This weeks readings about fear and power really got me thinking. I am planning on a career in law enforcement in some area or another and the reading relates directly to this. Authority is a legitimate domination over a group whereas power is simply a domination over a group. As law enforcement whether it is local police or federal agents, there is a code of conduct. There are more and more cases where this code is broke and authority turns to power over people. One of the readings talks about Police joining in on hate crimes against the immigrants in the town. This is appalling. I think that there are cops out there that are in the career just to bully people and impose fear into people. I think that it can be a slippery slope when someone is given authority. Problems can arise when someone sees themselves not as an enforcer of the law but rather the law. I think that this gives Law enforcement officers a stigma that they are all just power hungry people looking to get innocent people in trouble.
As far as my media I would just like you to Google "police abuse of power"
https://www.google.com/search?q=police+&rlz=1C1BXPB_enUS509US509&oq=police+&aqs=chrome..69i57.6838j0j1&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8#q=police+abuse+of+power
It is sad that people who are there to protect and serve can do things like this. Sure some things may be out of context, and the media can have bias opinions but no doubt there are people who abuse power.
I found your post interesting as I am also going into law enforcement. I also wrote about authority and power related to policing. I covered how police power is good as long is it used in the right way and is not abused. There are more and more police officers out there that are abusing their authority and power which is just wrong. Hopefully you and me both wont give in to this power and be lawful truthful police officers.
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