Public Versus Private Police Officers: Roles and Responsibilities
Public versus Private Police Officers: Roles and Responsibilities
Amanda Spearman
CJA 500/Survey of Justice and Security
Nicholas Russo, Ed.D./Univ. of Phoenix
October 4, 2010
Public versus Private Police Officers: Roles and Responsibilities
The roles and responsibilities of policing vary depending on whether the officer works in the public or private sector. While there are some similarities the differences are important and define each agency. Comparing public and private police officers and the roles and responsibilities of each grants a better understanding of policing as a whole. Exhibiting the differences in public and private police roles and responsibilities assists in determining how one agency can affect and assist the other. Public police officers are tasked with preventing crime, providing victim assistance, and maintain a relationship by being interactive with the community. However, private policing officers are normally responsible for securing the assets of a private organization or company. These differences in focus can mean differences in training and in compensation. While these differences seem obvious both public and private police officers require education and training to effectively police their jurisdictions and meet the requirements of their duties.
Public policing is defined by the role that officers play in the community and the perception that society has of their effectiveness. “Public policing is known to society as the police who protect our communities and arrest those individuals who commit crime. Public policing has the role to maintain law and order, preserve peace and prevent crime. Public police are employed by governments and paid for by tax dollars and grants” (Larabee, 2007). Public police officers are viewed as role models in their community and are often either feared or respected. Public police officers that are not seen to have character of a role model and not respected has normally
Amanda Spearman
CJA 500/Survey of Justice and Security
Nicholas Russo, Ed.D./Univ. of Phoenix
October 4, 2010
Public versus Private Police Officers: Roles and Responsibilities
The roles and responsibilities of policing vary depending on whether the officer works in the public or private sector. While there are some similarities the differences are important and define each agency. Comparing public and private police officers and the roles and responsibilities of each grants a better understanding of policing as a whole. Exhibiting the differences in public and private police roles and responsibilities assists in determining how one agency can affect and assist the other. Public police officers are tasked with preventing crime, providing victim assistance, and maintain a relationship by being interactive with the community. However, private policing officers are normally responsible for securing the assets of a private organization or company. These differences in focus can mean differences in training and in compensation. While these differences seem obvious both public and private police officers require education and training to effectively police their jurisdictions and meet the requirements of their duties.
Public policing is defined by the role that officers play in the community and the perception that society has of their effectiveness. “Public policing is known to society as the police who protect our communities and arrest those individuals who commit crime. Public policing has the role to maintain law and order, preserve peace and prevent crime. Public police are employed by governments and paid for by tax dollars and grants” (Larabee, 2007). Public police officers are viewed as role models in their community and are often either feared or respected. Public police officers that are not seen to have character of a role model and not respected has normally
References: Barr, J. G. (2009, January). Contract Security Officer Services: Evaluating Needs. Faulkner Information Services Larabee, A.K. (2007). The Debate on Private Versus Public Policing. Associated Content, 4. Retrieved from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/435971/the_debate_on_private_versus_public.html?cat=49