Legalism and Compassion
As public servants, police officers are responsible for maintaining order and assisting the community. They are among the most important agents in creating a sense of safety and trust and in addressing quality-of-life issues. The concept of legalism can help to provide a deeper understanding of this role. Legalism, in this context, could mean adhering strictly to the letter of the law without considering the broader implications of one’s actions.
Even though law enforcement cannot function without a strict structure, a rigid approach can undermine community cooperation. Serving the public without deep compassion goes against God’s guidance too: “For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment” (English Standard Version Bible, 2001, James 2:13). Therefore, police officers are responsible for finding a balance between legalism and a more compassionate approach that aims to view community’s needs from a more humane point of view.
Authority, Power, and Licentiousness
Police officers also serve as crime fighters. This role involves identifying criminal activity, arresting suspects, and gathering evidence for prosecution. This role is frequently seen as aggressive, focused on order maintenance, and often involves the use of force, particularly physical force. This can be tied to the concept of licentiousness, which implies excessive freedom and a disregard for rules. Police officers, knowing that they have a monopoly on the use of violence, may abuse their prerogatives.
Disregard for individual rights can be seen as a manifestation of licentious behavior. The Bible teaches us: “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (English Standard Version Bible, 2001, Galatians 5:13). As crime fighters, police officers must always be aware of the power they have, but not abuse it for it goes against God’s teachings. Police officers must exercise their authority judiciously and ethically, respecting the constitutional rights of individuals they encounter, even when dealing with suspected criminals.
Police Subculture, Misconduct, and Erosion of Public Trust
The breakdown of police subculture can be attributed to various factors, including the challenges in balancing the roles of public servant and crime fighter. On the one hand, the public is concerned with the police misconduct: instances of excessive use of force and a lack of accountability have eroded public trust in law enforcement. These issues can be seen as deviations from the ethical duty of police officers to serve as public servants.
In particular, research shows that in recent years there have been several full-scale investigations of this type of misconduct, such as those in Baltimore and Ferguson (D’Souza et al., 2019). On the other hand, even in the absence of unethical behavior, the breakdown can be explained by the stressors faced by police officers, which can lead to emotional and psychological strains. A lack of support from management and peers can often exacerbate these stressors and impact officers’ ability to fulfill their roles effectively.
Finally, there is also discrimination and hostile environments within police departments. Such attitudes can also be considered manifestations of licentiousness and can prevent the community from fully trusting the police. The public witnesses instances in which personal bias and prejudice affect professional conduct, undermining their trust in the law enforcement system (D’Souza et al., 2019). Therefore, to change this perspective, it is crucial for officers to be self-reflective about how their bias can impact their work.
References
D’Souza, A., Weitzer, R., & Brunson, R. K. (2019). Federal investigations of police misconduct: A multi-city comparison. Crime, Law and Social Change, 71, 461-482.
English Standard Version Bible. (2001). ESV Online.