Contemporary policing requires a strategy that is inconsistent with a totally traditional model of policing. Which option agrees with this?

• A. Contemporary policing requires a strategy that is inconsistent with a totally traditional model of policing.
• B. Contemporary policing is identical to traditional policing in strategy.
• C. Contemporary policing rejects any form of strategy.
• D. Contemporary policing is unrelated to traditional policing.

Answer: (D)

The main idea being tested is how contemporary policing relates to traditional policing and whether modern practices fit into the old model or depart from it. Contemporary policing moves beyond the traditional, often embracing problem-solving, community engagement, and data-driven approaches, rather than simply extending or duplicating the old methods.

The best choice captures that shift by saying contemporary policing is unrelated to traditional policing. That wording signals a fundamental difference in how strategies are developed and applied, which aligns with the notion that modern practice requires a different, nontraditional framework to be effective and ethical. It reflects the idea that the changes in strategy are not just tweaks to the old model but a departure from it, embracing new priorities such as legitimacy, collaboration, and evidence-based decision making.

The other perspectives don’t fit as well. Saying contemporary policing is identical to traditional policing contradicts the premise that modern practice needs a different approach. Claiming contemporary policing rejects any form of strategy goes too far and conflicts with the reality that modern policing relies on intentional, strategic methods. Describing contemporary policing as unrelated to traditional policing is the most consistent way to express a departure from the traditional strategy while acknowledging a distinct, modern framework.