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NYC Creates Office of Sheriff
New York City (formerly New Amsterdam) created its first organized Office of Sheriff -
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Patronage & Spoils System
From 1820-1883, this system rewarded political loyalty. If someone was seeking police employment, they would usually need a letter of endorsement from a powerful politician. Since most officers were political appointees, when the party in power was removed most of the department would be dismissed of their duty due to political affiliation. -
Metropolitan Police Act Passed
English Parliament passes the Metropolitan Police Act with the strong support of Sir Robert Peel. This created the first full-time police force in London, and set the groundwork for the American policing model. -
First Paid Full Time Force
Philidelphia became the first U.S. city with a paid, full-time police force. -
First Day-Night Force
New York City creates the first unified day-night police force in the country, establishing watch 24 hours a day. -
Committee of Vigilance
Citizens of San Francisco who were outraged by election corruption, graft, and out-of-control crime, founded the Committee of Vigilance to provide "security for life, and property." -
Funds Appropriated for Tribal Police
Congress begins appropriating funds for the formation and maintenance of Tribal Police on reservation lands. -
Pendleton Act Passed
The Pendleton Act was passed in an effort to curb the patronage and spoils system. It established the U.S. Civil Service Commission to enforce the provisions of the Act. It also required that federal employees pass a competitive examination and be appointed based on merit. -
Charles Parkhurst
Throughout 1892, Presbyterian Minister Charles Parkhurst gave several sermons, publicly exposing New York City's political and police corruption -
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Lexow Committee
The New York State Senate formed the Lexow Committee to examine police corruption within the New York City Police Department. The roughly 10,000-page report was considered instrumental in the city electing a reform party mayor. -
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Reformation Period
The Reformation Period of 1900-26 was meant to meet two immediate needs. (1) Arousing the public from its apathy, and (2) creating a conceptual cornerstone or model for improvement by separating politics and patronage. -
August Vollmer
Considered the father of American policing, August Vollmer got his start by being elected the Marshall of Berkeley California -
Berkeley California Incorporated
Berkeley California is incorporated and names August Vollmer its first Police Chief, and under his leadership the Berkeley Police Department becomes the model for professional policing -
National Prohibition Act
Also known as the Volstead Act, this bill gave enforcement powers of prohibition laws -
18th Amendment
Ratified in the Constitution, the 18th Amendment began the Prohibition -
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Prohibition Era
The time between 1920-1933 where the sale, transport, and production of alcohol was made illegal in the U.S. -
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The Lawless Years
Often referred to the Gangster Era, this was the time during the Prohibition Period where organized crime escalated, and gangsters used the ban on alcohol to grow their syndicates through enterprises such as bootlegging. -
National Commission on Law Observance ad Law Enforcement
Also known as the Wickersham Commission, this commission was appointed by President Herbert Hoover and was the nation's first comprehensive study on crime. -
Stock Market Crash
The Stock Market lost 80% of its value, wiping out billions of dollars in wealth. Millions of people became unemployed, and lost their homes, farms, and businesses. -
Volstead Act Repealed
In 1931 congress repealed the Volstead Act -
Wickersham Commission Report
The Wickersham Commission issued the findings from their study. As part of their recommendations, the commission called for civil service protection for the police, along with enhanced training and education. -
Prohibition Repealed
After 13 years of increased crime and gangster activity due to Prohibition, congress ratified the 21st Amendment to the Constitution which eliminated the 18th Amendment and effectively repealed Prohibition. -
ICAP
The International Association of Chiefs of Police is formed. -
NPA
The FBI's National Police Academy is created with the directive to provide further training to police executives. -
Hatch Act Passed
The Hatch Act was enacted and forbade federal employees from engaging in partisan political activities. -
NSA
The National Sheriffs Association is formed. -
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World War II
With many able-bodied men being called to service during the war, this opened the door immensely for women in policing. -
Truman Assassination Attempt
Two Puerto Ricans attempt to assassinate President Harry Truman. During the exchange of gunfire, one Puerto Rican and a police officer are killed. -
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Korean War
Just like during WWII, many able-bodied men were called away to fight in the war and had to leave their posts as police officers. So, once again this opened the door further for women in policing. -
Ethal and Julius Rosenberg
With heightened fears of communism growing and the Korean War still going on, Ethal and Julius Rosenberg were executed for divulging nuclear bomb secrets to the Soviet Union. -
Puerto Rican Nationalists Open Fire
Just four years after the Attempt on President Truman, a group of four Puerto Rican nationalists opened fire from the upper balcony in the House of Representatives at members of congress while they were conducting official business. These Four were captured and claimed to have been acting in the name of Puerto Rican independence. -
