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The political era was when policing did not focus on improving society, nor was it an accessible service. Corruption was widespread. Chicago did not have officers patrolling all the major metropolitan areas. Residential districts were neglected. Policing at this time merely regulated crime rather than controlling it. William Marcy Tweed took advantage of the underdeveloped system and used it to get elected to the New York Senate, then engaged in criminal activities. This sparked outrage.
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Citizens were fed up with people like William Marcy Tweed, who took advantage of the system. Politicians heavily relied on the police to keep themselves protected in office. This sparked the beginning of the desire to reform policing.
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Reverend Charles claimed that police existed for no reason other than to protect and foster crime and make capital out of it. Using his church, he formed a crusade of people who were tired of people like Tweed to reform the political system in New York City. He and several others are responsible for Theodore Roosevelt being the commissioner of the NYPD. Pearson
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Vollmer argued that policing should be a public service that focused on improving society. He elevated standards of recruitment and retention as well as adopted modern management techniques. Vollmer's way of thinking sparked the actual reformation of policing.
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Serving as the chief of the Wichita, Kansas, Police Department, he clamped down on corruption and brutality. The crackdown resulted in 20% of the police force being fired. His department's mission statement, "Square Deal Code," became the template for the code of ethics. Other departments began to emulate Wilson's department, resulting in the successful reformation of policing.
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After being commissioner for a couple of years, Roosevelt claimed that the NYPD had reformed, but little had changed. Other cities attempted to reform policing as well, but experienced similar issues, such as a lack of morality. However, August Vollmer decided to use another strategy to reform policing.
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The community era stresses service and a customer-friendly element to police work. Routine and traditional police functions like patrol and investigations remain, but their mission statement had been revised by Orlando Winfield Wilson.
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Not only was the new era centered around customer service, but it also served to bring the community together. Bringing the community together allowed for police to further reduce crime.
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The infamous terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, resulted in further changes in police agencies. For instance, terrorist response training was implemented. The new era became more militaristic rather than vastly community-oriented.
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Since 2001, policing has changed. For example, after the George Floyd incident, departments looked to ban choke holds and implement new pursuit policies. Another change is social media, as well as bodycams. Social media and bodycams motivate cops to behave, which improves policing to an extent.
PBS