There is an argument that a new model of police is emerging in the U.S., replacing the professional model and the community policing model. It started before September 11, 2001 but has speeded up greatly since then. Some see this new military model as a good thing; many see it as the worst thing that has ever happened in American policing.     

 

"The U.S. military is providing an unprecedented amount of training and weaponry to the police. Earlier research found that almost half of the PPUs [police paramilitary units] surveyed had trained with active-duty military special operations experts. Numerous departments admitted their close involvement with the Navy Seals and the Army Rangers. "

 

  "The bulk of deployments that paramilitary units engage in today are for the execution of no-knock warrants. In both large and small departments, PPUs routinely carry out dangerous contraband raids on people's private residences, often in the predawn hours, for purposes of conducting a crude form of investigation into drug and gun law violations."

 

 "Using SWAT teams for proactive patrol work has also become popular. This is where police paramilitary officers patrol the streets as a team, often dressed in full BDUs (battle-dress uniforms) and carrying automatic weaponry, targeting "disorderly" areas for the purpose of restoring "a climate of order." This is obviously a dramatic departure from the standard-fare cop on the beat reacting to calls for service. Paramilitary units aggressively occupying "hot spots" (areas identified as high-crime sectors by sophisticated computer mapping program) for the purpose of proactively restoring order, though the incursion of pedestrians, loiterers, suspicious automobiles, and suspicious residences, resonates with police tactics in Northern Ireland. Both proactive PPU patrol and PPU contraband raids are touted in most departments as consistent with community policing reforms in that they are targeting "community disorder"".

 

"Police paramilitary units are also on the cutting edge of using advanced military technology. These units employ the latest in military garb, weaponry, surveillance equipment, an array of "less-than-lethal" use-of-force devices, body armor, listening devices, and communications equipment. An enormous for-profit industry promotes heavily the hardware associated with PPUs by playing on the imagery of the military special operations soldier in their advertisements . In addition, the Department of Defense has donated a massive amount of military surplus to police paramilitary units over the last five years. The most common items are armored personnel carriers, M-16s, and night vision devices." 

 

Please give your views on the professional model, community policing model and the new military model of policing. Which model do you think works best and why?

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The professional model community policing model and the new military model of policing represent different approaches to law enforcement each with its own advantages and disadvantages I will provide a... View the full answer