The Long Arm of the Law
Many people often complain about the police but yet the police are first on their list when an emergency comes. According to Alix Finch, Police are described as the frontline of protection and service that risk their lives for our safety and ensure our safety by sacrificing their time and families for us (320).
It is a terrifying thought to many wives that their spouse may not arrive home after work. Obtaining a job in law enforcement entails many risk factors, but the most devastating one is that the offspring don’t acquire much quality time with their fathers, due to the long working hours.
Policemen often get a bad reputation for many things, but here in the Caribbean, three things in particular lose them the respect of the public. First, there is the issue of police brutality. In 2012 alone, there were 987 cases of police brutality recorded (Brenner, 7).
Brenner is not the only one highlighting the behavior of police officers. Fell and Capp also indicated that many times, police officers abuse their powers over citizens. They note a particular example in a village 3 miles outside of the capital of Roseau when police officers beat up a robbery suspect so bad he died from the attack (12; 73-79).
(Davis, 2001) stated in The Cries from the Ghetto, that a parent by the name of Christina Johnson expressed her heartache by testifying “my son didn’t deserve that. Those police officers are too heartless. We are so tired of hearing that boys are beat up so badly by officers. Arrest him if you have to, if you are sure it was him, that he is guilty. That was wrong of the police. I am hurting so much.”(p.2)
The Essay on Becoming A Police Officer: An Insider's Guide To A Career In Law Enforcement
Law enforcement refers to agencies and individuals responsible for public safety, enforcing a set of norms and rules in a society and maintaining public order. It also refers to activities conducted by law enforcers such as dissuasion, detection and investigation of crime as well as apprehension of law offenders(Hess, Orthmann, & Cho, 2014). The most typical and organized form of law ...
Besides police brutality, many women are scattered over the islands raising the children of police officers. Finch notes that because officers are moved so often, they tend to develop relationships in each district they go leaving behind wounded hearts and illegitimate children. What makes matters worse is that very often these policemen have actual nuclear families. (401) These outside children rarely get the nurturing they would need from a father. The end result is many broken homes.
Another thing that policemen make headlines for is their double life. There are too many cases of police officers arresting criminals, particularly for drugs, but then turning around and being found to be integral parts of the drug trade. They dabble in illicit gun rings, and act as alarm bells for drug dealers, or even worse, keep retrieved guns for themselves for resale. (Grey, 15.)
Nonetheless, despite all of these negative stigmas attached to police officers, credit must be given to them for their many successes (Grey, 65).
The remuneration of our officer’s are not lavish, thus we must come to an understanding. Identical to the average citizen they also have to make ends meet, provide for their families and try to live a decent lifestyle on conventional payments, while constantly instilling tranquility within communities. Countless police officers acquire auxiliary jobs, with the intension of having a quality standard of living. The existence of uniform should not sidetrack the point that law enforcers are not supermen or comic book heroes, but intern are ordinary individuals similar to us, implementing there all. They are vigilant in ensuring that traffic laws are adhered to. We can see them often walking the streets to ensure that traffic and pedestrians all move along swiftly and safely. Likewise, they do their best to respond to emergencies when called. In addition, police officers also serve as security guards at social events. We must also appreciate their efforts in solving crimes and bringing bad guys to justice.
The Essay on Human Rights Act Police Law
Specific Restrictions on Freedom of Speech and statement Defamation If a statement is made that makes false statements that would harm a person's reputation, then they can be liable - LIBEL Censorship no censorship of plays but the Theatre Act 1968 makes it a criminal offence to present a play which is likely to corrupt / deprave any individual local authorities will decide whether a film is ...
Granted, there is a lot to criticize law enforcement for. Granted, all too often their behavior is suspicious, and in need of improvement, but just what would we do without them? It is indeed a double edge sword. Some complain that the problem may be salaries; others say that it is just a job to too many and still others explain that this is just the way the system is. Irrespective of all of that, there are many good, noble officers and perhaps government just needs to step in and provide effective checks and balances to ensure the smooth running of our justice system.
Works Cited
Alexander, Mika. “internet article Law Enforcers”
Can’t Live With Them Can’t Live Without Them (2009) www.lawenforcementreview.org
Brenner, Thomas. Government Statistical Division.
Report on the Justice System .Kingston Jamaica: Paramount Printers ,(2013)
Davis, Sandra.
The Cries from the Ghetto. Barrataria; UWI Press. 2001 (2)
Dibbs, Alleyne. Et al.
Some Jobs Demand More Sacrifices than Others. Castle Comfort ; Random House. 2005 (42)
Fell, John and Capp, Andy.
Abuses and Injustice (3rd ed.).
Roseau, Dominica: Sisserrou Publishing , (1999).
Fenton, James.
The Life of a Caribbean Cop. Bridgetown; . Bantom Publishers. 2008 (60)
Finch, Alix.
Officers of the Law . New York, House Books, (2005)
Grey, Racheal.
Double Life of Crime. Wallhouse; Paramount Printers, (2003)
Luke, Mathew.
Cost of Living. London; Penguin. 1997 (20)
