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Challenges for Law Enforcement1Running head: CHALLENGES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENTChallenges for Law Enforcement: Moving from a Paramilitary Past to a CommunityOriented FutureJake J. Koppenhaver Criminal Justice CapstoneProfessor ScottJuly 24, 2007
 
Challenges for Law Enforcement2Challenges for Law Enforcement: Moving from a Paramilitary Past to a Community OrientedFutureLaw enforcement is similar to many other long-standing legacies. The members of itscommunity are proud that they take part in a field of service such as police work and its support;Families of those involved are aware of the risks yet still support their officers in any way theycan; Its administration and ranks are highly resistant to change. Society is in a constant state of flux, often forward-moving, and need their law enforcement agencies to adapt with themsocially. This is the only way that the needs of the community can be served by their lawenforcement agencies. Many believe that paramilitary structures do not cater to the communityas much as is required, and with focus in many agencies being turned toward the CommunityOriented Policing (also known as C.O.P.) one can see a looming question over the future of  police work: How does the current paramilitary structure cater to the philosophies of community policing, and ultimately serve the community?The organization of law enforcement agencies have been largely paramilitary-based intheir operation since they were formed, and understandably so. As far back as biblical times thereigning government’s military was tasked with the general peacekeeping and enforcementduties held by our modern law enforcement agencies. The most prominent of history’s lawenforcement bodies was that of the Roman Empire. It was not until the Fifth Century thatgoverning states in the Roman Empire were tasked with enforcement duties (Annely, 2006).Only within the last few hundred years have law enforcement agencies departed from traditionalmilitary powers. In 19
th
century Europe the first modern law enforcement agencies were formedwith the aid of Sir Robert Peel, however they kept much of the same philosophy from their military roots which showed in their rank system, authorization to use force while performingduties, etc. These philosophies, as is evident in all militaries of the world past and present, are
 
Challenges for Law Enforcement3designed to streamline operations by managing bodies scientifically and thereby increasingefficiency, all through a hierarchical command network (Roberg & Kuykendall, 1997, p.29). Thetraditional characteristics of the paramilitary control model include a central command structure(rank scales with rigid differences which answer to the rank above and ultimately perform for thegoverning body), terminology and procedures similar to that of the military with commands andorders disseminated from higher ranks, strong focus on policy, procedure, and rules, andresistance to challenge by the entire system (LaGrange, 1998, p. 318).According to Roberg and Kuykendall (1997, p. 29) the adoption of such a system was aneffort to help produce more professional police agencies through previously successful controlmeans, however it became evident that it had more or less resulted in a highly bureaucraticorganization. Many find the paramilitary model to be a hindrance to law enforcement agencieswhen it comes to serving the changing needs of their respective communities. Studies have foundthat the model often fails in trying to promote open and constructive communication horizontally(from outside sources) as well as laterally (from the lower ranks which comprise the agency).The paramilitary model also has been known to stifle individual creativity within theorganization and promotes a lack of flexibility and resistance to change (Peak, 1997, p. 114).It is important to note that while police agencies do not exhibit overly militaristic qualities ineach of their practices, that the military concept of efficiency and resource management is oftenthe source of those habits
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Take for example the three main designs which agencies use to help boost productivity: functional, place, and time. Functional design involves allocating resources based on a specialized need. This characteristic is evident in most large agencies which typicallyhave several specialized units to combat certain crimes in the major metropolitan setting: Gangunits, SWAT teams, youth task forces, narcotics divisions, traffic enforcement and aggressivedriver apprehension teams, sex offender tracking detectives, and school resource officers
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