CH. 5 Power Point
CHAPTER 5
The Role of Police in Society
Lecture slides prepared by Lisa J. Taylor
Abuse of Power by Police
The majority of police officers are professional and ethical.
However, a small minority abuse their power. This leads to close scrutiny by the public of all police.
Police officers have tremendous power in our society:
• The power to arrest
• The power to mediate or to charge
• The power to use force
• The power of life and death
Officers received tip regarding drug activity
in a home.
They filed an affidavit for a no-knock search
warrant, falsely indicating they had sent an informant in to buy drugs.
When the raid team burst in, the 92-year old
San
Francisco
Police
Testilying
Case
(2006)
female resident began shooting at officers.
She was killed by a hail of bullets.
When officers found no drugs, they planted
drugs, and forced an informant to lie about buying drugs from the woman.
2 of the 3 officers ultimately confessed and
pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.
The lead officer received a 6-year sentence.
Their sergeant pleaded guilty to federal charges of violating the dead woman’s rights. Officers were accused of committing
perjury by falsely describing drug busts they conducted in written police reports. Video taken by surveillance cameras
San
Francisco
Officers
Allegedly
Committed
Perjury in
Reporting
Drug Busts
(2011)
during separate drug raids show the police officers failed to get consent from the apartment-dwellers before conducting warrantless searches for narcotics. The officers also misrepresented
their searches in later police reports.
Since these reports are written under
oath, this was tantamount to perjury, according to the Public Defender.
Viewpoint: Police as Crime Fighters
•
Criminals are the “enemy” and are fundamentally different from “good” people.
•
Police are the “army” that fights the enemy.
•
The Role of Police in Society
Lecture slides prepared by Lisa J. Taylor
Abuse of Power by Police
The majority of police officers are professional and ethical.
However, a small minority abuse their power. This leads to close scrutiny by the public of all police.
Police officers have tremendous power in our society:
• The power to arrest
• The power to mediate or to charge
• The power to use force
• The power of life and death
Officers received tip regarding drug activity
in a home.
They filed an affidavit for a no-knock search
warrant, falsely indicating they had sent an informant in to buy drugs.
When the raid team burst in, the 92-year old
San
Francisco
Police
Testilying
Case
(2006)
female resident began shooting at officers.
She was killed by a hail of bullets.
When officers found no drugs, they planted
drugs, and forced an informant to lie about buying drugs from the woman.
2 of the 3 officers ultimately confessed and
pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.
The lead officer received a 6-year sentence.
Their sergeant pleaded guilty to federal charges of violating the dead woman’s rights. Officers were accused of committing
perjury by falsely describing drug busts they conducted in written police reports. Video taken by surveillance cameras
San
Francisco
Officers
Allegedly
Committed
Perjury in
Reporting
Drug Busts
(2011)
during separate drug raids show the police officers failed to get consent from the apartment-dwellers before conducting warrantless searches for narcotics. The officers also misrepresented
their searches in later police reports.
Since these reports are written under
oath, this was tantamount to perjury, according to the Public Defender.
Viewpoint: Police as Crime Fighters
•
Criminals are the “enemy” and are fundamentally different from “good” people.
•
Police are the “army” that fights the enemy.
•