POST
The California Peace Officers Standards and training Commission was created by legislation to set minimum standards for the selection and training of police officers. -
Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 invalidated Jim Crow Laws, as well as outlawing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. -
Multnomah County Sheriff's Office
The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office became the first police force to require a college degree. -
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Detroit Riots
The five-day riots began in the early hours of July 23, 1967, in response to a Detroit Police raid on the "Blind Pig", an unlicensed bar on the corner of 12th St and Clairmount Av, in the city's oldest and poorest black neighborhood. -
Washington D.C. Riots
The same day that Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated, riots began to erupt in Washington D.C. in response and would go on to last four days. -
Martin Luther King Jr - Assassinated
Martin Luther King Jr, a civil rights icon, is assassinated outside his hotel room in Tennessee -
IAPW
The International Association of Police Women is formed, giving female police officers a voice. -
Equal Opportunity Act Passed
The Equal Opportunity Act was implemented to protect individuals during hiring and made discriminatory hiring practices illegal. -
NCJRS
The National Criminal Justice Reference Service is created for easy access of information for criminal justice students, scholars, and practitioners. -
HAPCOA
The Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association is formed to assist in the recruitment, training, and promotion of qualified Hispanic men and women and to advocatew for Hispanic law enforcement issues. -
PERF
The Police Executive Research Forum is formed by the largest city, county, and state agencies for the purpose of pursuing research and public policy work of particular interest to its members. -
NOBLE
The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives is formed and focuses on crime in low-income areas. -
CALEA
The Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies is established with the support of ICAP, NSA, PERF, and NOBLE as an independent accrediting body for law enforcement agencies. -
Ronald Regan Assassination Attempt
John Hinkley attempts to assassinate President Ronald Regan in an effort to impress actress Jodi Foster. -
Oklahoma City Bombing
Right wing extremist Timothy McVeigh parked a box truck filled with explosives outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City before detonating it and killing 186 people including 19 children. -
Hezbollah Truck Bomb
A Hezbollah truck bomb in Saudi Arabia killed or wounded 20 Americans when it exploded while parked next to a housing area for American service members -
Al-Qaeda Attacks U.S. Embassies
Al-Qaeda exploded bombs at the American Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania killing 252 people. -
Attack on the USS Cole
Al-Qaeda launches an attack on the USS Cole while docked in Yemen and detonates a bomb killing 17 sailors. -
September 11, 2001
Al-Qaeda launches an attack on mainland America. Operatives hijacked four commercial airliners, flying two into the World Trade Center in New York City, one hit the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and the fourth, believed to be targeting the White House was taken down in rural Pennsylvania by passengers fighting back against the hijackers. -
Patriot Act Passed
In response to the terror attacks of 9/11, U.S. legislature passed the Patriot Act in an effort to combat terrorism. -
NAAALEC
The National Association of Asian American Law Enforcement Commanders is created to promote a positive police image in Asian/Pacific communities and to speak on topics of common concerns for its members -
Las Vegas Shooting
In 2017, a lone gunman set up shop at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas and opened fire on concert goers at the festival grounds across the street, killing 48 and injuring 413. -
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The Second Reformation of Policing
America has entered a second reformation of policing.
1. Public outcry for the murders of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd demanding changes to policing.
2. Legislation directly written to reform police practices are being implemented across the country.
3.Traditional policing is being thrown out the window and progressive midels are being implemented.
4. Police funding has become a polorized argument.
5. Progressives want to restrict the powers of the police and change the job completely. -
Breonna Taylor Killed
While executing a no-knock warrant the Louisville Police fatally shot 26-year-old Breonna Taylor in her boyfriend's apartment while caught in the crossfire between her boyfriend and police -
George Floyd Killed
While being taken into custody, Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin placed his knee on the neck of George Floyd ultimately resulting in his death in police custody. This set of a spark of violent protests across the country. -
Jacob Blake Shot
Kenosha WI police responded to a 9-1-1 call for a domestic disturbance, on arrival a confrontation between Blake and police ensued where Blake was ultimately shot and paralyzed by police during the incident. Blake, like Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, became the rallying cry for police reform in America. -
George Floyd Justice in Policing Act
H.R. 1280 is passed with provisions to increase accountability for law enforcement misconduct, restricts the use of certain policing practices, enhances transparency and data collection, and establishes best practices and training requirements.