Police Reforms
List at least one major contribution to police reform in the United States that each of the following men have brought to police work: Theodore Roosevelt, August Vollmer, and O.W. Wilson. How do you think community intervention/involvement may have played a role in the decision-making process of each of these men (2-3 double spaced pages).
NOTE: Assignments should be submitted using 12 font, double-spaced type with 1 inch margins. Proper in-text citations and references should be documented per the 6th edition of the APA Manual. Save each chapter separately but submit them at the same time. Title/cover page is required for each submission.
Police Reforms
Police reform mostly concerns reforming or changing the public’s view regarding the legitimacy of the police. The public misunderstands the police’s duties, which leads to friction between the public and the police. In most cases, police brutality, which is temporary, and individual is usually the problem rather than police violence, systemic and institutional (Hope, 2015). Since the political era of policing ended up being laced with brutality and corruption, there was a need for police reforms, especially by August Vollmer, who was considered the pioneer for police professionalism, followed by both Theodore Roosevelt and O.W. Wilson.
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt is the youngest person to become the president of the united states. He was the leader of a progressive movement who championed his square deal domestic policies. He also promised fairness to the average citizens, breaking trusts, railroads regulation, and pure food and drugs. Roosevelt’s approach in police reforms created efficiency using a strong centralized control, recruitment with strict standards that involved discipline and training, modern technology application, and limiting and defining police the police function. There was a strict involvement of criminal law enforcement during the application of the model with a legalistic and moralistic style. Roosevelt’s administration aimed at ensuring that corruption was swept off.
August Gus Vollmer
August Vollmer happens to be the first police chief of Berkeley, California, and a figure well known for leading in the development of criminal justice in the united states. He introduced the twentieth-century police reforms, which militarized police departments increasingly. Vollmer introduced reforms that reflected how experienced he was in the US military during the Spanish-American War in the Philippines and the Philippine-American war. Vollmer advanced policing in its use of technology, training, and education. He also advocated for the use of data collection, monitor police, and providing information. He also introduced the use of a police car and motorcycle to enable keeping up with criminals.
O.W. Wilson
Wilson happened to be the most prominent police leader. He was also a scholar of the twentieth century. At his outset, some of the police reforms demanded include the establishment of a non-partisan police board that Helped in governing the police force (Douthit, 1975). There was also a strict merit system for promotions within the department and an aggressive, countrywide recruiting drive for hiring new officers. He also introduced higher police salaries aiming at attracting professionally qualified police officers. Lastly, he introduced mobile radios and the use of mobile crime laboratories for suspect detection and finding evidence.
The Good Neighbor policy was introduced under the administration of Roosevelt towards Latin America. He was determined to improve relations with the nations of the south and central America. His community involvement, cooperation, and trade were the key factors emphasized in maintaining stability in the hemisphere rather than military force. It also encouraged interactions between the United States and Latin America as equals. Vollmer became a volunteer when war broke out against Spain and was involved in Manila’s taking, and twenty-five combat engagements followed on. Volunteering in the community made him understand what the community wanted, which helped in decision-making during the police reforms. Wilsonianism was a certain type of foreign policy advice that was introduced during Wilson’s era. His community involvement helped the community to avoid wars and end hostile aggression.
Community involvement or intervention played a big role in the three men’s decision-making process. A joint decision-making initiative increases well-being in a couple of ways, especially when looking at interventions concerning police reforms. Strategies based on the community promote and recognize the community’s active role in the process of crime-prevention. These interventions seek to define the relationship between the community and the police in a manner presumed to reduce crime or disorder.
References
Hope Sr, K. R. (Ed.). (, 2015). Police corruption and police reforms in developing societies. CRC Press.
Douthit, N. (1975). August Vollmer, Berkeley’s first Chief of Police, and the emergence of police professionalism. California Historical Quarterly, 54(2), 101-124.
