Chapter 11
Police and Their Clients
Learning Objectives
LO1 Articulate the meaning of police–community relations and their importance to the safety
and quality of life in a community.
LO2 Define human relations, public relations, and community relations.
LO3 Explain public attitudes regarding the police and efforts undertaken around the nation to
improve public perceptions.
LO4 Describe various minority populations and some of their issues regarding police
interactions.
Lesson Plan
Correlated to PowerPoints
I. The Need for Proper Police–Community Relationships
Learning Objective 1: Articulate the meaning of police–community relations and their
importance to the safety and quality of life in a community.
A. Police must be part of the community
Class Discussion/Activity:
Discuss some of the efforts law enforcement is making to reach out to various segments of
communities.
2. The most important person in the police department, in terms of improving
police–community relations, is the individual police officer.
3. The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) established the Institute
1-3
II. Human Relations, Public Relations, and Community Relations
Learning Objective 2: Define human relations, public relations, and community relations.
A. Human Relations
1. In the most general sense, the concept of human relations refers to everything we
B. Police Public Relations
1. Activities performed by police agencies designed to create a favorable image of
themselves
C. Police–Community Relations
Class Discussion/Activity:
Explain why it is essential that the police maintain positive relationships with the community.
D. Police–Community Relations (PCR) Movement
See Assignment 1
1. Beginning in the 1950s and 1960s, a few officers in a department were assigned
2. The PCR movement should not be confused with today’s community policing
endeavors.
E. International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
1. Issued training keys on managing anger, police–citizen contacts, dealing with the
III. Public Opinion and the Police
Learning Objective 3: Explain public attitudes regarding the police and the efforts undertaken
around the nation to improve public perceptions.
A. Public Support
Class Discussion/Activity:
The public’s view of the police changes over time. What are some recent events in your
6
4
community that have helped or hurt the police image?
1. Given the difficult job the police have, it is easier for them to perform their duties
IV. Police and Minority Communities
Learning Objective 4: Describe various minority populations and some of their issues regarding
police interactions.
A. Improving Relationships
1. One of the best ways to improve relationships between the police and minority
2. Having and conveying respect for these cultures is critical.
B. Multiculturalism
2. Multicultural understanding is critical, as currently members of racial and ethnic
2050.
C. African Americans
2. There continues to be a concern among individuals in the African American
3. The relationship between police and African Americans remains an area that
needs to be addressed.
D. Hispanic Americans
What If Scenario
You are a police lieutenant that has been asked by your chief to speak to a citizen group of
Hispanics. What should you do to prepare for this speech and what topics would you cover?
1. The Hispanic community is composed of many different cultures.
7
2. Hispanic Americans have suffered discrimination, and many are also handicapped
E. Asian Americans
1. In 2011, 29 percent of the foreign-born population in the United States was born
in Asia.
3. Establishing a liaison program between the police department and community
F. Native Americans
1. Native American nations, reservations, colonies, and communities with criminal
2. There are more than 500 different tribal groups, all with distinct histories,
cultures, and often a separate language.
3. Law enforcement in tribal areas is typically very complex.
G. Arab Americans and Muslims
Class Discussion/Activity:
Many Muslims have asked law enforcement for extra protection because they fear hate crimes
being perpetrated due to their ethnicity. What can the police do to protect this segment of our
population?
1. Since September 11, 2001, there has been an increased awareness of the needs
H. Jews
1. Since September 11, 2001, there has been fear among the Jewish population of
being a “soft” terrorism target.
2. Members of the Jewish community are teaming up with their police departments
I. Women
Media Tool
Women move into law enforcement’s highest ranks
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/08/13/women-law-enforcement-police-dea-
secret-service/2635407/
o Article: USA Today Women Law Enforcement
o Discussion: Discuss what you read in the article. Discuss the agencies in the nation’s
capital that are headed by women. What is being done to encourage women to move up
in the ranks to leadership positions?
