NCJ Number
124725
Date Published
1989
Length
101 pages
Annotation
In addressing the impact of television on the public's image of California law enforcement by the year 2000, this research seeks to evaluate law enforcement and media roles and responsibilities.
Abstract
Social, technological, environmental, and economic trends and events were analyzed to assess the potential future of law enforcement and television in relation to each other. Four trends were developed in the analysis: people are watching television more and reading less; public concern about the ethics of public officials is growing; racial tension between the public and the police is increasing; and the ability of television to go live to the public from the scene of an event is increasing. Three events were evaluated as significant to law enforcement: regionalization of California law enforcement; California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training's mandated code of ethics for law enforcement, with sanctions for violations; and police use of nondestructive weapons. California law enforcement in general and the city of Azusa in particular became the focus of a strategic plan that offers a way to impact the public's view of law enforcement through television. The most desired alternative is the establishment of a satellite telecommunications training and information system to improve police officer effectiveness, ethics, and professionalism. While the police chief's support is critical, line officers and first-line supervisors must be active participants if such a system is to be implemented. The study questionnaire and additional study information are appended. 38 references, 9 endnotes, charts.