Policing, like many other career fields, have been affected by the technology and social networking boom of the twenty-first century. In the past 50 years, policing has undergone a level of scrutiny it has never known before. Issues that plague the organization as a whole are displayed on the evening news. The accomplishments and shortfalls have become a nationwide issue. As communications continue to move at the blink of an eye, law enforcement must continue its struggle to rise above the issues and defeat them. Concerning issues that will continue to affect law enforcement include increased immigration and community relations, the dark cloud of corruption, along with a recently developed relationship with federal agencies in the War on Terror. The trends and issues facing police must be met with suitable action to prevent them from overshadowing all the good that law enforcement is there to represent.
In the past 20 years illegal immigration has set new records. Hispanics have surpassed the African Americans as the largest minority group in America. Police officers today and well into the future must be sensitive to the influx of immigrants, many of which do not speak the English language. People new to America may have doubts about their security and safety among law enforcement. In recent years there has been a trend of departments focusing on hiring bilingual officer and newly immigrated officers (Walker & Katz, 2011). This is a step that departments are hoping will assist them in good police-community relations. It also is designed to put immigrants’ worries to rest and give them a sense of familiarity that will promote their cooperation in criminal investigations.
Police-community relations are extremely important to the modern and future police department. Police departments have worked hard at building and maintaining relations with the community that