AJ 58 - Community and Human Relations

1. AJ 58 - Community and Human Relations Chapter 2 – A History of Community Policing

2. 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)

3. 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

4. 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!

5. 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)

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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)

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. Volstead Act, 1919 • Prohibition of alcohol largely unpopular, often ignored • Police lost respect, trust, cooperation due to enforcing unpopular law

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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