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SOCIOHISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF THE POLICE IN MONTREAL AND ONTARIO - CANADA

NCJ Number
40142
Author(s)
J RICO; M SARRAZIN
Date Published
1974
Length
135 pages
Annotation
DESCRIPTIVE, HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF THE EVOLUTION OF THE POLICE FUNCTION, ORGANIZATION, AND STRUCTURE IN THE CITY OF MONTREAL AND THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO, CANADA, FROM THE MID-SEVENTEENTH CENTURY TO MODERN DAY.
Abstract
DOCUMENTED IS HOW SOCIAL PROBLEMS, TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS, ECONOMIC FLUCTUATIONS, AND POPULATION GROWTH HAVE AFFECTED AND INFLUENCED THE CHARACTER OF THE CANADIAN POLICE. PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED IN BOTH RURAL AND URBAN AREAS ARE CONSIDERED. THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT, DUE TO THE IMPORTANCE OF ITS POPULATION AND TO THE VARIETY AND COMPLEXITY OF ITS NEEDS, FOSTERED A MORE RAPID EVOLUTION OF THE POLICE THAN DID THE RURAL ENVIRONMENT, WHERE LOCAL ELITE WERE NOT ABLE TO OFFER THEIR POLICE FORCES THE NEEDED AUTONOMY AND RESOURCES. THE SOLUTION TO THIS SITUATION PROVED TO BE THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRONG PROVINCIAL POLICE FORCE. HOWEVER, BOTH URBAN AND RURAL POLICE HAD TO FIGHT TO BECOME FREE OF THE CONTROL OF POLITICIANS AND TO GAIN RECOGNITION AS PROFESSIONALS. IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, IT WAS NECESSARY TO ENLIST THE AID OF THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT AND UNITE THE FORCES OF THE CONSTABULARY ASSOCIATION WITH THOSE OF THE CHIEFS OF POLICE. HAVING, IN 1960, ACQUIRED RELATIVE AUTONOMY AND PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION, THE ONTARIO POLICE TURNED THEIR ATTENTION TO IMPROVING THEIR STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION AND MAKING IT MORE EFFECTIVE. THEREFORE, THE POLICE COMMISSION, A PROVINCIAL-LEVEL ORGANIZATION, TOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROMOTING COORDINATION, COOPERATION, TRAINING, AND STANDARDIZATION IN POLICE MANAGEMENT. A SIX-PAGE LIST OF REFERENCES IS PROVIDED. --IN FRENCH...ELW