The exploitation of police officers by politicians with selfish motives began earlier, recurred longer, and ended later than similar incursions into any other area of government service, especially in municipal government. Later, and until relatively recent times, both dishonesty and ineptitude abounded in police departments. Police administration also ignored the three theoretical movements in management history: the scientific school of management, the human relations school of management, and systems management. Another recurring theme in American police administration is the implementation of short-term, stopgap reform as a reaction to major crises. Much of this reform was prompted by embarrassing exposes of police corruption. Beginning in the 1930's, reforms focused in insulating law enforcement from politics. Contemporary reforms date from the passage of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 and have focused on increasing the police professionalization. Nineteen references are listed.