In contemporary societies, the current generation has lost respect for police authorities. People have developed a disrespectful attitude towards the police because they do not value their work anymore. They should be aware of the fact that police officers are human too and as such, they have feelings which can be hurt as a result of bad treatment. People have blatantly disrespected and openly vocalized their hatred towards police officers who have done nothing wrong but serve and protect their citizens ( Brown, 2012 ). They risk their lives for society’s sake and as such, they need to be appreciated and respected. Despite such a sacrifice, people thank them by rioting, badmouthing and insulting them.
The media is responsible for society’s inability to recognize police authorities as moral and upright systems. Many stories in the news often involve police officers who engage in horrible acts that paint a bad picture of the profession. They do not cover stories that portray a more accurate image of police officers because such stories would not be considered news ( Mac, 2016 ). The media does not balance negative occurrences with positive ones, thus creating a hostile environment for people in the profession. Law enforcement has been regarded as an authority that has been started for malicious purposes.
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We have never heard of police officers killed in the line of duty at times when they were protecting the community ( Mac, 2016 ). Instead, we only hear cases of police brutality in the media. Every day they wake up and put their uniform, they say goodbye to their families knowing that it may be the last time they see each other. Consequently, this has created a stigma and increased the tension between citizens and the police. The end result is that communities have developed a pervasive us versus them ideology. People need to stand by them and give them the support they need.
References
Brown, L. P. (2012). Policing in the 21st century: Community policing . Bloomington: AuthorHouse.
Mac, D. H. (2016). The war on cops: How the new attack on law and order makes everyone less safe . London: Encounter Books
