자치경찰제도의 도입에 따른 해양경찰의 역할 변화에 관한 연구

A Study on Changing Role of the Korean Coast Guard on the Occasion of the Introduction of the Municipal Police System

자치경찰제도의 도입 논의가 본격화 되고 있지만, 해양경찰과 자치경찰의 직무분장에 관한 논의는 좀처럼 언급이 되지 않고 있다. 해양경찰이 사무의 특수성을 가진 기관임에는 틀림이 없지만, 해경을 둘러싼 환경의 변화, 이로 인한 기대역할의 변화, 맞춤형ㆍ밀착형 서비스를 제공하고자 하는 자치경찰의 이념, 전국가적인 지방자치로의 패러다임 전환 등을 고려한다면 해양경찰과 자치경찰 간의 업무 재조정 논의가 본격화 될 필요가 있다. 특히, 미국, 영국, 호주 등 선진 외국의 경우를 살펴보더라도 자치경찰이 일정범위의 해안 치안유지 업무를 성공적으로 수행하고 있는 사례가 많은 것으로 나타났다.

Since 1945, there has been a single public security system, the National Police, in Korea. The National Police has developed itself continuously and solved a lot of problems. But, people want more community-oriented policing for better quality of life. So, it is an issue whether to introduce the municipal police system to Korea. Though the introduction of the municipal police system makes hot-issues in Korea, there is on reference about a redivision of the coast guard s authority. Of course, the coast guard service has a quiet difference with a general natioal police. The officers should be faced with not only a high demand for maritime safety and security, but also a dangerous condition on the sea. But, it can not become an eccencial reason to avoid the reference about a redivision of the coast guard s authority. Both a local government and a national coast guard, they can achieve each their goal successfully if they can rearrange their roles and fuctions well. A local government (municipal police) is able to treat general and routine accidents in the beach. A national coast guard should invest their budget and human power to more serious and complexed events, for instance, anti-terrorism or prevention of smuggling. Already, developed western countries have empowered local governments to maintain the public order at the beach area or the neighboring waters. In the United States, the Harbor Patrol is a specialized unit dedicated to water safety and the protection and preservation of life and property on the waters. Using the latest technology in water emergency, dive response, and fire suppression equipment, the Harbor units cover the local shoreline. They responds to more emergency calls, provides marine law enforcement, rescue and assistance, investigates water-related accidents, manages and performs surface and dive search and rescue. Moreover, they ensures boater safety by removing debris and water hazards, performs Boat Safety Inspections, provides marine fire response and suppression, manages marine special events including. Also, they provides US Navy exclusion zone protection and enforcement, participates in Homeland Security activities, provides service for disabled boats, boating accidents and tows. They are obtaining excellent results with their missions. Korea has a necessity to benchmark like above case. To decide who does what is very important subject. It seems more reasonable that the municipal police treat routine and general works, while the national coast guard treat more serious crime or accidents. By doing that, two parts, in the total nation system, can find the win and win solutions.