Different Styles of Policing: An Open Blog Post

James Wilson was a political scientist that developed the theory that there are three different styles of policing. The type of community and the available resources will determine which style of policing each department may follow.

The first style of policing is the watchman style. Police departments that follow this type of policing emphasize maintaining order. Some criminal offenses will be overlooked as long as order can be maintained. These types of police are often found in communities where police resources are scarce.

The second style emphasizes professionalism and enforcement of the law and is called legalistic. Police officers of the legalistic style often stay out of situations in which laws are not broken. The legalistic style looks to efficiently enforce the laws of the land.

The third and final style of police is service. Police in upper-middle class suburban communities often observe the service style of policing. They look to enhance lives of citizens often by focusing on individual needs.

Each style of policing has advantages for the society it provides for. Policing styles reflect the ethics and morals of an entire police unit and not just of the individual officers.