Wk 1 - Historical Aspect of Policingb b b b b b
Intro
Policing in America has massively evolved over the years. Initially, police officers had
b b b b b b b b b b b b
mismatched uniforms, no rules to abide by, and were very unprofessional. Their main
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
goal was to keep everyone in accordance with the law. Throughout the years, policing has
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
changed and is now a more organized and structured aspect of law enforcement. The drive
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
to professionalize policing started with the implementation of technology, education, and
b b b b b b b b b b b
leadership training in a way to keep the community crime free to this day.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
o Who is Robert Peel, and what is his significance related to policing? b b b b b b b b b b b
Sir Robert Peel was a second baronet and member of the British Conservative statesman
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
who served as Prime Minister of the U.K. He is known as the father of modern British
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
policing, who established the metropolitan police force. Sir Robert Peel stated that the
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
primary role of policing should be to protect the people, prevent crime and punish
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
criminals. He also stated that police officers should be loyal to their profession and
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
maintain order.
b b
Describe an event that occurred in the Political Era of Policing. How do
o b b b b b b b b b b b b b
you feel it has impacted policing today? b b b b b b b
During the 1800s to early 1900s, known as the political era of policing, it was very biased,
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
with no proper system in place. Many people during that era were not happy with the way
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
that the police conducted business and thought that the politicians used the police for
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
their own good. There were a lot of injustices and corruption during that time, and the
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
number of police crimes and violence was very high. The overall image of the police force
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
during that era was horrible, which led to the reform of the police force we see today.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
o Explain what changed in policing during the Professional Era. b b b b b b b b
During the professional era of policing, politics were rejected as a base of police
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
management. It resulted in the implementation of the civil service system, where the
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
police force is no longer seen as working for political leaders but seen as officers who
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
abide by and enforce the law. That era introduced an assortment of police practices that
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
we still see today, such as police academies, police training, and the introduction of
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
police radio cars. Radio cars became the symbol of policing by representing presence,
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
mobility, and control.
b b b
o Explain the police crises of the 1960s. b b b b b b
The crisis of the police that occurred in 1960 resulted from civil unrest and citizens not
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
being satisfied with the political and societal conditions within the country. The crime rate
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
massively increased during that period, in addition to the low wages and police officers
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
quitting their jobs, which resulted in a shortage in the force.
b b b b b b b b b b b
o Describe at least 2 developments in policing since 1970. b b b b b b b b
There have been several changes in policing since 1970 to date such as the police
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
demographic, technology, and different way to address crime. Compared to the past era,
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
many more African Americans and females are now being hired compared to when
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Intro
Policing in America has massively evolved over the years. Initially, police officers had
b b b b b b b b b b b b
mismatched uniforms, no rules to abide by, and were very unprofessional. Their main
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
goal was to keep everyone in accordance with the law. Throughout the years, policing has
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
changed and is now a more organized and structured aspect of law enforcement. The drive
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
to professionalize policing started with the implementation of technology, education, and
b b b b b b b b b b b
leadership training in a way to keep the community crime free to this day.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
o Who is Robert Peel, and what is his significance related to policing? b b b b b b b b b b b
Sir Robert Peel was a second baronet and member of the British Conservative statesman
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
who served as Prime Minister of the U.K. He is known as the father of modern British
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
policing, who established the metropolitan police force. Sir Robert Peel stated that the
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
primary role of policing should be to protect the people, prevent crime and punish
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
criminals. He also stated that police officers should be loyal to their profession and
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
maintain order.
b b
Describe an event that occurred in the Political Era of Policing. How do
o b b b b b b b b b b b b b
you feel it has impacted policing today? b b b b b b b
During the 1800s to early 1900s, known as the political era of policing, it was very biased,
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
with no proper system in place. Many people during that era were not happy with the way
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
that the police conducted business and thought that the politicians used the police for
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
their own good. There were a lot of injustices and corruption during that time, and the
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
number of police crimes and violence was very high. The overall image of the police force
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
during that era was horrible, which led to the reform of the police force we see today.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
o Explain what changed in policing during the Professional Era. b b b b b b b b
During the professional era of policing, politics were rejected as a base of police
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
management. It resulted in the implementation of the civil service system, where the
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
police force is no longer seen as working for political leaders but seen as officers who
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
abide by and enforce the law. That era introduced an assortment of police practices that
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
we still see today, such as police academies, police training, and the introduction of
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
police radio cars. Radio cars became the symbol of policing by representing presence,
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
mobility, and control.
b b b
o Explain the police crises of the 1960s. b b b b b b
The crisis of the police that occurred in 1960 resulted from civil unrest and citizens not
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
being satisfied with the political and societal conditions within the country. The crime rate
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
massively increased during that period, in addition to the low wages and police officers
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
quitting their jobs, which resulted in a shortage in the force.
b b b b b b b b b b b
o Describe at least 2 developments in policing since 1970. b b b b b b b b
There have been several changes in policing since 1970 to date such as the police
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
demographic, technology, and different way to address crime. Compared to the past era,
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
many more African Americans and females are now being hired compared to when
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
