TERRENCE M. CUNNINGHAM

Each law enforcement agency has a culture that has been shaped by the men and women who have served in these agencies, the agencies’ past and present leaders, and the events the agencies and officers have responded to over the years. These cultures often represent the finest aspects of policing—duty, loyalty, service, and bravery. However, there are other cultural elements that can be problematic and undercut an agency’s relationship with the citizens it serves and weaken the strength of the vital community-police partnership. These elements can include a resistance to change; an insular perspective; a lack of accountability; and the adoption of an “us versus them” mentality in community-police relationships.

Each law enforcement agency has a culture that has been shaped by the men and women who have served in these agencies, the agencies’ past and present leaders, and the events the agencies and officers have responded to over the years. These cultures often represent the finest aspects of policing—duty, loyalty, service, and bravery. However, there are other cultural elements that can be problematic and undercut an agency’s relationship with the citizens it serves and weaken the strength of the vital community-police partnership. These elements can include a resistance to change; an insular perspective; a lack of accountability; and the adoption of an “us versus them” mentality in community-police relationships.