Development of police procedures as portrayed in the reality television series Cops - Case study from Florida
TIHVERÄINEN, TERO (2013)
TIHVERÄINEN, TERO
2013
Sosiologia - Sociology
Yhteiskunta- ja kulttuuritieteiden yksikkö - School of Social Sciences and Humanities
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2013-10-21
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:uta-201310301541
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:uta-201310301541
Tiivistelmä
This is a case study which explores whether the reality television series Cops portrays a procedural change in the way officers work in Florida. This change is being studied in two different settings: 1) Change in procedures in the way police officers use force which includes a comparison between two drug sting operations. In addition, this thesis explores whether officers have become more aggressive and cautious in different scenes. 2) This thesis also explores how officers communicate with suspects and other citizens and officers´ background and reflective talk.
The analysis was done by watching a total of 18 episodes which included 30 scenes from the reality television series Cops. The episodes were all from the state of Florida. The chosen episodes were from the years 1995 1997 and 2009 2011. From the 30 scenes two drug sting scenes were specially chosen for a comparison of police procedures.
The results revealed the change in how officers saw their work. In the 1995 1997 scenes officers saw themselves as crime fighters and felt that their job was extremely dangerous. In the 2009 2011 episodes officers portrayed their job as being protectors of the community and presented positive aspects of their job. The results were quite the opposite when examining how officers used force in the episodes. In the 1995 1997 episodes officers were more relaxed in scenes and presented less physical force against suspects. This was especially the case when officers handcuffed suspects. In the 2009 2011 scenes officers were more cautious when entering the scenes and more often handcuffed the suspects even for petty offences. In addition, officers used more physical force towards suspects. Some of these changes give evidence that strategies from the ideology of community policing has been implemented in the work of police. The analysis also suggests that the actions of officers in the 2009 2011 scenes were in accordance with the Tampa Police department´s standard operating procedures manual.
The analysis was done by watching a total of 18 episodes which included 30 scenes from the reality television series Cops. The episodes were all from the state of Florida. The chosen episodes were from the years 1995 1997 and 2009 2011. From the 30 scenes two drug sting scenes were specially chosen for a comparison of police procedures.
The results revealed the change in how officers saw their work. In the 1995 1997 scenes officers saw themselves as crime fighters and felt that their job was extremely dangerous. In the 2009 2011 episodes officers portrayed their job as being protectors of the community and presented positive aspects of their job. The results were quite the opposite when examining how officers used force in the episodes. In the 1995 1997 episodes officers were more relaxed in scenes and presented less physical force against suspects. This was especially the case when officers handcuffed suspects. In the 2009 2011 scenes officers were more cautious when entering the scenes and more often handcuffed the suspects even for petty offences. In addition, officers used more physical force towards suspects. Some of these changes give evidence that strategies from the ideology of community policing has been implemented in the work of police. The analysis also suggests that the actions of officers in the 2009 2011 scenes were in accordance with the Tampa Police department´s standard operating procedures manual.