The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | October 2024
Continued from previous page at the behest of US President Herbert Hoover , Vollmer and 10 other criminology specialists were tasked with drafting a comprehensive study on American Law Enforcement during the age of Prohibition .
Vollmer used the opportunity to discuss flaws he saw in law enforcement across the country . He saw local police departments in many towns as corrupt , uneducated and preoccupied with local politics over fighting crime . As a result , Vollmer advocated for education and training for every department , and also called out police departments in their current state as incapable of catching criminals without change and reform .
Vollmer ended his career optimistic for the future of law enforcement . He hoped that as scientific research became more prevalent , officers would use this new information to nurture healthy communities even after he passed on . In one of his essays , he wrote , “ These alert youngsters , not content to follow in the skeptical attitude of their predecessors , are casting about in all directions for new instruments and methods to assist them in the more intelligent performance of their duties .”
After retiring in 1938 , Vollmer continued to offer his advice . He would welcome these visitors with open arms and inspire others even up to his last days . Sadly , as cancer and Parkinson ’ s disease took hold of his body , Vollmer would take his own life at the age of 79 .
Why Vollmer matters August Vollmer was a leader of courage and conviction . In everything he did , he took the difficult path if it bettered his community . His leadership turned an overlooked , underfunded and disjointed police organization into a proper law enforcement agency that would earn world renown . He used his position to advance education , scientific research and his personal vision to raise up his city . He inspired his officers to act with tenacity and professionalism that empowered them to do their job : keep communities safe .
Most importantly , Vollmer challenged and advocated for his officers to improve . When faced with ridicule for pursuing new ways of thinking , Vollmer kept moving toward reform . It would be easy for us to say we have already embraced Vollmer ’ s ideas and that we have no need to keep moving forward .
But that would not be in the spirit of Vollmer ’ s legacy . Vollmer calls on all of us to be better . Meet and exceed the standard of your position . Do not simply “ walk a beat .” Make your community a better place with residents who care about it . Make your town , city or street the best place you possibly can . Be diligent in your profession . With enough commitment to your community , the decline of crime will naturally follow .
About the Author Midshipman 2nd Class ( junior ) Nicholas Blauth studies history at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis , Maryland . Originally from Vineland , New Jersey , Blauth earned his associate degree in Homeland Security in addition to four years of education in law enforcement at Cumberland County Technical Education Center . Blauth hopes to add to the field of criminology and modern law enforcement by providing lessons learned from the past . The views expressed here are solely those of the author in his private capacity and do not in any way represent the views of the U . S . Naval Academy , U . S . Navy or the Department of Defense .
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