ABSTRACT
In order to understand the evolution of community policing, it is important to look to the historical context in which community policing developed and is practiced in the United States. First, the vast majority of policing in the United States is local. ere are approximately 12,700 local police departments at the city, county, or town level in the country (Schmalleger, 2007). In addition, there are approximately 3,100 sheri s departments (Schmalleger, 2007), some of which are full-service law enforcement agencies, frequently found in rural and some suburban jurisdictions, others of which are primarily responsible for providing courthouse security, stang local jails or detention centers, and service of warrants and court documents, typically
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found in urban jurisdictions. Local control of policing is ensured through the appointment of the police chief by elected local government leaders, typically mayors or county executives. In some instances, local legislative bodies, city or county councils, may control the appointment process. Sheri s are elected public ocials. As a result of their appointment powers, local, politically elected ocials o¤en play a critical role in the decision to implement community policing, an issue which I explore later.
