America's Police Officers Changing Roles

Various situations such as death have led to abandoned properties and even persons like children. Cases of abandoned babies have been reported in multiple states over the years. Cases of disputes over property ownership have left various numbers of unclaimed properties. The police take charge of these features by an order by the magistrate. The cops withheld the park and released with a request from the court to either dispose or avail to the approved owner.

The police / public communication works hand in hand with the court to enhance law, order, and justice to the state. Upon the arrest of a suspect, it is the responsibility of the police to conduct investigations and come up with a report. The cops then prepare a charge-sheet which is presented to the magistrate within the stipulated period, which is this case varies with the nature of the crime. The magistrate uses the report filed by the police to establish the basis of the crime. People are committing petty offenses like blocking people in the streets, disposing of litter in the streets, shouting at public areas, rough riding and smoking are put to custody by the police and released upon requesting and paying a personal requirement bond.

Record keeping is part of the police department. In each police station, it is the responsibility of the police officers in charge to keep records on complaints and filed charges. The names of those arrested, complaints names and the alleged offenses are recorded in the general diary. The properties such as weapons taken from those arrested and put in custody are also confined by the police until the case is closed. It is the responsibility of the police to warn the public of any terrorists or criminals who may cause harm or danger to the public (Reaves 2011 p.11-17).

According to Campbell, D.J. and Campbell (2010 p.16-21), the functions of the police have however changed over time. The aspect of community-oriented policing has integrated some of the police roles to the community and vice versa. As the critical part of the police is to maintain law and order, protect property and life as well as crime prevention, the same functions are tasked to the community. It is equally the responsibility of the city to maintain law and order, prevent property and life and control crime. This aspect does not, however, render the military police useless, but the basis is to cooperate social responsibility between the community and the police. As much as the police functions withstand, it is equally the responsibility of the community to help the police in undertaking some of these tasks. Formation of various agencies has relieved the cops from multiple tasks.

A good example is the formation of UN. The United Nations has its personnel who are responsible for managing disaster-stricken areas. In cases of storms, disease outbreak and fire, the UN officers are the first to land there and help the people. Individual and non-government firefighting agencies have also relieved the police from fighting fire outbreaks. The critical responsibility of the police in the last years was to enhance security and control crime. However, emerging issues such as drug and substance abuse, the call to sustainable environment and technology have created new functions of the police department. With all this dynamic nature of the society, the police remain critical department in maintaining security and controlling criminality. There is a need for cooperation between the police and the community to meet its functions efficiently.