on every television set. The Chicago Police department was show swinging their batons about and hitting anyone they could. These images put the final nail in the coffin for police. No longer would police be seen as protectors or helpers, but instead they began to represent the political machine that ran the country and oppressed all the less fortunate. These events also began to strengthen the subculture that exists amongst law enforcement.
             Most police agencies have the same type of setup when it comes to organizational structure. There is usually a direct chain of command with clear and concise channels of communication set up between the various levels of authority. At the top is always the Chief or Sheriff whom are in charge of the entire department. Each Chief or Sheriff will usually have at least one deputy chief or under - sheriff to assist them with their duties. Next in line are what is usually referred to as "the brass" which generally consists of captains and lieutenants. They are usually in charge of a bureau or division such as detectives, S.W.A.T., or platoon, shift, or specific function such as media relations. Below the brass are the sergeants. Sergeants generally act as a liaison between "the brass" and the other officers. Also included in their responsibilities may be role call at the start of each shift, quartermaster duties, and reviewing paperwork before it continues up the chain of c!
             ommand. At the bottom of the structure are the "beat cops". These are the officers out on patrol that handle calls. The duties of a police officer are endless. Their job is to do whatever they are called upon to do whether it is chasing a bat out of a house or breaking up a fight. The diversity of the situations that officers handle puts a large strain on them. This strain, along with the division of power amongst the department is one of the causes of the formation of a police subc...