Public distrust has been a constant theme in the police department. It is feared that police are preoccupied with making arrests. Fear of imprisonment is one reason why someone might be arrested. Many people are not aware that police officers’ purpose is to keep order within a community. Even though there may be concerns about abuses of power by police officers, it is important that the relationship between the police and society remains strong.
This documentary shows how Squad Four, Toronto Police Department, has partnered successfully with the community. In the documentary, one of the key themes is that it’s important to define what the police do in our society. Arizona Public Media (2016) made the observation that many community members were friendly following interactions with police officers. Rukus et al. (2018) identified this issue by pointing out that many police officers are restricted in their work. Because of this, fear and misinformation are often caused by the social distance between police officers and citizens. People would see that the goal of police is to make arrests, and not limit themselves to what they can do. The video shows that the Tulsa police interact with people casually. This helps people realize these are ordinary human beings. This is important to reduce the perception that police officers are heartless. It is possible that some police firearms may not be intended to be used for shooting. Informal encounters with members of the public can show that people have a positive perception about the police.
Public relations should not be used to promote interactions between police and the community. Viewers will see that the documentary was made in order to bring the community into crime prevention. The public may be concerned if they see the scheme as an avenue for security agents to obtain information. Rukus et. al. 2018, 2018. It is not appropriate for the police to seek out specific information from general citizens. Participation by the United States police in corporate social responsibility initiatives might prove crucial.
A system where the police department isn’t viewed as an abstract entity would be a good idea. It should instead focus on the welfare of people and not just security concerns. This idea is designed to get widespread support from the public in favor of community policing. The film shows that the majority of problems are due to a lack in public trust in the police. It is important to build trust in the police and not rely on certain relationships to gain information.