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5 Reactive Policing of Gangs: Cops as “Warriors”
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Ross Deuchar
Ross DeucharSearch for this author in:
Abstract
In this chapter, we build on the previous discussion by exploring the “warrior” mindset in policing. This mindset is reflected in the highly controversial militaristic strategies that have characterized contemporary policing in many of America’s disadvantaged crime-prone communities. Residents in these locations are often the recipients of disorder-enforcement, SQF, and zero-tolerance crackdowns. The conceptualization of warrior policing underlines the concern that officers who see themselves principally as warriors ignore the inherent consequences of forcible approaches in these communities. Here we define the contrasting roles of police as guardians and as warriors, followed by a critique of warrior policing and the impact of aggressive, and often reactive, enforcement strategies. We also explore the history of militarism and aggressive enforcement in the US, along with further insights from interviews with our sample of police officers and from our participant observation during deployments.
In the 1960s, psychologist Abraham Maslow stated that “it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail.” (Maslow, 1966, p15). Maslow’s hammer refers to a form of confirmation bias involving an overreliance on a familiar tool. When someone acquires a tool or a skill, there is a tendency to be influenced by its function and utility, which leads one to see opportunities to use that tool or skill everywhere. There is also a tendency to see the world through the narrow lens of one’s profession. Policing is not the only occupation that is susceptible to this bias, but due to the high stakes associated with police work, the overreliance on the use of force is an ongoing concern.
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Abstract
In this chapter, we build on the previous discussion by exploring the “warrior” mindset in policing. This mindset is reflected in the highly controversial militaristic strategies that have characterized contemporary policing in many of America’s disadvantaged crime-prone communities. Residents in these locations are often the recipients of disorder-enforcement, SQF, and zero-tolerance crackdowns. The conceptualization of warrior policing underlines the concern that officers who see themselves principally as warriors ignore the inherent consequences of forcible approaches in these communities. Here we define the contrasting roles of police as guardians and as warriors, followed by a critique of warrior policing and the impact of aggressive, and often reactive, enforcement strategies. We also explore the history of militarism and aggressive enforcement in the US, along with further insights from interviews with our sample of police officers and from our participant observation during deployments.
In the 1960s, psychologist Abraham Maslow stated that “it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail.” (Maslow, 1966, p15). Maslow’s hammer refers to a form of confirmation bias involving an overreliance on a familiar tool. When someone acquires a tool or a skill, there is a tendency to be influenced by its function and utility, which leads one to see opportunities to use that tool or skill everywhere. There is also a tendency to see the world through the narrow lens of one’s profession. Policing is not the only occupation that is susceptible to this bias, but due to the high stakes associated with police work, the overreliance on the use of force is an ongoing concern.
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Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of Tables and Boxes iv
- Acknowledgments v
- Foreword vi
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Introduction
- Policing, Communities, and the “Legitimacy Crisis”: Context and Empirical Approaches 3
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Police–Community Relations in a New Era of Accountability and Change
- High-Profile Shootings, the Media, and Police Legitimacy 21
- The “Ferguson Effect” and Emergence of “De-policing” 37
- Proactive Policing of Gangs: Cops as “Guardians” 57
- Reactive Policing of Gangs: Cops as “Warriors” 81
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Practitioner and Youth Insights on Police–Community Relations
- Police as “Guardians” and “Warriors”: Non-Law Enforcement Insights 103
- The Post-Ferguson Era: The Lived Experiences of Young Men in Racial Minority Communities 129
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Conclusion
- Future Perspectives on Police–Community Relations 155
- Epilogue 169
- Notes 175
- References 179
- Index 213
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Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of Tables and Boxes iv
- Acknowledgments v
- Foreword vi
-
Introduction
- Policing, Communities, and the “Legitimacy Crisis”: Context and Empirical Approaches 3
-
Police–Community Relations in a New Era of Accountability and Change
- High-Profile Shootings, the Media, and Police Legitimacy 21
- The “Ferguson Effect” and Emergence of “De-policing” 37
- Proactive Policing of Gangs: Cops as “Guardians” 57
- Reactive Policing of Gangs: Cops as “Warriors” 81
-
Practitioner and Youth Insights on Police–Community Relations
- Police as “Guardians” and “Warriors”: Non-Law Enforcement Insights 103
- The Post-Ferguson Era: The Lived Experiences of Young Men in Racial Minority Communities 129
-
Conclusion
- Future Perspectives on Police–Community Relations 155
- Epilogue 169
- Notes 175
- References 179
- Index 213
