Читать книгу Police in America - Steven G. Brandl - Страница 61

Another swell of change began to sweep through American society in the early twentieth century. By 1920, automobiles were being widely used, as were radios, telephones, and other technologies. Along with advancing living standards for many, the new technology also placed increased demands on the police. Due to the use of automobiles in particular, criminals could commit crimes in one jurisdiction and easily flee to another, causing great difficulties for the police. In addition, automobiles created a need for traffic enforcement, a responsibility assigned to the police. Another element of technology that significantly affected the work demands of the police was the telephone, which turned police departments into twenty-four-hour agencies that were just a call away.

The police were also confronted with new demands unrelated to technology. Concerns about crime became a major issue. With the 1920s came a rise in serious crime—in perception if not in fact. Kidnapping, gangsters, and bombings attributed to communists were front-page news. Prohibition and the Great Depression also placed significant new demands on the police. In the face of these developments, the police were once again in the midst of a crisis.