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Police in AmericaPolice in America

Chapter TwoChapter Two

The History of American The History of American PolicePolice

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The Relevance of HistoryThe Relevance of History

Knowledge of the development of policing Knowledge of the development of policing contributes to our understanding of contributes to our understanding of contemporary practices and problems.contemporary practices and problems.

Police organization, reforms, and police-Police organization, reforms, and police-community relations today are deeply rooted in community relations today are deeply rooted in the past.the past.

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The Relevance of HistoryThe Relevance of History

The study of police history can:The study of police history can:1.1. Dramatize the fact of changeDramatize the fact of change

2.2. Put current problems into perspectivePut current problems into perspective

3.3. Help us understand what reforms have Help us understand what reforms have workedworked

4.4. Alerts us to the unintended consequences of Alerts us to the unintended consequences of reformsreforms

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The English HeritageThe English Heritage

The Constable, Sheriff, & The Constable, Sheriff, & Justice of the PeaceJustice of the Peace

The Watch SystemThe Watch System Sir Robert PeelSir Robert Peel London Metropolitan London Metropolitan

Police (1829)Police (1829) Mission, Strategy, Mission, Strategy,

Organizational StructureOrganizational Structure

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First Modern America PoliceFirst Modern America Police

New York - first police department with a New York - first police department with a day and night shift (1844)day and night shift (1844)

Did not wear uniforms but had a hat and Did not wear uniforms but had a hat and badgebadge

Did not carry firearmsDid not carry firearms Officers hired based on who they knewOfficers hired based on who they knew

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Three Eras of American PolicingThree Eras of American Policing

The political era (1830s-1900)The political era (1830s-1900) The professional era (1900-1960s)The professional era (1900-1960s) The era of conflicting pressures (1960s-The era of conflicting pressures (1960s-

present)present)

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Law Enforcement in Colonial Law Enforcement in Colonial AmericaAmerica

SheriffSheriff Appointed by colonial Appointed by colonial

governorgovernor Chief local government Chief local government

officialofficial Law enforcementLaw enforcement Collect taxesCollect taxes Conduct electionsConduct elections Maintain bridges and Maintain bridges and

roadsroads ConstableConstable

Some responsibility for Some responsibility for enforcing law and enforcing law and maintaining ordermaintaining order Originally elected, later Originally elected, later

appointedappointed

WatchWatchWatchmen patrolled to guard Watchmen patrolled to guard

againstagainstFireFireCrimeCrimeDisorderDisorder

Originally, only night watchOriginally, only night watchAll males were expected to All males were expected to

serveserve

Slave PatrolSlave PatrolDistinctly AmericanDistinctly American

Guard against slave Guard against slave revolts and capture revolts and capture runaway slavesrunaway slaves

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American Policing in the 19American Policing in the 19thth CenturyCentury

Establishment of Modern Police ForcesEstablishment of Modern Police Forces Urbanization, Industrialization, ImmigrationUrbanization, Industrialization, Immigration Breakdown in Law and OrderBreakdown in Law and Order

The Political EraThe Political Era Police Personnel Police Personnel

Selection based on political connectionSelection based on political connection

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PatrolPatrol

Foot patrolFoot patrol No communications systemNo communications system

In time, call boxes emergedIn time, call boxes emerged

Weak supervisionWeak supervision Major social welfare institutionMajor social welfare institution

CorruptionCorruption ReformsReforms

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American Policing in the 20American Policing in the 20thth CenturyCentury

Police ProfessionalismPolice Professionalism August Vollmer August Vollmer ““Father of American Police Professionalism”Father of American Police Professionalism” Advocated higher education for police Advocated higher education for police

officersofficers Chief of Berkeley, CaliforniaChief of Berkeley, California Wrote Wickersham Commission Report Wrote Wickersham Commission Report

(1931)(1931)

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Professionalization MovementProfessionalization Movement

Reformers sought to define policing as a Reformers sought to define policing as a professionprofession

Sought to eliminate the influence of politics Sought to eliminate the influence of politics on policing on policing

Argued for hiring qualified police chiefsArgued for hiring qualified police chiefs Tried to raise standards for patrol officersTried to raise standards for patrol officers Applied modern management principlesApplied modern management principles Create specialized units like traffic, vice Create specialized units like traffic, vice

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The Diary of a Police Officer: The Diary of a Police Officer: Boston, 1895Boston, 1895

The recently discovered 1895 diary of Boston police officer The recently discovered 1895 diary of Boston police officer Stillman S. Stillman S. WakemanWakeman provides a revealing glimpse into actual police work 100 provides a revealing glimpse into actual police work 100 years ago.years ago.

Officer Wakeman was “an officer of the neighborhood.” He spent most Officer Wakeman was “an officer of the neighborhood.” He spent most of his time on patrol responding to little problems that neighborhood of his time on patrol responding to little problems that neighborhood residents brought to him: disputes, minor property crimes, and so residents brought to him: disputes, minor property crimes, and so on. He spent relatively little time on major offenses: murder, rape, on. He spent relatively little time on major offenses: murder, rape, robbery. He resolved most of the problems informally, acting as a robbery. He resolved most of the problems informally, acting as a neighborhood magistrate.neighborhood magistrate.

Officer Wakeman’s role was remarkably similar to that of contemporary Officer Wakeman’s role was remarkably similar to that of contemporary patrol officers. He was reactive and a problem solver. The major patrol officers. He was reactive and a problem solver. The major difference was the absence of modern police technology: the patrol difference was the absence of modern police technology: the patrol car and the 911 telephone system.car and the 911 telephone system.

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Important Issues in American Important Issues in American Policing in the 20Policing in the 20thth Century Century

Police SubculturePolice Subculture Racial/Ethnic ConflictRacial/Ethnic Conflict Crisis of the 1960sCrisis of the 1960s The Research The Research

RevolutionRevolution

State Police Agencies State Police Agencies Federal Bureau of Federal Bureau of

InvestigationInvestigation New TechnologyNew Technology Supreme Court Supreme Court

DecisionsDecisions

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New TechnologiesNew Technologies

Patrol car just before WWIPatrol car just before WWI Two-way radio, late 1930sTwo-way radio, late 1930s Telephone for citizens to call policeTelephone for citizens to call police

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New DevelopmentsNew Developments Changing police officerChanging police officer

Race and genderRace and gender

Control of police discretionControl of police discretion Policies and SOPPolicies and SOP LawsuitsLawsuits

UnionsUnions Significant improvement in salaries and benefitsSignificant improvement in salaries and benefits

Community policing and problem-oriented Community policing and problem-oriented policingpolicing