The History of Policing and the New Advancements of Technology in Policing

Columbia Southern University

Scholars divide the history of U. S. policing into three eras, The Political Era, The Reform Era, and The Community Integration Era. From 1840 till about 1920 is called The Political Era, during this era the police came to be armed with two types of technology, the gun and the nightstick. Even though technology has changed through the centuries we still revert back to the gun and nightstick when called upon to use force. “Whatever technologies progress the police have made since the second half of the 19th Century, they still rely to a considerable extent on basic tools available 100 years ago to protect innocent life and themselves.” Some of the technology that came about in during this era is use of the telegraph and telephone installation of the police callbox, Bertillon system of criminal identification and the fingerprinting system.
Historian’s call the 1920’s to the 1970’s The Reform Era. During this era “Reformers were out to get rid undesirable political influences and create what they deemed professional police departments.” Some people will say that this era helped emphasize discipline, equal enforcement of the law, and centralized decision making. During the Reform Era policing became more centralized and also the social distance between police and community also increased. Technology became more important with patrol cars and radios which helped to organize officers more efficiently.
The final era would be The Community Era which started in the 1980’s and continues to the present day. The main purpose of this era is to continue to manage crime while providing a large variety of social services. “It is distinguished by authority coming from the support of the community, law, and professionalism.” Police are now starting to become more involved