Walker, Samuel History of American Police

1. The History of the American PoliceThe History of the American Police

2. Learning Objectives
 Contributions of the English Heritage to policing
 The three eras of American Policing
 How technology revolutionize American policing
 August Vollmer, O.W. Wilson, and Robert Peel
 Simmering Racial and Ethnic Relations
 The Research Revolution
 New Developments in Policing

3. English HeritageEnglish Heritage
The English HeritageThe English Heritage
contributedcontributed
three features: (p. 24)three features: (p. 24)
o First, the tradition of limitedFirst, the tradition of limited
authority.authority.
o Second, the tradition of localSecond, the tradition of local
control of law enforcementcontrol of law enforcement
agencies.agencies.
o Third, which is aThird, which is a
consequence of localconsequence of local
control, is a highlycontrol, is a highly
decentralized anddecentralized and
fragmented system of lawfragmented system of law
enforcement.enforcement.
American policing has changedAmerican policing has changed
tremendously, even the lasttremendously, even the last
severalseveral
years.years.

4. Creation of the Modern Police: LondonCreation of the Modern Police: London
 Sir Robert Peel is the “father” ofSir Robert Peel is the “father” of
modern policingmodern policing . He persuaded. He persuaded
Parliament to create the LondonParliament to create the London
Metropolitan Police in 1829.Metropolitan Police in 1829.
 The officers were known asThe officers were known as
“Bobbies” in honor of Peel.“Bobbies” in honor of Peel.
 The mission of the LMP was crimeThe mission of the LMP was crime
prevention.prevention.
 The organizational structure ofThe organizational structure of
LMP was borrowed from theLMP was borrowed from the
military. Which still exist inmilitary. Which still exist in
American policing today. (p. 25)American policing today. (p. 25)

5. Law Enforcement in Colonial AmericaLaw Enforcement in Colonial America
 When the first EnglishWhen the first English
colonists in America borrowedcolonists in America borrowed
from the English heritage. Thefrom the English heritage. The
three institutions were:three institutions were:
 Sheriff, the most important lawSheriff, the most important law
enforcement official.enforcement official.
 Constable, had theConstable, had the
responsibility to enforce theresponsibility to enforce the
law.law.
 Watch, resembled the modernWatch, resembled the modern
day police. Watchmenday police. Watchmen
patrolled the city to guardpatrolled the city to guard
against fires, crime andagainst fires, crime and
disorder.disorder.

6. Law Enforcement in ColonialLaw Enforcement in Colonial
America - Slave PatrolsAmerica - Slave Patrols
 The slave patrol was a distinctlyThe slave patrol was a distinctly
American form of law enforcement. InAmerican form of law enforcement. In
southern states where slavery existed, itsouthern states where slavery existed, it
was intended to guard against slavewas intended to guard against slave
revolts and capture runaway slaves.revolts and capture runaway slaves.
 The slave patrols help maintain theThe slave patrols help maintain the
economic order in southern colonies.economic order in southern colonies.
 In some respects, the slave patrols wereIn some respects, the slave patrols were
actually the first modern police forces inactually the first modern police forces in
this country.this country.
 The Charleston, SC, slave patrol hadThe Charleston, SC, slave patrol had
about 100 officers in 1837 and was farabout 100 officers in 1837 and was far
larger than any northern city police forcelarger than any northern city police force
at the time. (p. 26)at the time. (p. 26)

7. Quality of Colonial LawQuality of Colonial Law
EnforcementEnforcement
 Colonial law enforcement wasColonial law enforcement was
inefficient, corrupt, andinefficient, corrupt, and
affected by politicalaffected by political
interference.interference.
 Contrary to popular myth,Contrary to popular myth,
there was NEVER a “goldenthere was NEVER a “golden
age” of efficiency,age” of efficiency,
effectiveness, and integrity ineffectiveness, and integrity in
American policing.American policing.
 Colonial law enforcementColonial law enforcement
agencies were also ill-agencies were also ill-
equipped to maintain order.equipped to maintain order.
(p. 27)(p. 27)
 Providing both routine andProviding both routine and
emergency service to theemergency service to the
public, as today’s police do,public, as today’s police do,
was not a regular part of thewas not a regular part of the
sheriff’s or constable ‘s job.sheriff’s or constable ‘s job.

