Should Police Officers be required to live where they work?

[San Lumen]

A recent study has shown that many police officers in the United States don't live in the communities they serve.

Here's a link to the article: http://www.citylab.com/crime/2014/08/sh ... rk/378858/

I think police officers, firefighters and all other government workers should be required to live where they work. Not living in the same community creates a disconnect between the public and the police. Perhaps it leads to some of the problems with police in the the communities they serve. They don't have the same connection as someone who lives in the community. Some might say its unconstitutional to force someone to live somewhere however New York City has a residency requirement for city workers. Is that unconstitutional?

Your thoughts?

[Kouralia]

Could open them up to reprisal attacks if their homes/families are noted by criminal elements.

[The balkens]

Could open them up to reprisal attacks if their homes/families are noted by criminal elements.

quite.

[Confederate People of the United States]

Live wherever you want, as long as you can make it to work on time.

[Pope Joan]

Yes they should, and so should teachers.

Of course you are going to care more about the outcome of your work if you have to live with it day by day.

Send those carpetbaggers packing.

[Ostroeuropa]

Could open them up to reprisal attacks if their homes/families are noted by criminal elements.

It could also tie them to the community and make them more respected/known amongst the population and LESS open to attacks.

[Vetalia]

It could also tie them to the community and make them more respected/known amongst the population and LESS open to attacks.

I think that'd certainly apply to the non-criminals but for those who would seriously attempt reprisal against a police officer, I don't think it'd make a whit of difference.

[Shilya]

Could open them up to reprisal attacks if their homes/families are noted by criminal elements.

It could also tie them to the community and make them more respected/known amongst the population and LESS open to attacks.

Unfortunatly, they have to deal with the least reasonable members of our society, so I don't see that working.

[Ostroeuropa]

It could also tie them to the community and make them more respected/known amongst the population and LESS open to attacks.

I think that'd certainly apply to the non-criminals but for those who would seriously attempt reprisal against a police officer, I don't think it'd make a whit of difference.

I dunno man.
Even criminals would hesitate, because if they hurt a respected community figure, it wouldn't just be a cop.
It'd make the local population dislike them.
Criminals are members of the community too.

Currently, ONLY criminals, not cops, are members of the community. (Local one I mean.)

[Rebellious Fishermen]

Why would we want to make it harder for people to take up these occupations when they already get paid so little?

[Ostroeuropa]

It could also tie them to the community and make them more respected/known amongst the population and LESS open to attacks.

Unfortunatly, they have to deal with the least reasonable members of our society, so I don't see that working.

Those people are succeptible to peer pressure.

It's all well and good to knife a copper from out of town.

But if your mom knows him and your uncle is a friend of his, it gets a little harder.

They may be violent and such, but they still have people they care about the opinions of.

[Svatantra Mulukama]

I can see the benefits of doing such a thing, but this would make it harder for prospective officers to find employment in a field that's already tough to find jobs in. So, no.

[Shilya]

Unfortunatly, they have to deal with the least reasonable members of our society, so I don't see that working.

Those people are succeptible to peer pressure.

It's all well and good to knife a copper from out of town.

But if your mom knows him and your uncle is a friend of his, it gets a little harder.

They may be violent and such, but they still have people they care about the opinions of.

That opens up a far worse cup of tea: favoured treatment by the police. One hand washes the other, you don't stab your uncles friend, and in turn, your uncles friend turns a blind eye towards you. The neutrality of the police would be greatly compromised.

[Gauthier]

Could open them up to reprisal attacks if their homes/families are noted by criminal elements.

Because criminals that want to get even with police don't track them down to where they live if they're in another community. *nod nod*

[Ostroeuropa]

Those people are succeptible to peer pressure.

It's all well and good to knife a copper from out of town.

But if your mom knows him and your uncle is a friend of his, it gets a little harder.

They may be violent and such, but they still have people they care about the opinions of.

That opens up a far worse cup of tea: favoured treatment by the police. One hand washes the other, you don't stab your uncles friend, and in turn, your uncles friend turns a blind eye towards you. The neutrality of the police would be greatly compromised.

Unlikely to happen, since it's the cops job to catch the criminal.
It isn't the criminals job to stab a policeman.

[Cyrisnia]

That opens up a far worse cup of tea: favoured treatment by the police. One hand washes the other, you don't stab your uncles friend, and in turn, your uncles friend turns a blind eye towards you. The neutrality of the police would be greatly compromised.

Unlikely to happen, since it's the cops job to catch the criminal.
It isn't the criminals job to stab a policeman.

I dunno man, Cops and Robbers says otherwise....

[Shilya]

That opens up a far worse cup of tea: favoured treatment by the police. One hand washes the other, you don't stab your uncles friend, and in turn, your uncles friend turns a blind eye towards you. The neutrality of the police would be greatly compromised.

Unlikely to happen, since it's the cops job to catch the criminal.
It isn't the criminals job to stab a policeman.

Sure. Corruption in the police force is completely unheard of. Once a community member puts on the uniform, it makes him magically totally neutral and lets him forget his feelings about all those people he personally knows.

[Ostroeuropa]

Unlikely to happen, since it's the cops job to catch the criminal.
It isn't the criminals job to stab a policeman.

Sure. Corruption in the police force is completely unheard of. Once a community member puts on the uniform, it makes him magically totally neutral and lets him forget his feelings about all those people he personally knows.

And obviously, this is impossible currently and the police couldn't just say to whoever covers their hometown
"That's my friend jim."

[Shilya]

Sure. Corruption in the police force is completely unheard of. Once a community member puts on the uniform, it makes him magically totally neutral and lets him forget his feelings about all those people he personally knows.

And obviously, this is impossible currently and the police couldn't just say to whoever covers their hometown
"That's my friend jim."

That does happen. But it's far less likely to happen when the police force is rather large and you simply don't know everyone patroling in your community, and especially don't have the time to introduce them all to your pals and family.

[Ostroeuropa]

And obviously, this is impossible currently and the police couldn't just say to whoever covers their hometown
"That's my friend jim."

That does happen. But it's far less likely to happen when the police force is rather large and you simply don't know everyone patroling in your community, and especially don't have the time to introduce them all to your pals and family.

If cops are determined to be corrupt, they'll find a way.

(Incidentally, I think Skitter has rubbed off on me. I wrote that first as "If a cop is determined to be a cop." AllCopsAreCorrupt trope .)

[Shilya]

That does happen. But it's far less likely to happen when the police force is rather large and you simply don't know everyone patroling in your community, and especially don't have the time to introduce them all to your pals and family.

If cops are determined to be corrupt, they'll find a way.

(Incidentally, I think Skitter has rubbed off on me. I wrote that first as "If a cop is determined to be a cop." AllCopsAreCorrupt trope .)

Of course, but there's no reason to tempt them more than necessary.

[Frazers]

God no. I already waste enough time checking under my car in a safe area tears after never mind living in bandit country

[Neutraligon]

So, how would well off neighborhoods get policed considering how little those in that profession are paid.

[The Sotoan Union]

I think that'd certainly apply to the non-criminals but for those who would seriously attempt reprisal against a police officer, I don't think it'd make a whit of difference.

I dunno man.
Even criminals would hesitate, because if they hurt a respected community figure, it wouldn't just be a cop.
It'd make the local population dislike them.
Criminals are members of the community too.

Currently, ONLY criminals, not cops, are members of the community. (Local one I mean.)

Just because they live in the same community as you doesn't mean that they are respected by everyone in your community. I don't know every person in my neighborhood or their jobs, let alone in my entire area.

[Alexanda]

They should, at least, live near the community, so they can arrive quickly, should the need arise.