Based on what you learned about legitimacy and its role in strengthening the authority of the police, describe how the policies and actions of the Ferguson Police Department weakened their legitimacy in eyes of the community.

Based on what you learned about legitimacy and its role in strengthening the authority of the police, describe how the policies and actions of the Ferguson Police Department weakened their legitimacy in eyes of the community. In what ways did this impact the authority of the police. Could Michael Brown’s defiance towards Officer Darren Wilson have been partly the result of this lack of perceived legitimacy of the police department? Regardless of where you stand on the issue, please provide an answer. 

I want to make clear that I am not trying to justify Michael Brown’s attack on Officer Wilson. The attack was unjustified and a grand jury cleared Officer Wilson of the shooting, as did the F.B.I. With that said, Sunshine and Tyler make clear that weakened legitimacy reduces cooperation, which can lead to resistance.  Could that have influenced Brown’s behavior, at least initially? 

Finally, review the Final Report of the President’s Taskforce on 21s Century Policing and identify at least three recommendations that you feel will improve policing in the United States by strengthening their legitimacy in the eyes of all Americans. How will these recommendations reduce conflict and improve cooperation?

Here is the link to the Final Report of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing: http://www.theiacp.org/TaskForceReport