Course: Introduction / Policing
Orlando Winfield Wilson (1900 – 1972), more commonly known as O.W. Wilson, was an influential leader in policing, popularizing the idea of police professionalism that would shape policing in America for decades to come.
Orlando Winfield Wilson, commonly known as O.W. Wilson, was a highly influential leader in policing and made significant contributions to the field of law enforcement. He was born in Texas in 1900 and began his law enforcement career as a police officer in Wichita Falls. Over the years, he held various positions in law enforcement agencies before being appointed as the chief of police in Chicago in 1960.
Wilson is most well-known for his contributions to police professionalism, which he believed was crucial for effective policing. He is often credited with popularizing the idea of police professionalism, which would shape policing in America for decades to come. Wilson believed that police officers should be highly trained, educated, and dedicated to serving their communities. He also emphasized the importance of police officers being able to work effectively with the public, other law enforcement agencies, and other community organizations.
One of Wilson’s most significant contributions to policing was his development of the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) in 1976. This organization was designed to bring together law enforcement leaders from across the country to share information and best practices, as well as to provide training and support to police departments. The PERF is still in operation today and is widely regarded as one of the most influential organizations in the field of law enforcement.
Wilson also played a key role in the development of the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) in 1968. This organization was established to provide federal funding and support to law enforcement agencies across the country. Under Wilson’s leadership, the LEAA funded a variety of programs designed to improve policing, including the development of new technologies, training programs, and research projects.
In addition to his work on police professionalism and the development of the PERF and LEAA, Wilson also made significant contributions to the field of criminal justice education. He served as a professor of criminal justice at the University of California, Berkeley, and authored several books on policing and law enforcement, including “Police Administration,” which is still widely used as a textbook in criminal justice programs today.
Overall, O.W. Wilson was a highly influential figure in policing who made significant contributions to the development of police professionalism and the improvement of law enforcement agencies across the country. His legacy continues to be felt in the field of law enforcement today, and his ideas and principles continue to shape the way that policing is practiced in America.
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Last Modified: 04/10/2023