Modern Day Policing and Society 1

Modern Day Policing and Society: Where are we headed?

Patricia Langford

Professor Karina Arzumanova

Introduction to Criminal Justice

July 30, 2018

Modern Day Policing and Society 2

Modern day policing is a significant factor in today’s society. Law enforcement is a

critical factor in keeping the public safe. Police officers are here to maintain peace and fight

crime. Policing itself dates all the way back to the early English era and has been improving and

reshaping its criteria since it first began. Continuing to change day by day creates new

opportunities for recruits to enter many different fields of law enforcement. From being a patrol

officer to staying in the office behind a computer all day, law enforcement has opened

opportunities for just about anyone to get involved. Policing is continuing to evolve, who knows

where we will be in the future.

Policing has changed from era to era. It started back in the English period but did not begin to

bloom until the nineteenth century when the first police department was created. The nineteenth

century has its strengths and weaknesses, but it was the beginning of type of policing that we

know today. The first police force was formed in London in 1829, then policing consisted of

more weaknesses than strengths. Police back then were called bobbies, they were undereducated,

with little training, corrupt and not very good at stopping crime. These bobbies were soon

terminated in the attempt to make a more uniform police force that fights crime.

In the late 1830's to the early 1850's, the first formal police departments were created in New

York, Boston and Philadelphia. These police departments replaced the old police forces and

provided a more uniform policing. Besides being the first police departments, they still had their

downfalls. When it came to recruiting new members the odds of being accepted to the force were

not technically fair "An individual with the right connections would be hired despite a lack of

qualifications" (book). These departments were still corrupt with little training nor education. On

the bright side, many individuals wanted to join the police force due to the pay being much
Modern Day Policing and Society 3

higher than regular blue collar jobs. “By 1880, the average factory worker earned $450 a year,

whereas a metropolitan police officer made annually $900. With many citizens wanting the

higher paying job the hiring process was more accessible for the wealthy than the poor because

they could buy their way through.

Back then, police did not have the technological advance we have access to today. Police

patrolled on foot, had no technology, not even a way to contact back up. When a police officer

was on patrol, they were on their own. Since they were on their own they often retaliated to

violence with force and brutality and without the proper training this causes many issues in the

nineteenth century with stopping crime and there relationships with the public. "The long-

standing conflict between the police and public was born in the difficulty that untrained,

unprofessional officers had in patrolling the streets in the nineteenth century U.S. cities and in

breaking up and controlling labor disputes" (book). The police essentially were not crime

fighters; their primary role was maintaining order. Since most were untrained and uneducated

they people they served disliked them very much.

Finally, by the end of the nineteenth century, there were many upgrades to the police

departments. Police officer’s son did not have to patrol on foot anymore because the bicycle

started being used. Officers finally could contact back up with the invention of the telegraph and

police boxes. Even though these innovations arise, the police were still very much un-liked by

the community they served. The nineteenth century had its ups and downs, but it was the

building foundation of policing.

The twentieth century was filled with more strengths than weaknesses. This century

policing revolved around improving and professionalizing the police. Police officers had the

opportunity to get educated in law enforcement. College classes were created to further the
Modern Day Policing and Society 4

knowledge of police officers. Alone with education training became mandatory for entering the

criminal justice field. "During this period, police professionalism was equated with an

incorruptible, tough, highly trained, rule-oriented department organized along militaristic lines"

(book). Even though the police officer’s obtained formal training, there were still situations the

could not control. In the 1960’s the police officers were ordered to follow strict rules which

encourages equality between all predators.

During the twentieth century, many things were changing. Law enforcement was evolving to

become more like it is today. Enhancing training methods and educational opportunities helped

police officers to become more of crime fighters, but even with these opportunities the police and

the public did not see eye to eye. Due to the community police issues, the police department

began to look for new ways to solve these problems. The 1900's were a remarkable time for law

enforcement; many dramatic changes occurred in helping police officers become one with their

jobs.

Law enforcement today has its ups and downs also. Community and police still don't quite get

along, and with all the new laws coming out it's hard to keep up with all the innovations. Just like

decades ago, recruiting new officers is a tough thing to do. Hiring a new officer’s entails finding

the right fight for the team. With millennials not wanting to work or already obtaining criminal

records in the early years of their life, finding new people to join the police force can be an issue

in criminal justice. With the job being hazardous it is hard to see individuals who want to commit

until retirement. "The inherent dangers of the profession and its intense scrutiny and harsh

criticism discourage some from entering and remaining in law enforcement" (first source). To

help the police departments with the recruitment process, they need to make a plan on where

they would put the recruits so police learn the most they can. The plan should consist of what
Modern Day Policing and Society 5

type of qualifications a person needs to join. "Every police executive looks for the recruit who

has the right blend of skill sets, such as level-headedness, internal drive to communication

abilities, and external drive to police services" (2nd source). What kind of attitude an individual

should present when entering the field. Is very important to be hired for the job.

For a very long time now, budgeting has been a big issue in criminal justice. There have

been many budget restraints when it comes to having enough money to support all the aspects of

the criminal justice system. Being a police officer may seem to be a well-off career choice, but in

reality, they are underfunded. In the police force, there is a lot of equipment needed to live up to

their crime-fighting tasks. Needing, guns, handcuffs, body-worn cameras, high tech computer

systems, cars, employee payments and much more. Law enforcement typically struggles to

afford to make sure all departments have all the equipment and money they need to succeed in

keeping their community safe.

The future of policing could go one way or the other.in the future in policing could be

good or bad. The good would be that the police would get along with the community better than

they do today. It would be wonderful if the police and the community could come together as

one to help prevent crime. This could possibly lower the crime rate for good. In order for this to

happen, officers need to realize that citizens and officers are one in the same. We are all human

beings that are not perfect, yes some individuals are predators but not everyone should be treated

as if they are bad.

Policing in the future could also turn bad. If law enforcement does not eventually get the

respect from the community they desire, the situation could turn out very bad. The citizens of

these communities could turn against the police which would make the crime rate rise. The
Modern Day Policing and Society 6

community could loose faith in the police and trust them to be able to help. If this happens

policing would loose hold of there initial duty which is to protect the community and fight crime.

This brings us to my last statement of how the public cooperates with the police. For

matters like this there has been a program created to help with the police becoming more

engaged in the communities they protect. “Community- oriented policing is a set of programs

and strategies designed to bring the police and the public closer together and create more of a

cooperative working environment” (book119). These programs were desired for law

enforcement officers to try a gain the respect from the community they desired. One big focus of

this program was to get the police and youth involved in activities to prevent them from growing

up and breaking the laws. Law enforcement started doing foot patrols in the neighborhoods they

were assigned too. This helped the officers become one with the community and also helps them

to recognize when something isn’t right, or someone doesn’t belong. Having to knowhow to

communicate with the public, this topic became another part of the training process when

becoming an officer. In policing it is key to know how to work with the community.

In conclusion, law enforcement has change drastically since the beginning of time when

it starts. From having nothing but their team of officers to being able to contact and find anyone

across the world. There will always be issues in law enforcement, but if policing could be turned

towards fixing these issues in the future the workplace will be more easy going. There are always

going to be bad people in the world to keep law enforcement at the top of the charts but working

together with the community to help stop these perpetrators the world would be a much better

place, the crime rate would go down, and police officers would be more respected by its citizens.