8. The First Modern American PoliceThe First Modern American Police
 Modern police forces wereModern police forces were
established in the Unitedestablished in the United
States in the 1830s andStates in the 1830s and
1840s.1840s.
 As in England, the old systemAs in England, the old system
of law enforcement brokeof law enforcement broke
down under the impact ofdown under the impact of
urbanization, industrialization,urbanization, industrialization,
and immigration.and immigration.

9. First Modern American Police ForceFirst Modern American Police Force
Despite the breakdown in law and order, Americans moved very slowlyDespite the breakdown in law and order, Americans moved very slowly
in creating new police forces because:in creating new police forces because:
a) memories of continual police presence of the British colonial army.a) memories of continual police presence of the British colonial army.
b) many thought political opponents would control the police.b) many thought political opponents would control the police.
c) taxpayers did not want to pay for a public police force. (p. 28)c) taxpayers did not want to pay for a public police force. (p. 28)

10. Three Eras of American Policing
I. The political era: 1830s-1900
II. The professional era: 1900-1960
III. The era of conflicting pressures: 1960-present

11. The Political EraThe Political Era
 Police departments in the political
era had no personnel standards as
we understand them today.
 Officers were selected entirely on
the basis of their political
connections.
 Jobs on the police forces were a
major form of patronage, which
local politicians used to reward
their friends.
 Consequently, the composition of
the departments reflected the
ethnic and religious makeup of the
cities.
 After the civil war, some African
American were appointed police
officers in northern cities where the
Republicans were in power. (p. 29)

12. Patrol Work in the Political Era
 The first primitive
communications
system involved
a network of call
boxes that
allowed patrol
officers to call
precinct stations.
(p. 30)

13. The Police and the PublicThe Police and the Public
William Miller argues that theWilliam Miller argues that the
difference between the Londondifference between the London
police and American police ispolice and American police is
professionalism.professionalism.
The London police wereThe London police were
free from political interference andfree from political interference and
able to maintain high personnelable to maintain high personnel
standards.standards.
By contrast, the lack ofBy contrast, the lack of
adequate supervision in Americaadequate supervision in America
tolerated police misconduct, andtolerated police misconduct, and
the result was public disrespect.the result was public disrespect.
(p. 30)(p. 30)

14. The Professional Era, 1900-1960
 American policing underwent a
dramatic change in the
twentieth century.
 The two principal forces for
change were:
1) an organized movement for
police professionalism.
2) and the introduction of
modern technology, particularly
the telephone and the patrol
car. (p. 34)

15. August
Vollmer
 If Robert Peel is the father of the
modern police, August Vollmer
was the father of American
police professionalism.
 Vollmer served as chief of police
in Berkeley, CA, and defined the
reform agenda.
 Vollmer wrote the 1931
Wickersham Commission
“Report on Police”, which
summarized the reform agenda
of modern management for
police departments and higher
recruitment standards for
officers. (p. 34)

16. The Reform Agenda
1) Define policing as a profession. Police should be public
servants with a professional obligation.
2) Eliminate political influence from policing.
3) Appoint qualified chief executives. Hire people who
had proven ability to run manage a large organization.
4) Raise personnel standards. Of the rank-and-file
officers by establishing minimum requirements.
5) Introduce principles of modern management. Such as
centralized command and control.
6) Create specialize units. Such traffic, juveniles, and
vice. (p. 38)

17. Early
Policewomen
 The Portland (OR) police
department hired the first
policewoman, Lola Baldwin, as
a juvenile specialist in 1905.
 First female Police Chief was
Penny Harrington, Portland
(OR) in 1985.
 First African American female
officer was Cora Parchment for
NYPD in 1919.
 The first policewoman DID
NOT perform regular police
duty, usually did not wear
uniforms, did not carry
weapons, and had only limited
arrest powers. (p. 35)

18. The New Police Subculture
 The most dramatic
expression of the new
police subculture was the
emergence of police
unions.
 As policing became a
profession and officers
thought in terms of the
job as a career, they
demanded better salaries
and a voice in decisions
affecting their jobs. (p.
36)

19. Technology Revolutionizes Policing
Some of the most important
changes in policing were a result
of modern communications
technology.
a) Patrol car
b) Two-way radio
c) Telephone
d) The nature of police-citizen
contact.
e) Police management
Class – why was this change so
complex and contradictory?

