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As American cities grew larger during the Industrial Revolution, the old system of night watchmen and local constables just couldn’t keep up. With crowded neighborhoods, rising poverty, increased immigration, and more visible crime, cities needed something more reliable. That’s when they began creating organized, uniformed police departments designed to maintain order and protect property. Boston Police started the Day Police which made significant steps in organized policing. -
Tammany Hall
During this era, police departments were closely connected to local political machines. Officers were often hired due to them being friends, family, or loyal supporters of politicians rather than them being the most qualified candidates. In return, police answered directly to political leaders and were expected to enforce the law in ways that benefited those in power. -
1863 Boss Tweed became the Grand Sachem of Tammany Hall and demanded payoffs from contractors who did any business in NYC. -
prohibition
When alcohol was outlawed, enforcing the law became extremely difficult. Organized crime quickly stepped in to supply illegal alcohol, and many police officers were bribed or pressured to look the other way. As corruption grew, police departments started experimenting with new tactics, including specialized units, investigations, and increased cooperation with federal agencies. -
Al Capone
Al Capone and organized crime paid off Chicago Police to ignore speakeasies and bootlegging. He flourished during prohibition from 1925-1931 but was sentenced to 11yrs in prison in 1931 for tax evasion. -
The Red Scare
After World War II, policing became more professional and structured, with greater emphasis on training, hierarchy, and rapid response. The fear of the Cold War also led to increased surveillance. -
World War II was from 1939-1945 -
The 60's
Civil rights protests and inner-city unrest showed the growing tension between police and communities. Televised police responses sparked public criticism and demands for reform and accountability. -
JFK was shot and killed 11/22/1963 -
Martin Luther King JR. was a prominent American Civil Rights Leader. He was killed on April 4, 1968 -
Community Policing
Research showed traditional policing had limited impact on crime, leading departments to adopt community policing, problem-oriented policing, and alternatives to reactive patrol.
Tensions were high with the police during the end of the Vietnam War. -
The expansion of emergency 911 systems in the 1970s changed how communities interacted with police, forcing a more reactive, service-oriented approach. -
War on Drugs LA
As the War on Drugs expanded, policing shifted toward tougher enforcement and new crime-control strategies. Departments began using computer databases, CompStat, and tools to track crime and deploy officers more efficiently. While these changes improved efficiency, they also raised concerns about over policing and rising incarceration. -
The evolution of CompStat in the 1990's was developed under guidance of Commissioner William Bratton of The New York City Police Department. It addressed crime patterns as well as provided rapid response to incidents. -
Homeland Security
After the September 11 attacks, policing in the U.S. expanded beyond traditional crime control to focus heavily on terrorism prevention. Police departments began working more closely with federal agencies, sharing intelligence through fusion centers and using new surveillance technologies. While these efforts aimed to improve safety, they also raised concerns about privacy and how monitoring may have been violating peoples rights. -
Body Worn Camera
Modern policing is under constant public visibility. Body-worn cameras, social media, and real-time news coverage have increased transparency and accountability.- Body-worn cameras are now shaping how officers act on the job and raising public expectations for transparency.
- Technology is increasingly guiding where officers patrol, how investigations are conducted, and how risks are assessed.
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- Social media has put policing in the public eye, with police actions often being seen, shared, and judged almost instantly.
- High-profile use-of-force incidents have led to stronger public calls for reform and accountability.
- police responsibilities have expanded beyond crime control to include mental health response, crisis intervention, and building partnerships with the community.