Problems, Challenges, and the Future of Policing in America

Law enforcement agencies hold significant responsibilities in ensuring that all people are well-protected. Although best practices traditionally drove their strategies and operations, police officers must obtain new technological skills and know-how to use electronic devices in their daily activities effectively. Law enforcers should respond and relate well to the dynamic and diverse community to improve policing in the United States of America (USA). When it comes to hate crimes and domestic terrorism, they should investigate and address all associated issues. In particular, the USA's future requires law enforcers to learn how to use technology and apply it in solving various problems and challenges that might arise in the highly dynamic technological environment.

Answer 1

Best Practices Used by Law Enforcement Agencies to Ensure that Officers are Trained in All Aspects of Understanding and Manipulating Technology and Electronic Devices

For many decades, policing and technology have always been interconnected. For example, police officers started using two-way radios, automobiles, and telephones a long time ago. Currently, technology is advancing rapidly, and it can be seen via the propagation of wireless and mobile technology, advanced analytics, audio and visual technologies, artificial intelligence, and high-powered computing (Strom, 2017). Law enforcement agencies have implemented various technological advancements to improve the outcome and efficiency of crime eradication activities. One of the law enforcement agencies' practices through funding from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is researching the new technologies that can help police officers perform their duties effectively and efficiently. For example, proper analysis is done to determine, select, and implement new technology to solve numerous policing problems. The use of technological devices in policing is expected to increase in the future. Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies are significantly involved in searching for the proper technologies and electronic devices for use by police officers. For example, 96% of law enforcement agencies in the USA have implemented over one of the eighteen most commonly used technologies in their line duty, such as social media (68%), car cameras (70%), and information-sharing platforms (68%) (Strom, 2017). As a result, the implementation of technology in policing is crucial in helping police officers to fight against crime. 

Police officers are now working alongside technology experts to understand how the electronic devices they use are crucial in collecting relevant data that can be used to address crime. Many law enforcement agencies have acquired and are using body-worn cameras to see how police officers handle various situations, such as arresting criminals, at the community level. That way, law enforcers can solve issues, such as racial discrimination and the use of excessive force during an arrest. Additionally, police officers are trained to use facial recognition software to search and apprehend criminals through video surveillance (Fritsvold, 2021). The geographic information system (GIS), cell phone tracking software, biometrics, artificial intelligence, thermal imaging, drones, and automatic license plate recognition are among other technologies that law enforcers are using to fight against crime in the community.

Answer 2

Ways in Which Police Officers are Responding to a Changing and Diverse Community

Police officers must learn how to create and maintain a good relationship with highly dynamic and diverse communities. One way law enforcers have responded to the changing community diversity is using technologies, such as body cameras, to monitor police officers' behaviors while interacting with the public. For example, during cases of police brutality, body cameras have been significant tools for retrieving evidence and addressing these issues by determining whether there is justification for the excessive use of force. Second, senior police officers are sensitized on the importance of avoiding pride and breaking the rules since it facilitates the acquisition of such behaviors by the recruits, hence the vicious cycle of police brutality or disrespect when handling diverse communities (Miles-Johnson, 2019). Third, law enforcement agencies are training police officers on the significance of community policing, which requires the creation and maintenance of proper relationships with citizens. That way, law enforcers relate well with members of the diverse community and prevent various problems or conflicts that adversely influence policing in the USA.

What Police Agencies Can do to Improve the Trust Between Diverse Members of the Community

Trust is essential to ensure public cooperation with law enforcers and, in turn, fosters police legitimacy (Miles-Johnson & Pickering, 2018). The first thing that would help police officers improve trust between them and diverse community members is effective communication. Police officers should listen actively to individuals' problems, perform proper investigations, and solve these issues. Second, law enforcement agencies should call sensitive cops on racial, ethnic, and cultural factors that should be observed to relate well with the public. For example, when it comes to white police officers, they should refrain from harassing innocent black people due to the perception that this demographic ranks the highest in criminal activities. Criminal suspects should only be apprehended when there is proper evidence that they have committed or engaged in illegal activities (Miles-Johnson & Pickering, 2018). Third, police officers should meet with diverse community members regularly. They should interact with the public during their patrol and initiate public awareness campaigns to fight against criminal gangs in various regions. Law enforcers should als...