By: Genesis Garcia
Something that was discussed in the Zimring reading was an aggressive stop or Terry stop. These types of stops are supposed to be proactive and are supposed to be targeted towards individuals who look suspicious or threatening. However, the problem with this is that the main targets are young men who are mainly Black and Latino. It is critiqued as a way of racially profiling someone. It is also critiqued as being unfair and prejudiced.
In the article, The Impact of Stop and Frisk Policies Upon Police Legitimacy, by Tom Tyler and Jeffrey Fagan, it is shown that stop and frisks that are done “wrongly” actually hurt the police force instead of benefitting them. It is understandable why police would want to stop someone who looks suspicious and that may commit a crime, but it is important for police to do it with respect and politeness (of course if the one being stopped also cooperates). Tyler and Fagan use other research to prove that when police act rude, the attitudes of how the public feels about them become negative. Their legitimacy and credibility is reduced. Drawing from my own experience, I recently went to a retreat and one of the activities was to have everyone line up in a horizontal line. One person would ask a series of questions and depending on our answer we would have to step forward or step back. One of the questions was if we believed the police acted in a respectful manner and if help was needed, we could trust in the police. Alas, about a handful of people out of thirty stepped forward saying they agreed with the statement. While this in no way represents the general public, it does lead to questions of why the police are not trusted so much. Stop and frisks may not be the entire reason, but they definitely have something to do with the mistrust.
Police can try to garner positive reactions from the public through acting respectfully, being able to have a reason for the stop, and being sensitive to concerns. When the police act in such a manner, the community is more likely to feel secure and heard. The public also is more likely to comply with the law and be wiling to cooperate with the police. Additionally, in this article it is stressed that when coming up with policies, such as that of Terry stops, the police must consider various points. It should of course consider whether this would aid in their goal of crime suppression, but also must consider how these policies will affect the public perceives the police’s legitimacy.
What is your opinion of the Terry stops? Do you feel that if you’re ever in need of help the police are reliable to seek? Finally, do you have any other ways in which police can garner more legitimacy?
I find the issue of Terry stops very interesting. On paper, the concept of being able to search people that could potentially pose a threat to society is beneficial. With that being said, I think it is a privilege that is more often than not abused by policing authority figures. There should be a way to be more racially objective in the profiling and searching of citizens.
ReplyDelete-Eric Walbridge
I agree that there needs to be a way for Terry stops to be based on keeping citizens safe, rather than on a racial basis. However in the long run, I do believe that these frisks prevent crimes from being committed and this is the ultimate goal of these stop and frisks.
ReplyDeleteThe article link isn't working for me, but I think you bring up some interesting points regarding trust and legitimacy, and their connection to Terry stops. I definitely agree that negative interactions with police officers and a lack of courtesy will negatively affect a person's view of law-enforcement. Although I believe there is much room for improvement with levels of courtesy and respect directed to community members in the field of law-enforcement, I also recognize that there may be certain situations or circumstances that require a direct and aggressive approach, such as when they suspect a person may have just committed a crime or may be armed with a weapon. Additionally, the stressful work environment of police officers and their constant interaction with the worst of society may make it difficult for them to extend courtesy to all. Is there a way we can combat this?
ReplyDeleteI believe Terry stops can be a very valuable and effective tool when applied correctly. Based on my limited knowledge on NYC's operations, it seems that there is too much emphasis on Stop and Frisk and too much downward pressure from management to produce numbers, leading to the community outrage we're seeing. Each police department utilizes these Terry stops, but I'm sure many of them don't use them as much as NYPD. The much larger emphasis on Terry stops seen in NYC probably seems like it leads to the less-constitutional operation style compared to the other departments that use them more sparingly.
It depends on what you mean by help. Many police departments in high-crime areas are spread thin, and I don't think it would be realistic at all for them to come to your immediate aid. But I do believe most police departments and officers would be reliable to seek for help in other situations.
One way that police departments can garner more legitimacy, aside from being more respectful, is what a lot of police departments are doing: having a social media presence. They often provide community members with valuable information, answer questions, and publicize many positive acts by the police. I think this has some sort of positive effect
When I think of stop and frisk and hear accounts of individual's experiences I usually think of young male minorities being stopped. However,a friend of mine and his friends, all white, preppy looking males, drove from our middle class Orange County suburb to a neighborhood near Long Beach known for not being a "good" neighborhood. They were stopped crossing the street by two police officers asking,"What are you doing here and do you mind emptying your pockets." The boys did because in actuality they had been visiting a friend and later told me they had nothing to hide. When they asked the officers why they were stopped the officers replied," You don't look like you belong here and we've had issues from kids like you coming here to buy drugs." My friend didn't seem too traumatized from the experience nor did he seem to have a problem with the fact that he was profiled as a rich white drug user. He said the officers were very polite and just doing their job. Its interesting noting what a different perception he had versus the account we heard in class.
ReplyDeleteThe terry stops are a great way of preventing crime before it happens but only when placed in strategic points, and the right protocol is followed. The police are sometimes reliable depending on the issue one needs assistance. Creation of more activities that allow the police to mingle with the citizens can be a great way to improve their relevance in the society and make them an option for one to consider when in need.
ReplyDelete-Sehun Lee
This article i so interesting because it makes a lot of sense. Thinking about my past encounters with the police, none of which were negative, my initial feelings toward the police officer is entirely dependent on the way he treats me. I respect him as an officer and as a person way more if he treats me fair and relatively calmly. His legitimacy is way higher when he act this way as well, and i am more willing to communicate with him. This statistic should be publicized more so police forces will emphasize this into their daily criminal encounters, because in the en they are only hurting themselves.
ReplyDelete-Derek Campbell