Criminal justice issues played a small role in mayoral elections during the 31 years studied. Local issues have had little impact on mayoral politics, compared to party strength and the force of personalities. Fiscal constraint has been a theme in both Democratic and Republican administrations, such that police requests for additional resources have either been diluted or rebuffed. The mayor has both formal and, if desired, effective power over police management, and such power does not depend on police support. The criminal justice system overall and the police in particular have found it difficult to gain increases in budget allocations, notably for salaries and a new jail. Law enforcement attained its greatest visibility during the corruption and brutality scandals of 1954, 1964, and 1974. Efforts by the police department to generate governmental and public support have tended to be dramatic and overstated to the point of creating a credibility problem. (Author summary modified)