NCJ Number
38093
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 4 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1976) Pages: 285-297
Date Published
1976
Length
13 pages
Annotation
IN EXAMINING THE HISTORY OF POLICE PROFESSIONALIZATION, THIS ARTICLE FIRST EXPLORES THE EARLY EMPHASIS ON THE RECRUITMENT OF HIGHER QUALITY PERSONNEL AND THEN EXAMINES THE LATER EMPHASIS ON IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY AND EFFICIENCY.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR NOTES THAT THE IDEOLOGY OF POLICE PROFESSIONALISM WAS ARTICULATED BY A NUMBER OF REFORMERS, BEGINNING OVER A HALF CENTURY AGO, WHO WERE ALARMED BY THE INCOMPETENCE AND CORRUPTION OF AMERICAN MUNICIPAL POLICING. AMONG THESE EARLY REFORMERS - RICHARD SYLVESTER, LEONHARD FULD, RAYMOND FOSDICK, AUGUST VOLLMER AND OTHERS - THERE WERE VARIOUS OPINIONS ABOUT THE STRATEGIES THAT SHOULD BE USED TO IMPLEMENT PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS, BUT THERE WAS UNIVERSAL AGREEMENT THAT BOTH THE MEN AND THE METHODS OF POLICE WORK REQUIRED CONSIDERABLE IMPROVEMENT. THE AUTHOR STATES THAT AS DISILLUSIONMENT WITH THE POLICY OF IMPROVING PERSONNEL SET IN, A NEW EMPHASIS IN PROFESSIONALIZATION WAS DEVELOPED. HE EXPLAINS HOW INFLUENTIAL POLICE REFORMERS OF THE NEXT GENERATION, LIKE O. W. WILSON AND, LATER, WILLIAM PARKER, EXPLICITLY SHIFTED THE EMPHASIS FROM A PRIMACY OF PERSONNEL REFORM TO ONE OF TECHNOLOGICAL, MANAGERIAL CONTROL, AND HOW ULTIMATELY THE DRIVE FOR NEW EFFICIENCY AND TECHNOLOGY BECAME DOMINANT OVER THE SEARCH FOR A NEW POLICEMAN. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)