We've all seen the explosion of videos displaying less than ideal police interactions with the public on social media. We all strive to observe the unjust actions committed by those whom we trust to "serve and protect" our communities and in turn our great nation in hopes to be aware of impartiality that exists in law enforcement. When did this trust begin to be compromised?

In studying criminal justice and public policy, the roots of the diminishing trust between the police and the public might be possible to explain. Now, by no means am I suggesting that there is an excuse for a police officer to deliberately abuse his or her power and use excessive force on the public with dishonorable intentions. That is not what I am suggesting. The belief that everyone is good at heart and has good intentions is ignorant, and I am not folly enough to believe that.

However, I do believe a deeper problem lies in society, one that is not explained solely by the presence of bad cops. This wedge that has been driven between the police and the public could potentially be further explained by a concept known as a cycle of mutual mistrust. The mistrust cycle goes as follows - stereotypes of police officers and expectations of unjust treatment engender a belligerent or aggressive behavior towards police, which in turn provokes a harsh police response, or vice versa, in which a harsh police response results in the initial stereotype, therefore setting in motion the mistrust cycle. In anticipation of harsh treatment, citizens may behave disrespectfully towards the police, setting in motion a pattern confirming their expectations.

It also seems apparent that this cycle creates a sort of goal ambiguity with regards to police work. Should police serve and protect as zealous crime-fighters? Or should police serve and protect as community guardians? Is there a possibility that they can do both?

In order to end this cycle of mutual mistrust between the police and the public, the bond between the two entities needs to be strengthened. Although the means and feasibility to do so are a separate matter, this issue should be addressed.

Also, the law enforcement officials who are guilty of abusing their power need to be held accountable. If accountability is to become a reality, it must start with the creation of procedures that address misuse of force incidents, causes of such incidents and more careful delineation of the relationship of the police to the public, and public to the police,

Although identifying the problem at hand is just a mere step in the right direction, it gives us as a society hope for a solution.