Police Accountability in the U.S.

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Events Leading to Police Accountability in the USA
The push to reform the police to improve its accountability in the US dates back to 1900s with the establishment of a presidential commission to investigate the matter (Walker 50). The 1960s rights movement was a dramatic point in the quest to reform the police and instill accountability mechanisms (Walker 75). Police was heavily criticized for their aggressive tactics towards peaceful demonstrators of civil rights and Vietnam War. Judicial rulings that called for oversight of employees in the public sector and common resistance against brutality and misconduct of the police aided the reform agenda. By 1970s police departments of large US cities established unions in a bid to introduce oversight and accountability tactics (Haberfeld, Maria & Ibrahim 306).
The accountability measures that were enacted included the creation of standards in the selection of the people to join the police (Haberfeld, Maria & Ibrahim 313). Unethical individuals were thus barred from entry. Secondly, regulations were introduced to make it mandatory for all recruits to be trained. Civil service administration of the police service was also a significant reform. Promotion of officers was now based on merit. Reform-minded police heads also introduced changes within their portfolios. Police departments were now more bureaucratic with an explicit hierarchical authority that specified the reporting lines. Such a measure was essential in reducing external interference in police operations from elected leaders.

As part of the accountability effort, police embraced Scientific methods of collecting evidence through fingerprints. Police records were now stored in computer database systems. Radio calls also enhanced communications among police officers on duty. In conclusion, police reforms in America have had a positive impact. However, more progress needs to be made as events of a public shooting of minorities by the police continue to surface.
 

Works Cited
Haberfeld, Maria R., and Ibrahim Cerrah. Comparative policing: The struggle for democratization. Sage Publications, 2007.
Walker, Samuel. “A critical history of police reform.” Lexington, MA: Lexington Books (2011).