1. Although women are often victims of the same types of crimes as men, they also
3. As women officers become more visible in communities, the perception of the
1. In cities with visibly large gay populations, there have been numerous verbal and
2. Violent crime against individuals identifying themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) has increased recently, though much of it has not
been reported.
K. New Immigrants
What If Scenario
You are a new sergeant who must address the issue of immigration with your patrol squad. What
are the main points of your squad training that you will cover and why?
1. Immigrants often bring strong religious and cultural beliefs with them that law
enforcement is unfamiliar with.
3. The immigration issue has created a lot of debate and turmoil in the law
enforcement community and in local and state governments.
See Assignment 2
11
12
Learning Objective 5: Discuss the challenges various populations—including the aging
population, youth, crime victims, victims of domestic violence, the mentally ill, and the
homeless—face when interacting with the police.
A. The Physically Challenged
1. Those with disabilities include the deaf and hard of hearing; those who use
2. People with disabilities experience violence at about twice the rate of people
without a disability.
3. The Office for Victims of Crime offers training guides and informational articles
that will enhance the police response to individuals with disabilities.
See Assignment 3
B. The Aging Population
2. Line officers need to be aware of special issues facing the older person, including
deterioration of driving skills, fraud, self-neglect, and elder abuse.
3. Triad: a joint partnership between the police and senior citizens to address
C. Young People
2. Other Programs for Young People
See Assignment 4
a. Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT)
Class Discussion/Activity:
Discuss antibullying efforts in your community. What has been done? Do these efforts infringe
on the First Amendment rights of either party? How does bullying relate to suicide by victims of
it?
13
14
d. Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training
D. Crime Victims
1. As many as 31 million people are victims of violent or property crime in the
United States annually.
2. Recently, the criminal justice system has recognized that victims are powerful and
E. Victims of Domestic Violence
See Assignment 5
2. Traditional assumptions about domestic violence:
a. An arrest would make life worse for the victim, because the abuser
might retaliate.
What If Scenario
You have been asked to prepare a training lesson plan on domestic violence. This lesson plan
will be presented to your department during their squad training. What would your outline
contain and why?
3. Minneapolis Domestic Violence Experiment
F. The Mentally Ill
Media Tool
People with Mental Illness
16
17
http://www.popcenter.org/problems/mental_illness/
o Center for Problem-Oriented Policing
o Discussion: Discuss this article. What are the problems for police associated with mental
illness? Discuss the roles of people with mental illness.
1. The calls involving people with mental illness can be some of the most dangerous
that officers face.
2. Though mental health issues are not a police job per se, they have become one
G. The Homeless
Class Discussion/Activity:
Discuss why it is important for police to work with the homeless population and describe what
types of things are being done.
2. The homeless issue today is a multifaceted one and requires many organizations
working together to attempt to solve the underlying problems.
VI. Community Crime Prevention Programs
Learning Objective 6: Evaluate some innovative community crime prevention programs that
focus on crime reduction and improving the quality of life in communities.
A. Neighborhood Watch Programs
1. Launched in 1972, sponsored by the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA)
3. These groups engage in a wide range of specific crime prevention activities, as
well as community-oriented activities.
B. National Night Out
1. Every year citizens are encouraged to turn on all outside lighting and step outside
their homes between 8:00 P.M. and 9:00 P.M. on a well-publicized, designated
night, called National Night Out.
18
19
C. Citizen Patrols
D. Citizen Volunteer Programs
1. Citizens volunteer to do police jobs, thus freeing police officers to return to patrol
duties.
See Assignment 6
a. Reserve Police Officers
E. Home Security Surveys and Operation Identification
F. Police Storefront Stations or Ministations
1. A small satellite police station designed to serve a local part of the community
G. Crime Stoppers
2. Since the inception of the organization, the program has been responsible for
H. Mass Media Campaigns
1. “Take a Bite Out of Crime”
3. Social media
I. Chaplain Programs
20
21
22
23
25
1. Volunteers serve as liaisons with various religious institutions in the community
J. Citizen Police Academies
What If Scenario
You have been tasked by your chief to prepare lesson topics for a citizen academy. What topics
would you want covered and why?
