21st Century Issues Related to Police Training and Standards

Law enforcement in Western culture is already several centuries old. Even the most causal reflection will identify the magnitude of change over the years. Police museums are populated with mannequins wearing tricorn hats and buckskins, high crown helmets, and greatcoats. Modern uniforms are produced from fire-retardant fabrics with cargo pockets and packets for bullet-resistant vests. In the near future these fabrics will be weather-responsive, self-cleaning, and protective against a score of biochemical hazards. Firearms for police have evolved from cap-and-ball revolvers to today’s semiautomatic weapons with high-capacity fast-loading magazines. Handguns now have night sights, lasers, and a multiple safety devices. Police weapons with neurological disrupters and muscle immobilizers are entirely predictable for the next generation of officers.