aj 58 - community and human relations chapter 2 – a history of community policing
TRANSCRIPT
AJ 58 - Community and Human Relations
Chapter 2 –
A History of
Community Policing
Historical Overview of Policing
Totalitarian Countries– The few impose will on the many
Democratic Society– People make laws through elected representatives
Challenge in U.S.– Police independence (from political corruption) vs.
public accountability (from citizenry)
Historical Shift from Informal to Formal Policing
Influencing factors… Population growth Change from agrarian to industrial society Unequal distribution of resources Crowding into cities Advances in technology
Evolution of Policing
Simple society = simple, self-policing Volunteer “night watchmen” Pay for watchman duties Motorized patrol replaced foot patrol With each of these “advances”, there was an
increased separation from the community!
British Roots of Modern Policing
Why did the King and his noblemen have a vested interest in keeping the peace and reducing crime and rebellion?
– Tax money collected during feudal system!
Self-policing citizens (800-900) Justice of the Peace (1300’s) Paid, professional police force (1800’s)
The British Industrial Revolution
Britain’s population doubled from six to twelve million Many moved to large cities for work, but machinery had
replaced many jobs Sudden, drastic increase in…
– Unemployment– Food shortages– Homelessness– Sewage and pollution– Riots and rebellion
Military troops called in to quell riots & uprisings
Sir Robert Peel
British Home Secretary (1822) Created Metropolitan Police Act (1829)
– Established first Police Office at Scotland Yard with paid constables
– “Bobbies” deployed by divisions, beats Hiring Process
– 12,000 applicants for 6,000 jobs– Many from other areas – High turnover during first year
Low pay Misconduct Public resistance
Early Problems and Successes
Citizens called for police force to disband after first year
Police persisted and gained respect despite ongoing riots
– Did not use excessive force– Did not resort to calling in military
As crime rate began to drop, respect for police grew– Pensions (1890)– Code of Professional Conduct (1918)
US Colonial Law Enforcement
1636 – Boston, night watch– Males 18+ expected to serve
1651 – New York, “scout and rattle”– Service as punishment
1705 – Philadelphia, night patrols– City divided into patrol areas, each with its own
Constable and volunteers
Regional Variations
South– Rural, agricultural– Relied on services of County Sheriff
West and Midwest– Elected Constables or Sheriffs
As cities and populations grew, so did crime-related problems– Similar to Industrial Revolution in Britain
Rise of Municipal Police
Early problems…– Night watch only– Erratic, inefficient enforcement– Questionable character/competence of
watchmen As police groups grew, so did corruption Riots in major cities in early 1800’s led
to formation of full-time police organizations by 1860’s
The Spoils Era“To the winner go the spoils”
Police officials acted above the law– Political corruption– Cronyism for selection/promotion– Bribery & Graft– Rigged elections– Racial harassment
Some efforts to reform, but most fell short– Philadelphia (1860), standardized police uniform
New York City Police Department, 1894– Pay to get hired/promoted
Vigilantism
Goes beyond citizens getting involved in aiding police
Operates in opposition to legal norms Injects emotion into process where reason
should prevail South Carolina “Regulators”, 1767
Rationale of Vigilantism
Self-preservation– Be prepared to kill-or-be-killed if the system fails
Right of Revolution– As valid a response as reform when the system
breaks down
Economics– Saving money for the criminal justice system
Inherent Problems with Vigilantism
Punishment without due process No external controls over vigilante group Overreaction to certain actions/groups Racial harassment May be ignored or condoned by law
enforcement
Policing in the Early 20th Century
Civil Service reform helped professionalize departments, but some still lacked positive, effective leadership
Chiefs and Commissioners were transient– NYPD had 12 in 19 years– London had 7 in 91 years
Hands tied by legislative constraints– Difficult to implement innovative programs
Volstead Act, 1919
Prohibition of alcohol largely unpopular, often ignored
Police lost respect, trust, cooperation due to enforcing unpopular law
Police Reform of the 1930’s
Led by Oakland Police Chief August Vollmer Principles of police reform
– Eliminate political corruption– Independent chief– Educated/trained, professional police– Judicious use of latest technology– Benefits of crime-prevention– Expanded role for women in police work– Different approaches for different areas– Role of public service in policing
Impact Areas of Vollmer’s Reforms
Authorization– Authority based on professionalism and law
Function– Crime control
Organizational Design– Centralized organization
Demand for Services– Mainly as crime fighters
Relationship to Environment– Professional aloofness to avoid corruption
Tactics & Technology– Motor patrols for more rapid response
Outcomes– Success based on crime control
More Reforms
Local police followed FBI lead– J. Edgar Hoover had made FBI more popular and respected
Some cities adopted civil service exams for chiefs Some chiefs received lifetime tenure, increasing
power and authority State police departments formed as link between
federal and local efforts
Police and Minorities
Historical clash between powerful and poor– Wealthy privileges in English feudal system– Political/media-created fear of minorities
European immigrants to U.S.– Fear of police oppression
Police mistreatment of minorities has sometimes been reflection of society
– Rich vs. poor– “Us vs. Them” mentality
Community-Outreach Efforts
Police reforms of 1930’s tended to professionalize departments but isolated Police from Community
Police-Community Relations efforts (1950’s)– Aimed high but fell short– Good intentions with limited scope
Goals of Police-Community Relations
Improve communication, reduce hostility Crime detection/prevention skills for all Equal protections Teamwork approach Positive officer attitude towards PCR Enhance mutual understanding Community involvement is necessary
Crime Prevention Units
Some departments created separate unit, some combine with PCR
Proactive approach to helping entire Community
Provided education for business community as well as residents to prevent victimization
Usually manned by Staff, not line personnel
The Challenge of the 1960’s
Decade began with optimistic/idealistic outlook– Peace Corps, civil rights movement– JFK, LBJ, MLK
Mid-1960’s saw political upheaval and civil unrest– Viet Nam, civil rights protests– Bonded racial groups
Conflict among protestors/philosophies– SDS vs. The Weathermen, leading to emergence of
other violent groups like SLA Democratic Convention, Chicago (1968)
– Violent police actions against protestors
Team Policing Model, 1970’s
Reaction to ineffectiveness of PCR and Crime-Prevention strategies
Placed permanent team of officers within same geographical area to increase consistent contact with community
Limitations and obstacles– Applied as a limited tactic– Lacked departmental commitment– Reactive to community needs– Challenged traditional police organizational standards
The Birth of Community Policing
Some transformation had to occur due to changes in political, economic, and social structures in society
Many contributing factors…– Advanced agendas of police & reformers– Increased funding for Community Policing programs– Alienation of Police from Community– Narrow Police mission of fighting crime– Over-reliance on efficiency and effectiveness– Reliance on technology vs. human interaction– Insulation of management from community accountability– Concerns over human-rights violations– Failure of previous models and methods
Learning from Past Mistakes
Problems arise when Police…– Become alienated from Community– Use overt or symbolic violence as means of
control
Creates “Us vs. Them” mentality on both sides
Community Policing uses best elements from past efforts