1. Academies provided by the police department for the citizens of the community to
enhance their understanding of the workings of their police department
Media Tool
“Lynchburg Citizen’s Police Academy”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StQQ3oNuQHc
o Video: Lynchburg Citizen’s Police Academy
o Discussion: Discuss what you see on the video. What are some of the topics covered in this
academy? Discuss the reasons a citizen should attend this academy.
K. Other Police-Sponsored Crime Prevention Programs
VII. Police and Business Cooperation
Learning Objective 7: Discuss the latest trends in the police–business relationship.
• Provide vehicles for DARE or crime prevention.
• Donate computers.
27
28
26
VIII. Summary
Lecture Notes
1. What is meant by police–community relations?
The police are needed to handle emergencies, maintain order, regulate traffic, and promote a
2. What have the police done to improve their relationship with the community?
Police departments across the country have implemented various programs to improve police–
3. What are some identifiable issues the police face when dealing with the mentally ill?
The calls involving people with mental illness can be some of the most dangerous that officers
face. Often the calls come from family members who have tried to handle the situation
4. How does Crime Stoppers obtain citizen cooperation?
In the typical Crime Stoppers program, the police ask television and radio stations to publicize an
5. How have the demands increased on law enforcement in response to domestic violence?
There has been increased demand on law enforcement to be responsive to the needs of domestic
violence victims. Family violence is one of the most frequent types of violence that police
Key Terms
citizen patrols A program that involves citizens patrolling on foot or in private cars and alerting
citizen police academies Academies provided by the police department for the citizens of the
community to enhance their understanding of the workings of their police department. (p. 363)
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) A program in which civilians are trained in
Crime Stoppers A program where a cash reward is offered for information that results in the
Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) The most popular antidrug program in which
Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) An educational program designed after
human relations Everything done with each other as human beings in all kinds of relationships.
Minneapolis Domestic Violence Experiment An experiment conducted in Minneapolis,
Minnesota, to determine the deterrent effect of various methods of handling domestic violence,
including mandatory arrest. (p. 354)
Neighborhood Watch A specific crime prevention program, and also a generic term for crime
prevention programs in which community members participate and engage in a wide range of
specific crime prevention activities, as well as community-oriented activities. (p. 358)
Operation Identification Engraving identification numbers onto property that is most likely to
Police Athletic League (PAL) A large sports program involving police officers and youth. (p.
police–community relations The relationships involved in both human relations and public
police–community relations (PCR) movement Beginning in the 1950s and 1960s, a few
officers in a department were assigned as community affairs or community relations specialists
to interact with the public and reduce tension between the public and the department. (p. 335)
Police Explorers A program for young adults between the ages of 14 and 20 in which they work
closely with law enforcement and explore the police career. (p. 351)
police public relations Activities performed by police agencies designed to create a favorable
police storefront station or ministation A small satellite police station designed to serve a local
part of the community and facilitate the community’s access to the police officers. (p. 360)
Triad A joint partnership between the police and senior citizens to address specific problems
Assignments
1. You are a detective/patrol officer in your mid-sized department. You have been tasked by
the chief/sheriff with developing a plan to increase police–community cooperation. What
2. Research how your local police departments are handling the problem of illegal
immigrants. Have their policies changed since the Federal Government said that
sanctuary cities might lose federal funding? [LO 4]
3. People with diabetes may appear to be suffering from drug- or alcohol-related
4. Check with the schools and police departments in your area. What programs do they have
to address bullying? Do they feel these programs are successful? How have these
5. Research responses to domestic violence and report what options the police can give
victims of this crime. What has been the traditional police response? [LO 5]
6. Contact the local police department and ascertain what community outreach programs are
offered through the department. How do these programs (if any) enhance police–