You are chief of the Middle City Police Department. Your city has seen a surge in violent crime in a popular downtown tourist area. Having learned of
the value of “broken windows” policing, you have ordered the officers patrolling the area to be on the lookout for low-level offenses in hopes that
cleaning up the streets will send a message that serious crime won’t be tolerated. Two weeks later, you begin to hear complaints from some residents
that patrol officers are harassing them. They argue that officers target even the most minor infractions, making it very unpleasant for people who
frequent the area. Now the mayor is pressuring you to adopt a different strategy. You are aware of broken windows success stories in surrounding cities,
and you are also aware of the research on its effectiveness, but you are increasingly being called upon to defend your actions. Prepare a written
response that addresses the following:
Should minor offenses be prioritized over more serious crimes? What are the possible drawbacks of the broken windows approach? What points would you
raise to defend broken windows policing? If you opt to abandon the broken windows strategy, what other approach might you take to make policing in your
city more effective? What ethical dilemmas, if any, do these other approaches pose?
Your response should be thorough and well written on 1 – 3 double-spaced pages. APA format.
