Browsing by Subject "Police and Mass Media"
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Item New Era of Policing: Thinking Outside the Box(Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT), 2017) Perkins, DavidWithin the law enforcement community, it is widely known that all of the actions, or lack thereof, of agencies worldwide are being scrutinized 24 hours a day, seven days a week by the communities in which they serve. As a result of this scrutiny, it is imperative that law enforcement agencies everywhere change their way of policing in order to maintain or gain the respect of the public and break down barriers that are created daily using old policing methods. As Grogan (2012) explained, “the past culture of secrecy exhibited by most law enforcement agencies combined with less than ethical behavior exhibited by a small minority contribute greatly to the distrust of the police in many communities” (para. 2). Law enforcement agencies must start thinking outside of the box and becoming transparent with their communities, while also maintaining accountability within their departments. Long gone are the “good ole boy” days, and to truly have the support and respect from citizens, only ethical behavior should be acceptable. Utilizing the largest media platforms, such as social media, can allow agencies to routinely interact with the public on a much larger scale, giving the appearance of transparency. Administrators must utilize creative thinking and modify their policing methods to what is most appropriate for the community of individuals they serve. This can be accomplished utilizing technology, including social media, as a way of both providing accountability and transparency. Agencies should be more flexible, maintain better accountability, and encourage officers to have ownership in the changes within their departments.Item Social Media and Its Use by Law Enforcement(Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT), 2017) Goode, BryanAs technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, law enforcement agencies must continue to adapt to the ever-increasing use of social media in society. As Millennials have now been in the workforce for several years, the reliance on social media as a means of communication is compounded by the amount of rapidly evolving technology. Its benefits are numerous and include ease of use, mass communication abilities, investigative support, and assistance in community team building and collaborative efforts. It will also provide a layer of transparency and openness to the public. These are just some of the benefits available for agencies to consider with their use of social media. Law enforcement should continue to embrace the advantages available with social media. With the prevalence of social media, there will be less of a separation between agencies and their communities. There are numerous examples of the streamlining of information via Facebook and Twitter. Chief David Brown of the Dallas Police Department has a twitter account and regularly posts information to the public. Arlington Police Department’s Public Information Office, Chris Cook, also uses this media during some incidents. As technology continues to evolve, agencies will have to keep up with these advances if they want to be able to reach a broad base of the public.