[Collapsed Public Authority] The Reality Is "Police Officers Are Also Workers"... Increase Their Sense of Duty

<Ha> Everything Must Change

High Support for Stable Civil Servant Goals
Police Training Paradigm Also Needs Change
System Improvement and Budget Support Required
Responsibility Reduction and Motivation Measures First

On the 1st, new police officers are undergoing physical force response training at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Since the adjustment of investigative authority this year, the police have focused their education and training on strengthening the capabilities of investigative officers. With the expansion of investigative authority, there was a strong will to enhance the professionalism of investigators to gain public trust in police investigations. However, the recent ‘Incheon Interfloor Noise Stabbing Incident’ clearly revealed that the education of police officers deployed on the front lines of public safety, who are most closely connected to the public, was inadequate. New police officers were deployed to the scene without even receiving proper physical force response training at the Central Police Academy due to COVID-19.

The police hastily launched special training to strengthen field response capabilities for about 10,000 newly appointed police officers in their first and second years of service. The National Police Agency announced that the training program was designed around physical force training and police spirit, including scenario-based field response drills, live training, and sessions to cultivate police ethics to prepare for the risks and unpredictability of police work. Additionally, special Taser gun training will be conducted for one month targeting 70,000 field officers, including community police, detectives, traffic patrol officers, and women’s investigation units.

Criticism remains that the police’s response is merely a ‘showy’ stopgap measure. Temporary training without sustainability cannot change the paradigm of police education. Professor Lee Woong-hyuk of Konkuk University’s Department of Police Science pointed out, "While it is necessary to skillfully handle firearms, what is more important is to improve the judgment of police officers deployed in the field," adding, "To strengthen police education and training, internal processes must be completely overhauled, including developing new education programs, changing the education structure, and reforming the personnel system."

Distrust in the current new police officer recruitment system also persists. The annual competitive ratio for police officer recruitment averages about 20 to 1. While many new recruits aspire to become ‘police’ who protect citizens, a significant number of applicants are simply seeking ‘stable government jobs.’ According to the report titled ‘Panel Survey on Individual and Organizational Characteristics of Korean Police’ published by the Police University’s Institute of Security Policy in May this year, the highest combined percentage of ‘agree’ and ‘strongly agree’ responses regarding new police officers’ motivation for joining was for the item ‘because it is an honorable profession’ (82.6%), followed by ‘because it is a government job with guaranteed status’ (80.8%). Also, ‘because police provide opportunities to help citizens’ (78.2%) and ‘because of job benefits (welfare and pension)’ (74.2%) recorded high levels.

Job stability acted as a major motivation for joining the police alongside a sense of mission as a police officer. This is also sensed in the perspectives of some field officers regarding the recent inadequate response incident. Recently, a police officer posted on the anonymous community ‘Blind’ that "police officers are also workers," which drew strong public criticism. Professor Kwak Dae-kyung of Dongguk University’s Department of Police Administration suggested, "Education is needed to cultivate the sense of mission and police spirit among new police officers."

To enhance the sense of mission among field officers and strengthen field response capabilities, institutional improvements as well as support in manpower and budget are necessary. Police officers operate on the front lines to protect public safety and order but are not subject to ‘public security personnel’ pay scales. Despite situations arising during legitimate official duties, they do not receive relief from various lawsuits or criminal liability. Even the so-called ‘body cams’ used to record the scene are purchased out of pocket. Under these circumstances, strengthening education and training alone is insufficient to improve field response capabilities. It is time for police leadership and politicians to listen to the voices of frontline officers who say, "The responsibility is unlimited, but the authority is none."

Professor Lee Woong-hyuk said, "Taking this controversy as an opportunity, it is necessary to greatly delegate discretion to the field, positively reflect it in personnel evaluations, and implement measures to increase motivation and job engagement among field officers," adding, "To avoid ending as a stopgap measure, the police organization’s paradigm must be renewed in personnel, education, systems, and budget."