Is zero tolerance policing the answer?
NEW Commissioners of Police are to take position in New York City and Philadelphia very shortly. While the change in New York follows the election of a new Mayor, Commissioner John F. Timoney’s exit from Philadelphia coincides with his decision to move into a lucrative job in the private sector. The attention given by the U.S. media to these developments has been extensive, highlighting how crucial a role the police fill in U.S. society. A well-read and extremely vibrant policeman of Irish descent, Timoney – whom I met recently and was greatly impressed with – brought a breath of fresh air into Philadelphia, a city known for high crime. He came down heavily on cooked-up police statistics and encouraged free registration of crime. He mingled actively with the community. His unusual and frequent cycle tours of his jurisdiction in particular won him many admirers. His style of policing was something that the city will not forget for quite some time. Timoney possibly carried ‘zero toleranc
