police

A police officer faces the most prominent challenges while at the frontlines because of the need to make urgent (split-second) decisions in action, and often with life-changing consequences. Police officers face this problem, and it impacts their ability to improve performance. Another challenge is the narrative of systemic racism in law enforcement. Police officers face immense challenges when they are labeled ‘racist’ by society (Glaser 45). While it is possible to find some racist officers in the police force, it is important to underscore that these are the minority. Majority of officers are dedicated to protect and serve millions of people. When their decisions are questioned by senior officers, politicians, authorities, and the public, it creates a significant hurdle affecting their ability to deliver. The use of force also creates a problem for officers. Cases of officer indictments due to excessive force are on the rise. It can result in the hesitation in dispensation of force which puts officers at risk. Challenges facing officers vary based on gender and race. Female officers face difficulty when working with male officers because of discrimination. Female officers’ work is negatively affected when they are depicted as weak or reliant on male officers. Racial discrimination influences police actions’ outcomes; officers’ actions are judged based on who they interact with. If a white officer uses force to arrest an African-American offender, it could be interpreted as excessive force. Similar opinions could result when African-American officers forcefully arrest suspects of other races (Egharevba 239). It creates a situation where the actions of officers are judged based on race and gender and not on the real reasons behind their actions. It creates hurdles for officers that could result in indecision for fear of the repercussions.