Part 4/9:
Community policing has roots going back to the early 1980s, gaining momentum across American cities. The Clinton administration further promoted this approach in the 1990s by allocating federal funds to increase community policing positions. However, economic downturns like the 2007/2008 financial crisis led to significant budget cuts, diminishing these programs.
Wesley contextualizes these fluctuations, noting that while financial resources are crucial, they are also reflections of the political and public attitudes toward policing. The current era marks a shift back toward valuing community engagement, partly driven by legitimacy crises and public demand for a connected, transparent police force.