The Blue Curtain

The Blue Curtain

J Mattson
March 22, 2006
Prepared for
Professor Tom Nolan
Police and Society
CJ 251


All occupations are defined by the cognitive, routine, and behavioral responses developed by the individuals in their particular roles. Through routine and common experience, they develop a way to see and respond to the world that they work in (Newburn, 2005). The occupational comradeship that results from the complex career of policing creates “the blue curtain” of isolation, secrecy, and brotherhood (Senna, 2001). Structural, cultural, and traditional conditions influence officers in their work. It is about loyalty, trust, acceptance, and understanding (Newburn, 2005). All jobs have formal and more importantly, informal social and behavioral practices. The police are no different and the nature of their job makes their subculture even more so unique (Newburn, 2005).

“The blue curtain” or subculture of policing is loosely defined but widely acknowledged (Newburn, 2005). As Waddington observes, “[Subculture has purpose in] giving meaning to experience and sustains occupational self-esteem” (Newburn, 2005, pg. 374). It is almost unavoidable and universal crossing beyond jurisdictions and diverse social, political, economic and legal circumstances (Newburn, 2005). The blue curtain is not necessarily law enforcement’s fault. The job is too diverse to have it explained in a rule book or laid out scientifically. Reliance on personal experience, colleagues, and how it has always been is expected. It is not just war stories and mythology but simply the way it is (Newburn, 2005). The “vocabulary of precedents” may seem exaggerated and ridiculous but at the same time it is warranted (Newburn, 2005). The subculture is described as informal but just the fact that it is understood by all makes it formal. Daily life for an officer is more about ‘the code’ than any formal rule (Newburn, 2005).

‘The police mandate’ and ‘citizens in uniform’ are oxymorons. The impossible mandate has left the police to do their job how they see fit and to keep up ever changing appearances. Appearances for the higher ups, the community, politicians, and the criminals they control (Newburn, 2005).This intensifies the subculture, officers must stick together in appearing as if they uphold the mandate which is defined by everyone else but them (Newburn, 2005). Police are big on avoidance and dealing with immediacy. They usually have to set aside their goal which is unobtainable anyways (Newburn, 2005).

Cultural values, socialization, and shared understanding mold the officer. This comes from constant exposure to peers and the larger organization. The officer must learn the system. They must learn how to act and react to superiors, the public, the mayor, and their environment (Newburn, 2005). The only way to survive on the force is to become part of the culture. Officers are continually socialized through experience, warnings, stories, and observation. It takes rookies years to be accepted, trusted, and molded by veteran officers. If you don’t abide by the code you are prone to criticism and sanctions imposed by fellow officers (Newburn, 2005).

Many factors contribute and intensify the subculture. Less than great salary, ridiculous hours, rotating shifts, boredom, fear, inadequacy, repeated exposure to danger and possible use of force all lead to the tendency for particular personalities to develop. The only people that understand are others who share in the experience (Reiser, 1972, Senna, 2001). The police see human behavior at its worst and feel the weight of the world on their shoulders to appear efficient (Newburn, 2005). They must play the role of tough guy, therapist, crime fighter, and perfect all in the face of a public that expects too much from them and doesn’t understand or appreciate them or the job (Senna, 2001).

As Ianni observed, “The cop’s code links the formal and informal structures by allowing degrees of freedom within which officers have discretion” (Newburn, 2005, pg 307). Discretion gives the police broad power and authority over the public which reinforces their isolation. They are the regulators of the public, in charge of maintaining order and integrity. As Maanen states, “…Police are both representatives of the moral order and part of it” (Newburn, 2005, pg 285). The officer takes to heart his moral responsibility. Law enforcement have an autonomous feeling of a ‘right’ to do as they please as far as dictating and handling situations. The police are the authority of the state with wide discretion and room to play out what he feels is right, just, and necessary (Newburn, 2005).

Police have a sense of mission. It is okay to taint evidence and beat out confessions; as long as the bad guy gets caught, the police have done their job (Newburn, 2005). Police may go off on a person using street justice, using demeaning names and lame arrest reasons. “[To the officer that person represents] …all that remain out there, untouched, untaught, and unpunished” (Newburn, 2005, pg 293). By using extra legal means to demonstrate their role they exert their authority to not just the citizen but also themselves (Newburn, 2005).
The crime fighting aspect of police work can not be overemphasized concerning officer self-image and morale. “Real police work” is what satisfies the officer. Sometimes authority can be overexerted just to get satisfaction. He is the tough guy with the power. Even in minor traffic stops, crime fighting is law enforcement’s legitimatization. They must reaffirm this to the public constantly. Officers must dwell on their tasks of violence and heroism to affirm them of the ‘real job.’ The public does not help with this skewed image. We label them crime fighters and expect them to do just that. They barely have the opportunity or the resources to, but we intensify their fragile alienated image (Newburn, 2005).

The relationship between society and the police is strained by a lack of understanding. Once a person puts on the police uniform they are no longer a peer but an ‘amorphous symbol’ (Reiser, 1972, pg 22). They are the visible symbol of the unjust and oppressive government: the perfect scapegoat and brunt of resentment (Reiser, 1972). The public’s view of police is very simplistic. The public does not understand the vast array of duties that law enforcement is responsible for. From dog catching, resolving conflict, to traffic and crime scenes, the public just doesn’t get it. No other job description is as exciting and boring at the same time. Police can be bored and routine at one moment to being in danger and dependent on a split decision in the next (Senna, 2001, Newburn, 2005)). The public belittles the police authority by chastising them over traffic stops when they could be catching criminals; this reinforces isolation (Newburn, 2005).

