Final Thoughts – Examining Policing Options to Enhance Transparency and Community Trust

Abstract

There is a clear disconnect between the perceptions that members of police organizations generally hold of themselves and the viewpoints posed by members of the public being served. These variations in opinion are even more pronounced when different socio-economic classes and minority and under-represented groups are examined. This obviously is disturbing, since police officials are public servants and the inherent goals of the police profession, as outlined by Sir Robert Peel, were aimed at ensuring organizational compliance with community demands and should therefore be reliant on public input, particularly into priorities and policy. This epilogue will examine these issues in greater detail and reflection.