?

Answer 8

Freedom to act or decide a matter on one’s own
Availability of a choice of options or actions one can take in a situation

Police make policy about what laws to enforce, how much to enforce them, against whom, and on what occasions

Question 9

What are three things to think and do when using discretion?

Answer 9

1. Applies to minor offenses only, misdemeanors and offenses are not allowed.
2. Use it fairly
3. Don’t use it if it gets you in trouble

Question 10

HOW is discretion Exercised?

Answer 10

1. Arrest
2. Stope, question, or frisk
3. Use of physical force
4. Use of deadly force
5. Writing traffic summonses
6. Use of certain enforcement tactics (harassment, moving loiterers, warnings, etc.)
7. Taking reports on crimes
8. Investigating crimes

Question 11

WHY is discretion exercised?

Answer 11

• No time to enforce all laws
• Some laws are vague or passed
• Most violations of law are minor
• Complete enforcement might alienate people and overwhelm courts, jails, and prisons

Question 12

WHAT factors influence Discretion?

Answer 12

• Characteristics of a crime
• Relationship between the alleged criminal and the victim
• Relationship between police and the criminal or victim
• Department policies

Question 13

How can discretion be controlled?

Answer 13

• Requiring obedience to a formal set of policies or guidelines
• Employee early warning systems
• Continual review of officers’ actions

Question 14

Police Discretion, shootings, and deadly force: What Court case relates do this?

Answer 14

Gram vs Connor - When someone judges a police officers use of force, they must judge it from the officer’s perspective at the time of the incident

Question 15

What is the “Fleeing Felon” Rule

Answer 15

Doctrine widely followed prior to the 1960s that allowed officers to use deadly force to apprehend a fleeing felon

Question 16

What court case relates to the Fleeing Felon Rule?

Answer 16

Tennessee V. Garner: Declared rule unconstitutional, you cannon shoot a fleeing felon unless:

1. You’ve exhausted all other means to arrest them
   2: They pose a threat of death or bodily injury

Question 17

What is the “Defense of life” Standard?

Answer 17

Allows police to use deadly force against individuals using deadly force against others

Question 17

What is the “Imminent danger” Standard?

Answer 17

Forbids warning shots and shooting at moving vehicles

Question 18

What is a realistic firearms training?

Answer 18

Incorporating low light, noise, sirens, flashing lights, and weather conditions.

Question 19

What is the “use-of-force” continuum?

Answer 19

Officers are taught to escalate force only to same extent that subject is using

Question 20

Less-than-Lethal Force: What are some innovative alternatives to traditional firearms?

Answer 20

• Batons
• Bodily force techniques
• Chemical irritant sprays
• Tasers or stun guns