What are the Expectations of a Police Officer?

Like any employee, police officers are expected to perform their duties to the best of their abilities. The media often presents a distorted view, portraying all police officers as villains, which is misleading and unfair. There are hundreds of thousands of officers who diligently perform their duties every day while the media tends to focus on exceptions.

Code of Conduct in Policing

Almost every police agency across the country adheres to the same code of conduct, which includes:

Serve the community Safeguard lives and property Protect the innocent from deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence and disorder Act with honesty and integrity Obey lawful orders and refrain from carrying out any orders that are unlawful

These principles apply to roughly 99% of the police officers in the country. However, it is much more sensational to report on the exceptions. Good police officers doing good work every day often remain unsung heroes, with their efforts not making headline news.

Expectations and Perceptions

Police officers follow the law and their training, as these are the standards they are expected to meet. However, both citizens and law enforcement officers face significant challenges in building trust. The condition of fear has become prevalent, where citizens, particularly those from minority communities, often expect aggressive responses from law enforcement, while officers fear for their lives even in minor scenarios.

For instance, a child brandishing a Rubik's cube may trigger a fear response from officers, leading to potentially severe consequences. Similarly, citizens, especially those from minority backgrounds, often expect to be shot or beaten by the police, leading to unnecessary and avoidable confrontations.

Towards a Better Future

To improve these challenging dynamics, both police and citizens must work towards understanding and trust. On the one hand, officers must respond appropriately to situations without unnecessary fear, and on the other, citizens must learn to engage with law enforcement with a better understanding of their roles and responsibilities.

The ultimate goal is to create an environment where law enforcement officers can work in peace without fearing for their lives, and citizens can coexist without (unnecessarily) fearing law enforcement. Until these perceptions change on both sides, we will continue to see the tragic loss of life and early retirements due to physical and psychological damage.

Building this mutual trust is not easy, and it requires ongoing efforts from all stakeholders, including policymakers, community leaders, and officers themselves. By promoting transparency, integrity, and mutual respect, we can begin to bridge the gap that currently exists and foster a safer, more just society for all.