ABSTRACT
Scholars have often referenced three eras when discussing changes in American policing over time: the political era, the reform era, and the community era (Kelling and Moore 1988). The political era, which spanned the 1800s and ended in the early 1900s, saw police who walked the streets and knew citizens well. Known for their ‘watchman style’, political era-police officers were connected to and engaged with their communities. They focused on keeping the peace, maintaining order, and catering to those in political positions. Police officers in that time had wide discretion and little supervision, which led to allegations of corruption and abuses of power.
