Examining Police Service Delivery: An Introduction and Overview

Abstract

Police roles and functions have always been controversial. Perhaps that has never more been the case than the ensuing scrutiny of police service following the May 2020 death of an African-American, George Floyd, at the hands of the police in Minneapolis, Minnesota; this singular occurrence launched peaceful protests and even violent riots around the world. Who are the police? What should they do? How should they do it? These fundamental questions are not merely rhetorical; indeed, they have plagued the field since its inception. And certainly, these questions may be reduced to a simple consideration: how are the police to deliver services to the public—especially given the tremendous power and authority (including the application of deadly force) allotted to them around the world? This book attempts to bring focus to that single question. It will address the question by examining policing in several ways and venues, and four general approaches: in Europe; the United States and Canada; several broad global perspectives; and in terms of theory, research, and practice. This unique insight will be guided by more than two dozen experts in their respective field. This volume provides insights for both academics and practitioners; regarding the latter, as Michael S. Scott indicated in the Foreword, police leaders who only consider the experiences of police organizations of their own area, size, or political system will be deprived lessons learned in other entities within the law enforcement profession. Finally, it should be emphasized that we can only speak to what is and has been in terms of police service delivery; we cannot predict what police service will actually be in 10–20 years, or even in 5–10 years, given the current global upheaval and outrage concerning policing methods and practices, particularly as it relates to the use of force.