This author argues that, to understand the demands for reform, one must look beyond fiscal considerations, public disillusionment, and the short-term crisis to the increasing transnationalization of policing, which is best illustrated by the advent of the European union. As a result, there has been a shift towards a post-industrial/post-modern form of policing. The implementation of the European union could result in the creation of a differentiated, highly flexible, two-tiered policing system in which the local system would be community-based, supported by citizen activism, and supplemented by the private sector. This system would deliver the services demanded by the community including crime control. On the second tier, the national police agencies would be responsible for upholding national and international law enforcement duties, such as those directed against drug trafficking and terrorism. This national level could eventually be incorporated into an international policing framework which in turn would advance the establishment of an integrated, but decentralized, transnational law enforcement complex. This scenario, in the opinion of the author, raises concerns that the modern police service will no longer be accountable to the public as it becomes more distanced from any sort of local or national authority. 44 references