WITH THE ESTABLISHMLENT OF THE FIRST ORGANIZED POLICE FORCE IN LONDON IN 1829, A TRADITION BEGAN THAT, WITH LITTLE VARIATION, HAS BEEN FOLLOWED BY POLICE FORCES EVER SINCE. THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE POLICE FORCE REMAINS THE ERADICATION OF CRIME AND DISORDER. THE THREE MAJOR FUNCTIONS REMAIN PREVENTION OF CRIME, REPRESSION OF CRIME, AND DETECTION OF OFFENDERS. A NUMBER OF SOCIAL CHANGES THAT HAVE OCCURED RAPIDLY IN DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES HAVE BROUGHT NEW CHALLENGES TO POLICE. SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES, TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES, AND HIGHER EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS HAVE GIVEN RISE TO THE QUESTIONING OF CONVENTIONAL THINKING AND PRINCIPLES AND TO A DESIRE FOR GREATER FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITUES FOR ALL. THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN THE BEGINNINGS OF REBELLION AGAINST RESTRICTIONS, AS REPRESENTED BY AUTHORITY, AND A CHANGE IN COMMUNITY ATTITUDES TOWARD MORAL STANDARDS. AMONG SOCIAL ISSUES WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR POLICE ARE THOSE SURROUNDING CENSORSHIP, PORNOGRAPHY, HOMOSEXUALITY, ABORTION, DIVORCE, AND THE PROBLEMS OF ADOLESCENCE. SUCH ISSUES HAVE ENCOURAGED THE USE OF THE TERM 'PERMISSIVE' TO DESCRIBE MODERN SOCIETY. IN SUCH A SOCIETY, POLICE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THEY OPERATE IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS OFTEN HOSTILE AND APPREHENSIVE. THERE NEEDS TO BE A SENSE OF MUTUAL RESPONSIBILITY SHARED BY THE POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY. THE COMMUNITY HAS A RIGHT TO DEMAND AN EFFICIENT, HONEST, HARD-WORKING POLICE FORCE, AND THE POLICE HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THEM AND TO HAVE FULL COMMUNITY SUPPORT IN CARRYING OUT THOSE EXPECTATIONS. POLICE DID NOT CREATE NOR CAN THEY RESOLVE SOCIAL PROBLEMS, BUT THEY CAN ENFORCE THE LAWS PERTAINING TO THESE PROBLEMS WITH TOLERANCE, DISCRETION, AND FAIRNESS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE ROLE OF THE POLICE IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY IS 'TO GIVE LAW WITH LIBERTY.' SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)