A police subculture is a group of individuals who share similar beliefs. It’s not something that can be easily defined because it varies from person to person. However, there are some common characteristics shared by most members of the police force. You might find yourself identifying with these traits if you’re part of this social group too.
Police officers are the men and women who serve and protect their communities, often putting themselves in harm’s way for the sake of others. They risk their lives every day to ensure that we can all feel safe at home, work, school, or on the streets. It takes a special kind of person to do this job, someone with courage and integrity willing to sacrifice everything for the greater good.
The police subculture refers to the beliefs, norms, attitudes, and values that characterize police force members. It may be distinct from the beliefs expressed by other individuals or social groups. Police officers are often expected to follow orders without question and obey laws even if they disagree.
They must also enforce these laws in an impartial manner regardless of their personal feelings about them. This can create a conflict between one’s duty as a law enforcement officer and their moral values as an individual. In some cases, this conflict can lead to stress-related problems such as alcoholism or suicide among those who work in law enforcement professions.
SUbculture is often described as “a culture that exists within the force and between members of the organization.” Sociologist Robert Reiner first introduced the concept in his 1991 book, The Blue-Coated Worker. Subcultures are sometimes defined as groups within a larger society that experience solidarity (shared identity) and conflict with other groups.
You’ll often experience examples of what subculture entails from popular tv shows like Law & Order, SVU, or Chicago P.D.
Learn more about what actions are being taken to weed out extremists officers from law enforcement in this article.