Early American police departments did not enjoy the complete respect of the public, often because they were not successful in carrying out their mission. With the growing urbanization during the first half of the 20th century, police began to be viewed as representatives of societal control. However the poor and minority group members often saw them as oppressors who enforced the dictates of the prevailing power structure. During World War II, police-community relations were seem primarily as an effort to deal with minority citizens; however, during the 20 years following the war, the police became increasingly isolated from their communities. Reasons for this development included urbanization, rapidly changing social conditions, greater demands for police services, increased reliance on motor patrols, and reduced police contact with noncriminal elements of society. As a result of this isolation, most urban police departments were ill-prepared to deal with the civil disturbances of the mid-1960's, except through open combat and harshly restrictive measures. Although police-community relations programs seemed to offer great promise during the 1960's, they currently have low priority in many departments. Of the 172 departments that responded in a 1977 survey, 127 had a community relations unit -- most supervised by sworn personnel holding the rank of captain or lower. Questions concerning the units' major focus revealed that 43 percent were concerned primarily with minority groups, and about half directed their attention chiefly to persons in their late teens and early twenties. On the whole, interest in dealing with minority groups has waned. Future relations may be improved through the increased use of foot patrols and through increased minority recruitment. Notes and references are included.