BEFORE THE DECLINE: REMEMBER WHEN?
/By: Joel E. Gordon
Back when police were allowed to police, there was a time when on any call for service, no matter how frivolous a complaint or request for service seemed to be, police were dispatched to investigate the true nature of the complaint and the need for police or other governmental services or lack thereof.
What determinations can be made if a call comes in with a statement such as “I’ve been hit?” Is this a traffic accident or perhaps an assault and battery and is it in progress or not? The investigating officer should ascertain this information through response and firsthand knowledge. Is a complaining party being threatened to give false or misleading information by someone holding them hostage? An officer, or any first responder, can never take for granted that information given to a call taker and then forwarded is accurate, true or complete.
In recent times, the quality of police service has notably declined, leaving many communities feeling vulnerable and unprotected. The diminished presence of law enforcement officers has sparked concerns about public safety and the ability of the police to effectively uphold the law and combat crime.
In the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh police won't send officers to certain emergency calls but will redirect to a newly established telephone reporting unit. Based upon a directive by Pittsburgh Police Chief Larry Scirotto, the department will not respond to any calls that are not in progress; they will go to an enhanced telephone reporting unit and online reporting.
One significant factor contributing to the deterioration of police service is budget cuts and resource constraints. With limited funding, police departments struggle to maintain adequate staffing levels, provide necessary training and acquire essential equipment, leading to a decrease in overall effectiveness and response times.
Staffing shortages and high turnover rates further exacerbate the issue, as experienced officers leave for better opportunities, leaving behind inexperienced recruits who may lack the skills and knowledge needed to effectively address complex law enforcement challenges.
The increasing demands placed on police officers, coupled with rising crime rates in many communities, stretch resources thin and make it difficult for law enforcement agencies to keep up with the evolving nature of criminal activities.
The diminished police service erodes public trust and confidence in law enforcement, leading to strained relationships between officers and the communities they serve. In Pittsburgh, people are reacting to the new changes made by the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. The prevailing sentiment is that the whole city of Pittsburgh is at risk.
In Houston, Texas, Police Chief Troy Finner apologized to victims and their families after an internal review revealed that about 264,000 criminal incident reports were suspended in the past eight years. In February of this year, it was announced that hundreds of thousands of incident reports were dropped because of a "lack of personnel." The number of reports, which included violent crimes, sexual assault, and property crimes, represents about 10% of the 2.8 million incident reports filed in the past eight years with the Houston PD.
The fact remains that without strong community partnerships and trust, police efforts to prevent and solve crimes are hindered. Residents in areas with diminished police service often experience delayed response times to real emergency calls and limited availability of officers for visible preventive patrols, further creating a sense of insecurity and unease among community members.
The inability of police to effectively address criminal activities often leads to an escalation of crime and disorder in neighborhoods, further jeopardizing the safety and well-being of residents.
Diminished police service poses significant challenges for a modern society, impacting public safety, community relations and the overall effectiveness of law enforcement efforts. Addressing the factors contributing to this decline is crucial to ensuring that police agencies can fulfill their mission of protecting and serving the public in a proficient and highly responsive manner.
If you ask me, it’s time to turn back the clock to the best practices of old.
Joel E. Gordon, Managing Editor of BLUE Magazine, is a former Field Training Officer with the Baltimore City Police Department and is a past Chief of Police for the city of Kingwood, West Virginia. He has also served as vice-chair of a multi-jurisdictional regional narcotics task force. An award winning journalist, he is author of the book Still Seeking Justice: One Officer's Story and founded the Facebook group Police Authors Seeking Justice. Look him up at stillseekingjustice.com
