6.3. Policing Eras 
TIFFANY MOREY 
Researchers Kelling and Moore (1991) evaluated the first three eras of policing. These eras are discussed 
below, and are often referred to as the Political Era, the Reform Era, and the Community Era. Through 
the microscope of seven topical areas, listed below, an understanding of how policing evolved begins. 
1. Authorization 
2. Function 
3. Organization 
4. Demand 
5. Environment 
6. Tactics 
7. Outcomes 
These seven characteristics have been used to evaluate how policing operated throughout history, most 
notably through its organizational structure, tactics, and primary focus. 
1 
Political Era: The political era is often referred to as the first era of policing in the United States and it 
began around the 1840s with the creation of the first bona fide police agencies in America 
2 
This era of policing is marked by the industrial revolution, the abolishment of slavery, and the formation 
of large cities. One way to confirm the start of this era is to look at the creation of police departments in 
larger cities: 
1. Greene, J. R., & Mastrofsky, S. D. (Eds.) (1991). Kelling, G.L., & Moore, M. H. (1991). From political to reform to community: The 
evolving strategy of the police. In Community Policing: Rhetoric or Reality. New York: Paeger. 
2. Oliver, W. M. (2006). The fourth era of policing: Homeland security. International Review of Law, Computers & Technology 
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