The Police Role in Society

Other roles revolve around these main roles. The police are also involved in providing the much-needed unity within the society. With the service being an arm of the government, it’s a source of unity in the society (Barlow & Barlow, 2018). The police are also involved in helping members of the society in case of emergencies and calamities. Police officers make sacrifices to keep the society safe. The roles of police in the society The roles of the police in the society start with their duties and obligations as postulated by the law. The police are tasked with the role of ensuring law and order in the society by protecting the law from violators. This is the main role of the police in the society which builds the other roles attached to the service.

Generally, the police are known to serve the people and they have to interact with the members of the society. In ensuring law and order, the police are tasked with ensuring that criminals are brought to book and that crime doesn’t take place (Roberg et al, 2000). Apart from punishing the actual violators of the law, it acts as a lesson to other members of the society (Dunham & Alpert, 2010). They learn from different punishments given to criminals and law violators. People will cease to violate the law after witnessing violators being sentenced to years in jail. A society without law cannot progress and without the police, the law cannot be safe. Apart from ensuring that the law is not violated by members of the society, the police are also tasked with ensuring that there is order in the society.

The police are tasked with the role of protecting members of the society they serve as well as their property. In doing so, they have to deal with people threatening other people’s lives and properties in accordance to the law. This brings in the issue of mass shooters who are arrested and brought to book either before the incidence or after it has happened. It’s a move to ensure that the criminals do not live with the other members of the society and threaten their lives. They are supposed to eliminate anything threatening the lives and property of members of the society. This can be done by ensuring that thieves don’t get access to people’s property (Vila & Morris, 1999).

Their presence during patrols scare thieves and as a result, property and lives are saved. As part of ensuring that members of the public are safe all the time, the police have provided a direct number through which people can call for urgent response. For instance, in the United States, the police have provided 911 as an emergency number. After receiving an issue of urgency through the number, they usually respond as fast as possible. In addition to this added role, the police are seen as a source of unity in the society (Vila & Morris, 1999). Their presence in the society is a symbol of unity. Their service brings people together for the unity and peace of the society. This is a role that is attached to the identity of a police officer.

In other cases, the police take up the role of uniting the society. Their actions should reflect what the law requires from every person in the country. Failure to set examples to the members of the society to follow affects the meaning of the police. They must show people the right way by leading with an example (Barlow & Barlow, 2018). In their service, they are reminded to serve every person equally without discriminating some groups. The law advocates for equality and service to all people. How the society and media portray the police Different members in the society have different perceptions towards the police. Some will view them as enemies while others will view them as friends and part of the society.

This is the same when it comes to the media. This is the tool that is actively involved in spreading how people view the police. The media include print, radio and visual media such as televisions and movies. Media portrayal of the police has influenced the society at large as they rely on the media for updates. When the media reports the police as racists, the members of the society will look at them as racists. Although the media is largely involved in negative portrayal of the police, it positively portrays them in some cases (Chermak et al, 2006). This is by reporting good acts done by the police as well as talking of their important role in the society. This also stretches to the society whereby some members of the society portray the police as important figures in the society.

Another way of community policing is by eliminating issues that can being a conflict between the police and the society. One of them can be separating the police from politics. Politics can be a source of conflict and hence removing the police from them brings a good relationship. Another one is the involvement of the police in racist acts. This brings in conflict with the community being oppressed and hence lack of peace. Generally, they play an integral role that can’t be replaced. Although some people may feel that the police are not important, their role cannot be eliminated. References Barlow, D. E. , & Barlow, M. S. Media and public perceptions of the police: Examining the impact of race and personal experience.