Policing into the Twentieth Century

Policing at the turn of the twentieth century was rife with corruption - a problem that continues to plague current police administrators. Reforms in policing were attempted during the progressive period of American government (1900-1914) with no effect. The Boston Police Strike of 1919 was a first of its kind. It ended when rioting and looting broke out, turning the public against the striking officers and ending their strike. Not until 1969 did the next unofficial police strike occur in New Orleans, where police officers succumbed to an outbreak of the "Blue Flu." New Orleans firefighters joined them in an outbreak of the "Red Flu." Yet these job actions ended without benefit to the officers or firemen. Ten years later, Mardi Gras was cancelled when NOPD officers participated in the first official police strike in 60 years, ending in frustration and failure for NOPD officers as well. (Note: the course author was an NOPD officer at that time and participated in both the "Blue Flu" and the strike.)