Guidelines for Law Enforcement Operations
In a recent discussion on Public Pulse, the Sheridan Police Department's Chief Travis Koltiska and Lieutenant Dan Keller delved into the application of the nine principles of policing, traditionally attributed to Sir Robert Peel, in modern policing. Ron Richter from the platform provided details about the insightful conversation.
The nine principles, established in the 19th century, emphasize crime prevention through community cooperation and ethical conduct by police officers, rather than relying on force or arrests. These principles form the foundation of "policing by consent," where the police are seen as part of the community, not separate from it.
The principles, which remain highly relevant in modern policing today, can be summarized as:
- The police exist to prevent crime and disorder, not just to punish criminals.
- The ability of the police to perform their duties depends on public approval of their actions.
- Police must have the cooperation of the public, which requires voluntary compliance.
- The police seek to maintain public respect by impartial and fair behavior.
- Police use minimal force and only when necessary.
- The police are the public and the public are the police; the police are members of the community.
- Police should avoid using force or aggression except as a last resort.
- Police should always seek to maintain a relationship with the public that emphasizes trust.
- The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police action such as arrests.
In the Sheridan Police Department, adherence to these principles is reflected in their community-oriented approach where officers are seen as "guardians" protecting the community by maintaining human connection and respect, rather than distant enforcers. This fosters safer, more humane communities by encouraging communication and voluntary public cooperation, key ideas underlying Peel’s 19th-century philosophy that continue to guide ethical and effective policing today.
Chief Koltiska stated that the nine policing principles developed by Peel nearly 200 years ago are still important and relevant in proper police operations today. Lieutenant Dan Keller emphasized the importance of making the right arrests for the right reasons. However, he did not provide further details about the specific reasons for arrests.
The Sheridan Police Department engages in high visibility enforcement to deter crime. The interview with Chief Koltiska and Lieutenant Keller is available for listening online. The department bases its activities on the three core ideas that revolve around preventive policing, with one example being monitoring traffic flows in high crash areas.
These principles, originally articulated by Peel, continue to underpin the ethics and strategies of modern police departments, supporting a model of policing that is collaborative, minimalistic in force, and focused on public trust and crime prevention. This remains fundamental to departments like Sheridan’s that strive to serve and protect their communities with respect and accountability.
[1] The History of Policing: Sir Robert Peel and the Birth of Modern Policing
[2] The Nine Principles of Policing: A Modern Perspective
[3] Community Policing: The Sheridan Police Department
[4] The Evolution of Policing: From Peel to the 21st Century
- In the discussion on Public Pulse, the relevance of the nine principles of policing, originally established by Sir Robert Peel, for modern policing was highlighted, including their emphasis on preventing crime through community cooperation and maintaining public trust.
- Adherence to these nine principles, such as seeking minimal force and maintaining a relationship with the public based on trust, forms the foundation of modern policing in departments such as Sheridan's, which strives to serve and protect its community with respect and accountability.