20. Technological Revolution in Policing
New Technology Impact
Telephone Citizen can easily call the police
Two-way radio Quick dispatch of police to calls
(1930’s) Constant supervision of patrol
officers
Patrol Car Quick response to citizen calls
Efficient patrol coverage
Isolation of patrol officers from
community (p. 38)

21. New Directions in Police
Administration, 1930-1960
 The Wickersham
Commission (1931)
report shocked the nation
with its expose of “third
degree-inflicting of pain,
physical or mental, to
extract confessions or
statements.”
 Police abuse, it
concluded, “is extensively
practiced.” (p. 39)

22. Professionalization Continues
 O.W. Wilson was Vollmer’s
most famous protégé, and he
was the most prominent leader
of the professionalization
movement from the late 1930s
to 1960s.
 Wilson’s major contribution
involved the efficient
management of personnel,
particularly patrol officers.
 Chief Wichita (KS) PD, Dean
of CJ University of CA,
Superintendent of Chicago PD

23. The Police Crisis of the 1960s
The Police and the Supreme Court
 Miranda v. Arizona (1966), the
Court overturned the
conviction and ruled the police
officers had to advise suspects
of their right to remain silent
and their right to an attorney
before being interrogated.
 Mapp v. Ohio, Court held that
evidence gathered in an illegal
search and seizure could not
be used against the defendant.

24. The Police and Civil Rights
 Tensions between the policeTensions between the police
and the African Americanand the African American
community finally exploded incommunity finally exploded in
a nationwide wave of riotsa nationwide wave of riots
between 1964 and 1968.between 1964 and 1968.
 Many of the riots were sparkedMany of the riots were sparked
by a police action.by a police action.
 The Kerner CommissionThe Kerner Commission
(National Advisory(National Advisory
Commission on CivilCommission on Civil
Disorders), appointed to studyDisorders), appointed to study
the riots, counted over 200the riots, counted over 200
violent disorders in 1967violent disorders in 1967
alone. (p. 42)alone. (p. 42)

25. Kansas City Preventive Patrol ExperimentKansas City Preventive Patrol Experiment
 The ResearchThe Research
Revolution, the KCPPERevolution, the KCPPE
(1972-1973) tested the(1972-1973) tested the
effect of different levels ofeffect of different levels of
patrol on crime, andpatrol on crime, and
found that increasedfound that increased
patrol did not reducepatrol did not reduce
crime, while reducedcrime, while reduced
patrol did not lead topatrol did not lead to
increase in crime orincrease in crime or
public fear of crime. (p.public fear of crime. (p.
45)45)

26. Rand Corporation Study
 During the research
revolution the Rand
Corporation study of
criminal investigations
shattered traditional
myths about detective
work.
 Most crimes are solved
by the first officer on the
scene, using information
from victims and
witnesses. (p. 45)

27. The Changing Police Officer
 The American police
officer changed
significantly beginning
1970s. The employment
of racial and ethnic
minority officers
increased significantly.
 Similar progress was
made in the employment
of Latino officers in many
departments. (p. 46)

28. Women Officers
 Traditional barriers to
women in policing
collapsed under the
impact of 1964 Civil
Rights Act, which barred
discrimination on the
basis of sex.
 Departments eliminated
requirements (such as
minimum height or
special strength tests)
that had discriminated
against female
applicants. (p. 46)

29. The Control of Police Discretion
 Recommendations came to
improve the control of police
discretion in regards to
search and seizure,
interrogations, handling
domestic violence, high-
speed pursuits, and use of
deadly force.
 One result was the number
of citizens shot and killed by
police nationwide dropped
substantially between 1970
and 1984. (p. 47)

30. Racial Profiling and Discrimination
 The court case of
Wilkins v. Maryland
sparked a national
controversy over the
practice of racial
profiling, or what
some people called
“driving while black.”
(p. 50)

31. Police Reform Through Federal Litigation
 Federal Litigation against police
departments authorized by the 1994
Violent Crime Control Act, Section
14141, allowed the Civil Rights Division
of the Justice Department to sue law
enforcement agencies if a “pattern or
practice” of violations of citizens rights
existed. (p. 51)