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Image of Law Enforcement

Read the intro and answer accordingly.

  • Yes (explain)

    Votes: 1 20.0%

  • No (explain)

    Votes: 2 40.0%

  • Other (explain)

    Votes: 2 40.0%
  • Total voters
    5

Cilogy

Pathetic Douchebag
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In my ongoing struggle to stop worrying about politics and political polls, I created a poll at my university with a question similar to this one, only the original is more detailed and has more facts along with it.

We got talking about the forces of authority in different countries and their enforcement of the law. One of my classmates brought up the Canadian police and poked fun at how the mounties there wear bright red uniforms and ride horses. That got me thinking about violence and how its dealt with in different nations, and possibly the image of law enforcement.


Is the 'image' (uniforms, transportation, etc.) of the police related to how much violence exists in a nation?

Before you answer the poll question, you might want to ask yourself this question: "or is the image relatively the same across the world?"

I want to the know the general opinion of people here. Your explanation can be as detailed or as simple as you want it to be.

I'm not sure how similar this poll might be to others, if it is, then I apologize and I guess the mods can take it down if this question has already been asked.
 
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For the most part they are just doing their job. Enforcing the growing mountain of laws our congress keeps thinking up.

In some small towns there is some definate bias as to who to target for DWI's etc. For example firefighters, town figures, etc often get a free pass in issues like this
 
There is such a wide variety of uniforms in my immediate area alone that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to make any such correlation. We've got at least four different local city police forces within five miles of my home... each with entirely different uniform styles and vehicles. In addition we have state troopers, constables, sheriffs, and even a few mounted police.

The level of crime in my area is extremely low. And that level has little to do with any of the uniforms or vehicles I might see about. It has everything to do with the fact that I live in an upper-middle class area with good neighborhoods, good schools, strong families and values, community, and little poverty.

:2wave:
 
My views on law enforcement...it depends which cops we're talking about. The highway patrol annoy the **** out of me. The local cops (usually) make me nervous even though I don't break the law very often...and I don't generally like to be around them. I have a lot of respect for the FBI and local SWAT teams.

With that said, I think we need a lot more police on the ground in many cities. The evidence is very strong that more police means less crime, and less crime means less poverty.
 
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I voted other because I am open to recognizing a causal link between violence and the image of the LEO's, as silly as it may seem on first blush.
 
Just to remind everyone, don't necessarily link this to U.S. police. I mean, you can do it, just think about other countries as well.
 
Are we suggesting the average person harbors some fear of the police? Thanks
 
Reverend_Hellh0und said:
Are we suggesting the average person harbors some fear of the police? Thanks
Click to expand...

No, I what I mean to ask is if the appearance of police is related to the level of violence and/or crime in a nation. This has nothing to do with fear.
 
Cilogy said:
No, I what I mean to ask is if the appearance of police is related to the level of violence and/or crime in a nation. This has nothing to do with fear.
Click to expand...

Hm...

Are you then, referring to literally the way police dress, what weapons/equipment they carry, how militarized they appear to be in clothing/gear/conduct? (rather than the way they are percieved?)

If that is so then I think there is definately a correlation, but an imperfect one.

In some countries the police are militarized in uniform and weapons because there is much violence there, and the police need to be ready to respond to extreme situations. In other countries it is because the gov't is oppressive and they want the police to appear as intimidating as possible... in some cases the military actually performs police functions.
 

Yes thank you, this is exactly what I was trying to say.
 
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