Police systems & practices

Question

Discuss whether or not it would be beneficial for the United States to have either a centralized law enforcement agency, continue with decentralization, or have universal standards. Consider that each agency has its own policies and policies often differ between cities and even states. Answer the question through the lens of the current issues involving law enforcement in this country.

Answer 1

Law enforcement in the United States depends on decentralization at almost every level except for the federal level. A centralized law enforcement agency would not be as efficient at managing the problems of local communities; what is good for one small suburban community in South Texas would not likely be good for an urban neighborhood in Chicago.

In our modern world, people depend on law enforcement to be problem solvers, not just crime fighters. Police often handle non-criminal domestic issues at homes, public service requests, etc. Officers are expected to be one with the community, by centralizing all officers into one agency, one policy manual, one set of directives, local police officers would be less able to handle local problems as they would within a local agency that is designed for their community.