DEFINITION OF THE POLICE ROLE IN SOCIETY IS ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL ISSUES FACING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THERE IS GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT CRITICISMS OF THE POLICE ARISE FROM DIFFERENT CONCEPTS OF THE POLICE FUNCTION AMONG THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND POLICE THEMSELVES. SOME FEEL THAT POLICE SHOULD BE CONCERNED PRIMARILY WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT (CRIMINAL APPREHENSION AND DETERRENCE, TRAINING ORIENTED TOWARD CRIME DETECTION AND ADHERENCE TO THE RULE OF LAW, THE IMAGE OF THE 'CRIME FIGHTER,' ETC.). OTHERS EMPHASIZE THE PEACEKEEPING FUNCTION (EMPHASIS ON CRIME PREVENTION, TRAINING ORIENTED TOWARD DEALING WITH PEOPLE AND MAINTAINING ORDER, THE 'PROBLEM SOLVER' IMAGE). IN THE UNITED STATES, THE PEACEKEEPING AND CRIME PREVENTION FUNCTIONS HAVE NOT BEEN EMPHASIZED AS THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE BRITISH SYSTEM. HOWEVER, THE ROLE OF THE POLICE HAS EXPANDED AS SOCIETY HAS BECOME MORE COMPLEX. POLICE ARE FINDING THAT MOST INCIDENTS WITH WHICH THEY MUST DEAL DO NOT INVOLVE CRIME BUT RATHER REQUIRE THE SETTLEMENT OF A DISPUTE OR THE PROVISION OF A SERVICE. THE HISTORY OF THE ROLE AND PHILOSOPHY OF POLICING IN THE UNITED STATES -- FROM THE FIRST ADOPTION OF PEELIAN REFORMS IN NEW YORK CITY IN 1844 THROUGH THE EVENTS OF THE 1960'S -- IS TRACED, AND ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST GREATER INVOLVEMENT OF THE POLICE IN FUNCTIONS OTHER THAN LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE CONSIDERED. ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES BY WHICH POLICE MIGHT MEET THE CHANGING DEMANDS OF SOCIETY ARE DISCUSSED. (LKM)