Thin Blue Line Essay

Law Enforcement
“The thin blue line” is a phrase that many people have heard of yet do not fully understand. It is a name that applies to law enforcement officers and their essential role in society. It shows support to the living law enforcement officers and commemorates the fallen ones. It is usually presented as any black shape or object with a blue line through the middle. The half above the blue line represents the general public and law abiding citizens, and the half below the blue line represents the criminals. The thin blue line symbolizes the officers. The idea behind it is that the police officers are the only thing separating the public from the criminal element of society (Flosi 2016). They work tirelessly to keep these two groups

The majority of departments only require a high school diploma. Although a college education is not a requirement, it can greatly increase one’s chances of getting hired. A degree in criminal justice or criminology would be very beneficial, but an associate or bachelor's degree in any department gives a person the best chance of advancement within his or her specific department. In fact, most higher positions such as chief of police require a bachelor’s degree or higher. Besides this, an individual who is going into law enforcement will need to attend a police

The primary duty of a police officer is to protect the public (Duties of a Police Officer. 2015.). To accomplish this task, police officers are assigned specific job duties on a daily basis, which vary depending on the size and type of their department. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, common duties of a police officer include patrolling designated areas, answering calls for help, enforcing laws, arresting suspected criminals, issuing citations, testifying in court and conducting traffic stops. Police officers also complete detailed reports regarding incidents after all traffic stops or house calls (Duties of a Police Officer.