The police, on the other hand, have tunnel vision when it concerns citizens (Senna, 2001). Suspicion is deeply integrated, the police are in constant situations that cause him to label and identify specific aspects of society for safety and control. Police are concerned with fixing disorder and do not have time to delve into the psyche of people to figure out the why, the job is about the what and apprehension (Newburn, 2005). The public offers no respect, cooperation, or understanding. Citizens are demanding and unforgiving. The police know they are hated and needed at the same time. Even those that don’t hate, avoid (Newburn, 2005). As Maanen states, “[Police, while remaining suspicious, must also approach the public with a] polished, efficient, and courteous performance” (Newburn, 2005, pg 282).The public after all are their clients. It is a vicious circle, law enforcement labels the public and citizens constantly label the police. It is natural for people to have a sort of resentment towards authority. Exaggerated reactions to authority help make people that have issues with it more comfortable. At the same time, cops overzealous tough guy routine makes the officer more comfortable in the situation (Reiser, 1971).

It is difficult for the police to make friends with other members of society. They feel guarded around non-police and the public feels guarded around them. It becomes lonely to the point that when not in uniform, police usually will not admit to being a cop (Newburn, 2005). Law enforcement is responsible for restraining individuals. They are the face of arrest, force, initiation, and so on. The handling of danger, violence, disruption, and anything unpleasant, not only defines them but alienates them (Newburn, 2005). Even if never arrested, the public holds on to the fact that they have the power to ‘bother’ them for ‘stupid’ infractions: being drunk, not wearing a seatbelt, being too loud (Newburn, 2005). The police are responsible for upholding a moral and conservative community. If not hypocritical, it can be difficult for the police. They need the solidarity of fellow officers to feel at ease around. With fellow officers they can let go of the façade (Newburn, 2005). Whether the police come into the job with an authoritative personality or the job creates it, it gives them the power to look down on the society that doesn’t understand. It may be lonely, but the police constantly thicken the thin blue line. Police form a family. Relying on and trusting each other. This dependency and loyalty is the most important aspect of the code. It serves as a means of protection: don’t tell on other officers, take the fall if one gets caught, don’t make others look bad, know your territory, don’t leave work for the next shift, and so on (Newburn, 2005).

Positives of the police subculture include good morale and trust. Both are incredibly important in the career of policing (Newburn, 2005). The police subculture is for the most part functional. The bond and solidarity offers reassurance, understanding, and protection. Some of the negatives include the obvious vulnerability for the breeding of corruption. The subculture makes reform impossible by creating a roadblock too deeply enforced to work through (Newburn, 2005). There are severe implications health wise that plaque officers. It is a high stress career. As Iaani observed, “[Police are prone to high stress because of] the frequent provocation to anger and aggression, which is complicated by added stress of continuous exposure to real and perceived danger…” (Newburn, 2005, pg 312). Physical and mental health ailments, high suicide rates, and especially alcoholism and marital problems all weigh heavily on law enforcement (Newburn, 2005). Occupational support is important but cops are still ultimately alone. A huge negativity of the subculture is the reinforcing of masculinity and the resistance to seek help. Even when officers seek mental health assistance they often clash personality wise with the therapist, even in house therapists are really of no help. Officers are resistant to let down their image of strength and are somewhat distrustful of therapy (Reiser, 1972). Therapists are forgiving, permissive, and concerned with why. Officers are practical, realistic, and pessimistic with a lack of foresight when it comes to healing their personalities (Reiser, 1972, 65-67).

The police subculture has been of interest to many authors for over 40 years. They don’t all agree on the importance and aspects of the culture but no one can deny it does exist. Some think it is more about talk then actual action and others realize it is both. Chan believes it is not by socialization but it is more of a tool kit. Anything extra legal is necessary and legitimate. Waddington feels that subculture explains little, where to me and to most, it explains everything (Newburn, 2005).

The subculture effect on justice is obvious because discretion, cynicism, and tradition can lead to many injustices but we cannot take away discretion, we cannot arrest everyone by the book, and there cannot be exact rules and guidelines to handle and police all situations. The subculture is expected and useful. If anything, you cannot eliminate informal rules or make formal rules stricter; it is unrealistic (Newburn, 2005). Actually defining a mandate and making the police accountable is one thing but professionalism will just distance the police more so (Newburn, 2005). Some things, especially in management have changed. Minority recruits, court decisions, and better education have definitely made changes affecting goals and experience, but at the core is still the unity of the blue curtain. It is inevitable in this line of work. The force would literally have to be rebuilt from the ground up, having no one with experience in it.








References

Newburn, T. (2005). Policing key readings. Portland, Oregon. Willan., 192,194, 203, 224,264-266, 269, 270-273, 276, 282-285, 290, 293-94, 297, 300-301, 307-309, 311, 312, 320, 323, 330, 339-340, 343, 351-352, 360, 366-367, 372-377.

Reiser, M. (1972). The police department psychologist. Springfield, ILL., Thomas., 22, 24, 35, 65, 67, 86.

Senna, J.J., & Siegal, L. J. (2001). Essentials of criminal justice. 3rd Edition. Belmont, CA. Wadsworth., 167, 174, 182, 183.