THE ROLE OF POLICE AS SERVANTS TO THE NEEDS OF CITIZENS IS SEEN AS HAVING PRIORITY IN THE EARLY AND MID-1800S,TO BE REPLACED BY A CRIME FIGHTING THRUST IN THE CONTEXT OF THE WAVE OF IMMIGRATION TO THE UNITED STATES IN THE LATTER PART OF THE 1800'S AND THE EARLY 1900'S. URBAN GROWTH AND SOCIOECONOMIC CONFLICTS PRESSED THE POLICE TO ADOPT THE STANCE OF CONTROLLERS OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR FOR THE SAKE OF ORDER. THE REPORT OF A PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION IN THE 1960'S MANDATED THE ROLE OF POLICE AS COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS, WHO BECOME INTIMATELY INVOLVED IN NEIGHBORHOOD PROBLEMS FOR THE PURPOSE OF BRINGING ABOUT POSITIVE CHANGE IN THE LIFE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS EMPHASIS HAS BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE POLICE SOCIAL WORKERS, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF OTHER COMMUNITY AGENCIES IN TEAM EFFORTS TO MODIFY INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR PERCEIVED AS DEVIANT AND DEAL POSITIVELY WITH FAMILY CONFLICTS. PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THIS TREND TOWARD POLICE ACTING OUTSIDE OF THEIR TRADITIONAL ROLE AS LAW ENFORCERS ARE IDENTIFIED. IN SPITE OF THE PROBLEMS POSED THE TREND TOWARD THE DEVELOPMENT OF APPROPRIATE POLICE-SOCIAL WORKER WELFARE SERVICES DELIVERY SYSTEMS IS ADVOCATED. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. (RCB)