Modern, constitutional policing in America is at a crossroads. Under the current Trump administration, we are witnessing the dangerous nationalization of local law enforcement, the misuse of state National Guards for political theater, and a disturbing drift back toward repression rather than community trust. Against this backdrop, it is more important than ever to clearly define what true 21st century policing must be.
I. CONSTITUTIONAL
Modern policing begins and ends with the Constitution. Officers are not soldiers or political enforcers. They are guardians of the rights guaranteed in our Bill of Rights—especially the First and Fourth Amendments. To protect freedom of speech, assembly, privacy, and due process is the core of the oath every officer swears. When police bend to political pressure or federal overreach, they abandon that sacred duty.
II. JUST AND RESPECTFUL
Respect is not window dressing—it is the substance of legitimacy. As Prof. Tom Tyler’s research reminds us, people obey the law when they believe the law—and its agents—are fair. That means:
- Every person gets to tell their story.
- They are treated with dignity.
- Decisions are unbiased and transparent.
- Citizens understand both the how and the why of police decisions.
Trust is earned not by force, but by fairness.
III. CONNECTED
Modern policing is inseparable from the communities it serves. Officers are not an occupying army; they are co-workers with citizens in building safe, healthy neighborhoods. When federal officials deploy troops to “hot spots” for the sake of optics, they destroy the trust that only proximity, relationship, and shared responsibility can build.
IV. WISE IN THE USE OF FORCE
Force is a last resort. Life is acres. Peel’s Nine Principles, written nearly two centuries ago, remain radical and relevant today. Here’s a sample:
- Public approval and respect are the foundation of police legitimacy.
- Cooperation decreases as force increases.
- Persuasion and warnings come before physical power.
My professional police organization, PERF, has issued “30 Guiding Principles on Use of Force” and noted the growing national consensus around de-escalation. The Principles reinforce this truth: every officer has a duty to preserve life, intervene against abuse, and measure their actions by necessity and proportionality. Anything less is misconduct.
V. TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE
Police in a democracy must operate in the light of day. Policies, discipline, and use-of-force data should be public. Accountability is not punishment—it is the lifeblood of trust. Communities have the right to know how their police operate and the power to shape those practices. Local accountability is the antidote to federal overreach.
VI. CURRENT AND EVIDENCE-BASED
Modern police organizations are learning organizations. They adopt the best available research on what works, apply the recommendations of the 2015 President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, and reject outdated, militarized models of control. They train officers in communication, crisis intervention, and cultural competency as rigorously as they train in tactics. They also evaluate themselves honestly—inviting citizens to rate their police, as consumers of a public service.
The Challenge Before Us
America doesn’t need soldiers in its streets. It needs police who live out their oath as constitutional officers, guardians of peace who protect everyone equally—documented or undocumented, powerful or powerless.
A modern, 21st century police service is possible. We know what it looks like. We’ve seen it work in Madison and other departments committed to fairness, education, and community trust.
What we lack is not knowledge, but will. If we demand this vision—if we hold our leaders to account—we can reclaim policing from politics and fear, and build the just, respectful, and constitutional service our democracy deserves.
To do otherwise is to court disaster for all of us.
Improving Police: A Necessary Conversation 