early policing

Policing: History & Structure

Chapter 5: American Policing, English Roots

Early American Policing

  • Early American policing modeled after English system, dating back to around 1200.

  • "Able-bodied men" were required to join a posse to assist in crime response.

  • Leadership in a posse often by a sheriff (shire reeve) or a constable (mounted officer).

  • The roles of sheriff and constable have historical significance, with the term "reeve" referring to an administrative role in the county.

  • Guilt was assumed in suspects; public trials were rare, and execution was a common punishment for crimes, often public.

English Roots of Policing

Watchman System

  • Initial reliance on watchmen in towns to monitor for fires, thefts, and maintain order by alerting citizens.

  • Statute of Winchester (1285) codified policing practices, which included:

    • Establishing a watch and ward system.

    • Mandating service as watchmen.

    • Penalties for citizens who failed to assist in emergencies.

    • Requirement for homes to be armed for crisis response.

  • The emergence of gin in the 1720s increased public drunkenness and crime, necessitating a more organized policing approach.

Bow Street Runners and Modern Police Forces

Bow Street Runners 1750

  • Established by Sir Henry Fielding; first group of officers dedicated to policing in London.

  • Known for effective street patrols and furthering organized law enforcement practices.

London Metropolitan Police (1829)

  • Sir Robert Peel established the first modern police force comprised of 1000 uniformed officers known as "bobbies".

  • The structure mirrored military organization and served as a model worldwide.

The Early American Experience

  • Early law enforcement in the U.S. reflected English practices, but was uniquely adapted to:

    • Colonial influences.

    • Decentralized, geographically dispersed populations mainly engaged in agriculture.

The Frontier Era

Characteristics of the American Frontier

  • The westward movement by European settlers led to establishment of communities with little or no policing.

  • Vigilantism emerged as settlers took law enforcement into their own hands, often motivated by a desire for safety.

  • The first publicly funded organized police force was established in Boston in 1838.

  • By the 1880s, major U.S. cities had police departments in place.

Political Machines and Early Policing

Late 19th Century Challenges

  • Police leadership often selected by local political party leaders tied to corrupt activities, impacting their impartiality and effectiveness.

  • Highlights of early diversified policing include:

    • Wiley G. Overton: First African American police officer in Brooklyn (1891).

    • Samuel Battle: NYPD's first African American officer (1911).

    • Alice Stebbins Wells: First female police officer hired in Los Angeles (1910).

    • Georgia Ann Robinson: First African American woman officer (Los Angeles, 1919).

Innovations in Policing

Technology Advances in the 20th Century

  • Innovations like telephones, automobiles, and radios significantly impacted policing methods:

    • Call-box systems allowed citizens to report crimes more effectively.

    • The FBI evolved from the Bureau of Investigation in response to increased criminal activity.

    • 1928 marked the creation of the first one-way radio system.

    • Two-way radio communication improved in the 1930s.

Dark Period of Law Enforcement

Prohibition and Police Corruption

  • Prohibition led to a spike in crime surrounding bootlegging and rampant police corruption:

    • Police officers sometimes accepted bribes to ignore illegal activities.

  • The Wickersham Commission (1931) confirmed that Prohibition was a publicly unmanageable initiative that exacerbated corruption.

  • The 21st Amendment (1933) repealed Prohibition, signaling a shift in policing policies.

Investigations into Corruption

The KNAPP Commission

  • Established in 1970, aimed at investigating police corruption in NYC:

    • Frank Serpico, an officer who exposed widespread corruption, testified before the commission.

    • He faced hostility from peers as a result of his whistleblowing.

The Kansas City Experiment (1970)

Research on Policing Strategies

  • The experiment studied the effectiveness of preventive patrol:

    • Results indicated preventive patrol did not reduce crime rates or alleviate citizens' fear of crime.

    • Suggested alternative approaches, such as directed patrols, for effective policing.

Local Law Enforcement Agencies

Overview of Local Agencies

  • Local agencies encompass:

    • Municipal Police Departments

    • Sheriff's Departments

    • Specialized forces (e.g., campus police, transit police).

  • Example: New Jersey has 550 law enforcement agencies.

Roles of Sheriff's Departments

  • Responsibilities include:

    • Patrolling unincorporated areas of the county.

    • Managing county jails and responding to crime scenes.

Private Protective Services

Definition and Growth

  • Private security services form a fourth enforcement tier:

    • Funded privately and employ more personnel than public police forces.

    • Growth attributed to rising workplace crime, fear of crime, economic constraints, and increased reliance on private security solutions.