Duties of the State Police

List the problems faced by today’s police departments that were also present during the early days of policing. Distinguish between the duties of the state police, sheriffs’ departments, and local police departments.

Do you believe that the general public has greater respect for the police today than in the past? If so why? If not, why not? What are some of the technological advances that should help the police solve more crimes? What are the dangers of these advances? Should the primary police role be law enforcement or community service? Explain.

Should a police chief be permitted to promote an officer with special skills to a supervisory position, or should all officers be forced to spend “time in rank”? Explain your answer. Do the advantages of proactive policing outweigh the disadvantages? Explain. Explain the concept of broken windows policing. Why might it be successful?