Discuss the roles of early US police agencies and how those roles evolved and changed. As the professionalism of the police changed, did the structure and attitude of the departments also change?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The role of police initially was only minimally directed at law enforcement and therefore was open to opportunities for uncontrolled brutality and corruption. While the police replaced the night watch system, they inherited the functions of the institutions they replaced. For example, the Boston police were responsible for maintaining public health and the New York police were responsible for street sweeping. Early police did not necessarily need to have the right qualifications but rather needed the right connections thanks to political dominance of departments. These roles began to change, thanks in part to professionalism. Some evolving roles of departments included no longer taking on roles like street sweeping and instead focusing on crime. By removing departments from the hands of politicians, this allowed less corruption of the system as promotions would not be handed down on who knew whom, and a new political group taking power could not completely upend the policing system. This change was in part due to the development of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. August Vollmer, the most famous police reformer, instituted university training for young officers and attempted to turn the views of the public to a positive light. O. W. Wilson, one of Vollmer's disciples, pioneered the use of advanced training for officers and applied modern management and administrative techniques to policing. By creating these standards, departments would see themselves as more responsible and dedicated to a certain way of thinking and behaving. These developments took away some of the self-involved interests of the police force and turned it more toward helping the public.