Depolicing refers to what change in police practice?

• A. Officers may feel the need to engage in fewer interactions with the public after a lawsuit
• B. Officers increasing proactive enforcement due to budget cuts
• C. The use of more aggressive stop-and-frisk tactics
• D. The shift from patrol to investigative work only

Answer: (A)

Depolicing involves a reduction in proactive policing and discretionary public interactions by officers. After lawsuits or strong political or public scrutiny, officers often become more cautious and pull back from frequent stops, field interviews, and other proactive actions, leading to fewer interactions with the public.

That’s why the option about officers feeling the need to engage in fewer public interactions after a lawsuit is the best fit. It directly describes the pullback in proactive policing that depolicing entails. The other descriptions describe increasing enforcement, using more aggressive tactics, or a shift in duties that doesn’t capture the overall move away from proactive engagement.