Introduction
The history of American policing has numerous vital events and growth phases, and the creation and development of community policy is one of them. Its key concepts are that every citizen has the responsibility and the right to participate in the justice system and that “The police are the public and the public are the police” (Miller et al., 2018, p. 17-18). Experts highlight three eras of community policing development, each with its own pros and cons, and these periods offer valuable lessons for modern individuals.
The Political Era
The first era of policing development lasted from 1840 to 1930 and had its own advantages and disadvantages. For instance, according to Miller et al. (2018), during this period, the U.S. police were highly decentralized, unlike in England, and discipline was low. The police were inefficient and corrupt because of their close ties to politicians, who used to appoint certain police chiefs to maintain their power (Friedmann, n.d.). Therefore, instead of rewarding effective workers, such politicians recognized those who voted for them (Miller et al., 2018). The key benefit of this era was that the police managed to get closer to the public and gain people’s trust and support.
The Reform Era
The Progressive Era began in 1930 and lasted until 1980. Its primary focus was to centralize the police and disassociate this system from policing. One advantage of this period was the introduction of numerous innovative tools used by the police, such as radios, handwriting and fingerprint classification systems, and bicycles and motorcycles for patrol (Miller et al., 2018). In some states, chiefs were appointed for life to avoid corruption, and the first college police program was created (Miller et al., 2018). It was also beneficial that the focus shifted to crime prevention, and the police became more professional (Burke et al., 2019). However, when social movements and drug culture emerged, police officers were not ready, and the community viewed them as aggressive enemies, which is a massive disadvantage of this era.
The Community Era
Eventually, the community era began in 1980 and continues to this day. It is marked by increased community involvement, improved overall results, and strengthened relationships between people and police officers (Kappeler et al., 2020). It is a significant advantage that law enforcement has become more responsive to individuals’ actual needs and views (Miller et al., 2018). However, resistance to change still prevents the police from eliminating the tensions, and it is this era’s weakness that communities of color still suffer from the brutality of those who are supposed to protect them.
Major Lessons to Learn
From the significant historical events and developments described above, it is possible to identify specific lessons for community policing advocates. Firstly, it is essential to keep a strong yet limited connection between the public and the police. If these two are detached, there will be a lack of trust and involvement; by contrast, extreme intimacy undermines police officers’ effectiveness as professional protectors. Further, they should remember that if politicians gain more power over the police, there will again be a focus only on high-value crimes and the patronage system (Miller et al., 2018). Lastly, there is also a lesson concerning resistance to change and excess aggression: although serving community needs is highlighted now, many police officers still avoid supporting disadvantaged or minority groups.
Conclusion
To conclude, each of the discussed eras had its pros and cons. In the political era, the police were close to the public but also served the needs of politicians, spreading the patronage system. The reform era brought numerous innovations but reduced the connection between ordinary citizens and the police, while the third era strengthened it again. Community policing advocates should learn about the value of balance and the effects of resistance to change.
References
Burke, A. S., Carter, D., Fedorek, B., Morey, T., Rutz-Burri, L., & Sanchez, S. (2019). Introduction to the American criminal justice system. Open Oregon Educational Resources.
Friedmann, R. R. (n.d.). Broken windows and policing. Police Chief Magazine.
Kappeler, V. E., Gaines, L. K., & Schaefer, B. P. (2020). Community policing: A contemporary perspective. Routledge.
Miller, L. S., Hess, K. M., & Orthmann, C. H. (2018). Community policing: Partnerships for problem solving(8th ed.). Cengage Learning.