2. The Relevance of History
Knowledge of the development of policing
contributes to our understanding of
contemporary practices and problems.
Police organization, reforms, and policecommunity relations today are deeply rooted in
the past.
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3. The Relevance of History
The study of police history can:
1.
2.
3.
Dramatize the fact of change
Put current problems into perspective
Help us understand what reforms have
worked
4. Alerts us to the unintended consequences of
reforms
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4. The English Heritage
The Constable, Sheriff,
and Justice of the Peace
The Watch System
Sir Robert Peel
London Metropolitan
Police (1829)
Mission, Strategy,
Organizational Structure
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5. First Modern America Police
New York - first police department with a
day and night shift (1844)
Did not wear uniforms but had a hat and
badge
Did not carry firearms
Officers hired based on who they knew
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6. Three Eras of American Policing
The political era (1830s-1900)
The professional era (1900-1960s)
The era of conflicting pressures (1960spresent)
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7. Law Enforcement in Colonial
America
Sheriff
Appointed by colonial
governor
Chief local government
official
•
•
•
•
Law enforcement
Collect taxes
Conduct elections
Maintain bridges and
roads
Constable
Some responsibility for
enforcing law and
maintaining order
Watch
Watchmen patrolled to guard
against
•
Fire
•
Crime
•
Disorder
Originally, only night watch
All males were expected to serve
Slave Patrol
Distinctly American
•
Guard against slave revolts
and capture runaway slaves
• Originally elected, later
appointed
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8. American Policing in the 19th
Century
Establishment of Modern Police Forces
Urbanization, Industrialization, Immigration
Breakdown in Law and Order
The Political Era
Police Personnel
Selection based on political connection
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9. Patrol
Foot patrol
No communications system
In time, call boxes emerged
Weak supervision
Major social welfare institution
Corruption
Reforms
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10. American Policing in the 20th
Century
Police Professionalism
August Vollmer, the “Father of American
Police Professionalism”
Advocated higher education for police
officers
Chief of Berkeley, California
Wrote Wickersham Commission Report
(1931)
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11. Professionalization Movement
Reformers sought to define policing as a
profession
Sought to eliminate the influence of
politics on policing
Argued for hiring qualified police chiefs
Tried to raise standards for patrol officers
Applied modern management principles
Create specialized units like traffic, vice
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12. The Diary of a Police Officer:
Boston, 1895
The recently discovered 1895 diary of Boston police officer Stillman S.
Wakeman provides a revealing glimpse into actual police work 100
years ago.
Officer Wakeman was “an officer of the neighborhood.” He spent most
of his time on patrol responding to little problems that neighborhood
residents brought to him: disputes, minor property crimes, and so
on. He spent relatively little time on major offenses: murder, rape,
robbery. He resolved most of the problems informally, acting as a
neighborhood magistrate.
Officer Wakeman’s role was remarkably similar to that of contemporary
patrol officers. He was reactive and a problem solver. The major
difference was the absence of modern police technology: the patrol
car and the 911 telephone system.
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13. Important Issues in American
Policing in the 20th Century
State Police Agencies
Federal Bureau of
Investigation
New Technology
Supreme Court
Decisions
Police Subculture
Racial/Ethnic Conflict
Crisis of the 1960s
The Research
Revolution
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14. New Technologies
Patrol car just before WWI
Two-way radio, late 1930s
Telephone for citizens to call police
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15. New Developments
Changing police officer
Race and gender
Control of police discretion
Policies and SOP
Lawsuits
Unions
Significant improvement in salaries and benefits
Community policing and problem-oriented
policing
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