Law and law enforcement, alongside the facets that support their interactions, present a compelling need to understand the subject engagements carefully. One of the most vital elements of law enforcement is the reality of the immense influence of policing styles. Various scholars agree that subject policing styles affect these interactions’ extent, accuracy, and proficiency. For instance, the Legalistic, Watchman, and Service policing styles incommode distinctly different outlines of law enforcement through priorities and values. All law enforcement professionals and stakeholders should carefully understand the functioning and applicability of these policing styles for effective duty execution. Because of the pertinent necessity of the situations and professional contexts associated with each policing style, it is vital to analyze the political and cultural inferences related to each style.
Watchman-Style Situation
The Watchman-style policing style is efficient in areas with high crime incidence rates. Dario et al. (2022) assert that this style is functional in law enforcement in urban settings with elevated unrest. Commonly, the style allows subject law enforcement units to instigate approaches lenient to hands-off interactions in minor situations. Furthermore, maintaining public order reigns above the need to adhere to legal requirements strictly. Consequently, officers are inclined to prioritize an informal social control approach with peace-mediated discretion rather than direct law enforcement. Overall, officers in the Watchman-style situation act as crime and conflict-preventing mediators.
Culture and the Watchman Policing
As outlined, the Watchman style is a unique law enforcement position that triggers a pragmatic perspective of law enforcement. Gant and Schaible (2022) argue that this style is affiliated with community relationships and, thus, the need to foster meaningful engagement programs. Besides, law enforcement officers are required to enable significant associations with the local leadership to comprehend the law enforcement needs of the subject population optimally. Therefore, the political culture under this approach is conspicuous, with leniency to minor offenses and a priority on social order.
Legalistic-Style Situation
Unlike the Watchman-style approach, a legalistic approach focuses on the paramount adherence to the law. For instance, areas like suburban settings are doused by strict law adherence. Here, the officers are more compelled to strictly and ardently ensure that optimal discretion is extended to law and order. Therefore, minor offenses are likely to attract arrests, and the operations are likely to be dictated by the uncompromisable upholding of legal requirements.
The Legalistic Style and Culture
The legalistic policing style is likely associated with a professional-centered attribution emphasizing accountability and strict procedural adherence. Giles (2023) guides that under this style, law enforcement officers must strictly follow protocols with transparency and rule-based decision-making. Also, the political culture is likely to adopt a zero-tolerance to crime and subscribe to measurable outcomes to evaluate the required effectiveness.
Service-Style Approach
Service-style law enforcement fronts law enforcement officers as problem solvers and advocates for peace. According to Giles (2023), officers will likely proactively engage with the communities to identify and solve problems. The most likely situation would be a suburban area where officers collaborate with local leadership to address issues like violence and substance abuse in rural, suburban settings. As expected, this approach thrives on partnership-based problem-solving where there are more partners than enforcers of the law.
Culture and the Service-Style Approach
The Service-Style approach is based on strong community commitment and practical problem-solving. Dario et al. (2022) state that the style is likely to utilize community outreach programs, officer training, and the collaboration of social services in its execution. A holistic political culture that seeks to identify the root causes of unrest is favored to instigate meaningful mediation and optimal conflict resolution.
In conclusion, law enforcement is an intricate process that may only be sometimes achieved. Thus, it is vital to understand the needs of various settings outlined by the discussed enforcement styles.
References
Dario, L. M., Cesar, G. T., & Crichlow, V. J. (2022). Reappreciating the varieties of police behavior: a national examination of contemporary police mission statements. Policing: An International Journal, 45(6), 893-907.
Gant, L., & Schaible, L. (2022). The impact of policing styles on officers’ willingness to make referrals into pre-arrest diversion initiatives. Police Practice and Research, 23(1), 20-33.
Giles, M. N. (2023). Competing Demands in Police Positioning: Institutional Logics in Law Enforcement Recruitment Videos (Doctoral dissertation, University of California, Santa Barbara).
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