Question

In the past six months, there has been a spike in the number of citizen complaints in your community alleging inappropriate use of force by police against minorities. Local interest groups and churches are demanding data concerning police use of force as well as a review of policies regarding same. As your police department’s community liaison, you are asked to respond to these demands. What approaches will you take?

Answer 1

THIS IS NOT A QUESTION OF PSYCHOLOGY, ANYWAYS:

The spike in the citizen complaint could be because of several reason. Hence the the direct and indirect approaches could be avoided. The data could be collected from the police department and community by direct interviewing and indirectly the secondary resources like Newspapers, Magazines etc could be used. The data in regards of external interference could also be collected.

The Police Department would substantiate the information through documented cases. This would help in finding out the categories under which the cases were recorded.

The community would help in finding out the reason of spike in the cases. The newspapers would also help in gathering some important and vital facts.

Following questions would be addressed, by using the above methods.

Is it because the police department is acting more proactively? Has there been some new appointments in the police department. If yes, then are the new appointees more strict OR are they more corrupt? Has there been a change in the rules and regulations? Has there been any new infiltrators in the community? What corrective methods are being adopted by the Police Department? etc.