Beyond Community Policing uses history and general sociological theory to examine the trajectory of municipal policing from Britain in the 1830s to its adoption and evolution in the America. By analyzing the uncertain and uneven historical development of policing, this book illustrates in great detail the functional connections between cities (or communities) and police departments. Chriss also considers the development of municipal policing in the American West between 1850 and 1890, which helps to situate the current discussion of policing in the post 9/11 United States.