Deck 7: Policing America: Issues and Ethics

Question 1

In 2011, 56% of the public had "a great deal" or "quite a lot"
Of confidence in the police. What percentage of blacks had "a great deal"
Or "quite a lot"
Of confidence in the police?

A) 15%
B) 27%
C) 43%
D) 59%

Answer 1

43%

Question 2

Your textbook identifies three successful police recruitment programs. Which of the following is NOT one of these programs?

A) public safety officer programs
B) high school tech prep programs
C) police cadet programs
D) police corps

Answer 2

police corps

Question 3

Your textbook identifies some of the characteristics of a police chief's job. Which of the following is NOT one of these?

A) A typical police chief rarely serves longer than 10 years.
B) Police chiefs must be long-term local residents in order to fully understand the needs of the community.
C) Police chiefs must be politically savvy in order to survive.
D) Much of the political controversy and many of the social problems in major cities and counties end up involving the police department and its chief.

Answer 3

Police chiefs must be long-term local residents in order to fully understand the needs of the community.

Question 4

Your textbook identifies three of the characteristics of a typical sheriff. Which of the following is NOT one of these?

A) Sheriffs sometimes have statewide jurisdiction, especially in states with smaller populations.
B) Sheriffs often have a strong idea of the priorities of a community.
C) Sheriffs wield more influence with prosecutors and in the legislature than do chiefs of police.
D) Sheriffs must be good politicians

Question 5

In 2007, what was the average beginning salary for entry-level police officers in departments with collective bargaining?

A) $19.515
B) $28,376
C) $39,263
D) $51,401

Question 6

As of 2007, approximately what percentage of the sworn officers in the nation's police departments were males?

A) 41%
B) 63%
C) 88%
D) 95%

Question 7

As of November 2012, how many states had laws prohibiting racial profiling by law enforcement officers?

A) 17
B) 28
C) 39
D) 50

Question 8

According to a recent survey, approximately what percentage of the estimated 40 million people who experienced face-to-face police contact during 2008 were the recipients of force or threat of force by the police?

A) 1.9%
B) 5.4%
C) 12.2%
D) 19.9%

Question 9

More than 75% of police-use-of-force incidents in 2008 involved what type of action by the police?

A) staring menacingly at the person
B) shouting at the person
C) pushing or grabbing the person
D) pointing a gun at the person

Question 10

Nearly 84% of persons who experienced force or threat of force in 2008 felt that the police acted improperly. What percentage of them filed a complaint against the police?

A) 6%
B) 14%
C) 34%
D) 57%

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a type of police misconduct identified by Ellywn Stoddard?

A) chiseling
B) extortion
C) bribery
D) panhandling

Question 12

A recent survey found that ________ of employees report experiencing three or more indicators of stress sometimes, often, or very often.

A) 21%
B) 41%
C) 51%
D) 71%

Question 13

Data support the contention that minorities, especially blacks, experience traffic stops at rates substantially higher than rates for whites, and that when the police stop minorities, they are more likely than whites to be searched and arrested.

Question 14

Jason, a student intern with the local police department, has been tasked by the Chief of Police to assist him in establishing a new recruiting process. The Chief is very aware of the public's concern over a lack of minority representation on the force. Here are the current figures for population and police:
Population of town:
40% Caucasian
30% Hispanic
20% Asian
10% Black
Current Police Department
90% Caucasian
10% Black
Additionally, there are no females in the department.
The Chief knows that the community college has just graduated a large number of criminal justice students with a diversity composition of:
50% Hispanic
30% Asian
10% Caucasian
10% Black
The Chief wants Jason's views on how to progress with the recruitment and assure the public that the police department will meet the needs of the community. Based on your text's discussion of the police and the public, as well as police recruitment and selection, identify three major issues that Jason should present to the Chief.

Question 15

Officer Cool is responding to a noise complaint from neighbors near a local community swimming pool. It is 8 PM and the pool closed at 6 PM, and Officer Cool discovers there are three teenage boys swimming in the pool. There is also a hole in the fence surrounding the pool. As Officer Cool approaches the three swimmers, he asks them to get out of the pool and produce identification. Each teenager complies, and one of them states that they entered through the open hole in the fence and were just cooling off. Officer Cool asks dispatch to contact the community association, and it is confirmed that the hole in the fence was already there and should have been patched. The community association just wants the boys to leave the pool and stay off the property. Officer Cool's police department has a policy that patrol officers may use their discretion in handling juvenile complaints. Using the qualities of an officer and use of discretion, what are the options for Officer Cool?