We have a lot of controversy in our society over policing right now. I'm a 100% police supporter and 110% Civil Rights supporter. There is a cost and impact to strong and weak policing tactics that often lead to creating or dwindling the prospects of a growth environment. Any economic cluster will need to have a working location that accepts differences in order to attract the best and brightest minds the market can offer. The most readily and currently accessible groups are the creative class and the digital nomad demographics that can be used to spark growth.
To deal with a more eclectic group of visitors who want to vacation, create things, start businesses, enjoy life etc. we need to open our policing perspective a little more to create an enriching environment. While its not the only factor, policing can have a significant influence on the welcoming nature of the environment (or unwelcoming if there are groups and clans). Positive interactions and relationships are key to long-term retention and growth of different types of people.
To help or hinder in the development of our nation is an important consideration. My perspective is that 80% of our officers and departments do the right thing but there is a 20% that don't do the right thing. Maybe they not only don't do the right thing but some of them might absolutely do the wrong thing. All systems must continue to adapt and this would certainly be one we can build more trust. Trust comes from consistently doing the right thing and making sure the stakeholders also consistently support the right thing (i.e. the higher value versus the lower values. If your have a hard time understanding what that means reread it a few times and let it sink in.)
The Controversy of Function: To Help or Hinder
Law enforcement has a important role of not only being enforcers of the law (imperfect lower copy of societal will and values) but also to protect and serve (higher universal function supported by most). Thus there are two functions that lead to basic trust and that comes from the intent and its application. Engaging in helpful behavior means ensuring the higher function of protecting and serving (central shared value) while engaging in hinder oriented behaviors would be over focus on the law (a lower order concept that is often an imperfect carbon copy of societal will and values.)
(We can't really go into a long winded discussion here but just remember laws are debatable through the legislative process, social context, courts, officer correct/incorrect beliefs that lead to behaviors, etc. Deeper moral universal values are shared by everyone and bubble up in history over and over. )
Dysfunctional Systems
Dysfunctional systems cause issues across the developmental landscape, ranging from economic loss all the way over to poor system performance. When one looks at systems and their functionality they should seek to also view other markers/data from a holistic 360 degree type perspective (Forest and trees). They may find unaddressed complaints, retention issues, lawsuits, population decline, low trust ratings on surveys, etc. as contributory variables/factors to the problem. Because policing can have a significant impact on creating an environment of economic growth, they should seek to understand their deficiencies and devise plans to improve (This is where outside perspectives can really help. Diversity is important to ensure the system reflects everyone's needs. The central need for policing is maintained but its performance is improved through accurate feedback and development.)
Functional Systems
Functional systems are one's in which they are inclusive by nature and seek the greatest moral good (i.e. to protect and serve) and through that growth outlook they get better at applying the law as intended by the legislative process (Corruption is intentional misapplication). The higher moral order must come before the lower moral order and if they are reversed then we have trust issues and other dysfunctions that make their way through the system (see above). Proper alignment of perspective keeps the entire institution striving for ever more perfect performance (Its probably not 100% attainable but its the striving that makes a difference.). When the goal is higher then the function itself, then the function begins to change. When that is reversed, the function/dysfunction comes to define the system and it resists helpful change.
Secondary Markers
One may ask if it is possible to highlight a poor functioning system in order to address issues that may have been intentionally ignored or suppressed by local stakeholders (Good old boy networks)? The answer is yes. Just like one might assess a person one could assess a system through secondary systems. They don't necessarily need a direct observation of particular events but the wider spider data that relates to the latent function. For example, an easy example would be complaints and the general process and resolution status. Another might be poor performance of a department, lower societal distrust, high expenditures, injury rates, etc... If one is going negative across the board on various markers it means it might not be a well run department and may be doing significant harm to the rest of the economic-social system.
Moving down that line of thinking (I haven't actually done it but only want to hypothetically highlight the power of understanding a problem and how big data can help resolve some issues.). After one has listed all of the potential markers and determine which problems are ongoing they can find more solutions. One could implement different reform initiatives and still not find significant improvement. That could mean many things of which stickiness of numbers and likely a deeper cultural or other issues. Its organizational management technique similar to what you would find in a company or within a team (At least I think that might be how Sherlock Holmes might do it. I mean hypothetically!)
Law Enforcements Impact on Economic Development
We know what poor law enforcement might look but that doesn't necessarily tell us what strong law enforcement looks like. First these are just general comments and not designed to be too specific. Focus on the bigger picture, seeking long-term solutions, enforce the laws as intended, comfortable with racial and religious differences, transparency, highly trained, positive-polite personality, etc... we kind of know what the wish list is. For example, this study shows the positive impact of policing on crime. Study shows positive impact of ‘procedural justice’ police training. You may want to consider this study on Styles of Policing and Economic Development.
Keeping in mind that creative people and digital nomads are going to have differences when compared to the average population (I'm just saying this as a sort casual observational average.). They are likely to come from diverse backgrounds, highly educated, fun loving, adventurous, have a little pocket jingle, somewhat Pro society, do novel things, dress funny, etc. Consider The Complex Personality of Creative People and 45+ Exciting Statistics About Digital Nomads in 2023
After you read these articles you will realize there is likely going to be some variance in behavior and if one understands them they are part of what makes creative people creative. Having the right environment changes the script and turns mediocre into exceptional. Poor environments will end economic growth (i.e. population decline and rise 🤔) Stifle those differences and you have no basis for anything but conformity. Thus, the more you conform, the less variability, less discovery and less adaptability (Everything in balance. You do need mostly followers but blind followers are not considered positive contributors. General coordinated behaviors toward community goals is considered a positive influence.).
From an economic perspective, I like the creative class and digital nomads as basic build blocks because they add to both the business and vacation/recreational personality of the area. As a bonus, beyond short-mid term rentals they also spend money in restaurants and might even buy a place at some point to settle. As a population with differences than the bell curve, we would need policing to be able to handle differences that may vary from their normal homogeneous social networks and perceptions of life. Thus, poor policing, clan behaviors, Good Old Boy networks, racism, etc., can be detractors from the overall health of a location and the residents that live within it. One would sort of need to study how much influence each of the factors have on the functioning of the whole. Saying that is meant to be helpful (Some might think its the opposite but they might need to check their assumptions.)
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